Remaining class 58s

Is this one of the ones at the Battlefield Railway?

50002Superb said:

Is this one of the ones at the Battlefield Railway?

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So it would seem.

There does seem to be some excitement that the 4 in Spain haven`t actually been cut up and were moved and stored over a large unpaid bill?

HTRS have done a lot of work to it, indeed the engine was running 3 years ago. Maybe the owner's put it up for sale?

We as a group really can't allow another 58 to be binned they are getting really rare

31160 said:

We as a group really can't allow another 58 to be binned they are getting really rare

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Who is “we” and what group are you referring to?

31160 said:

We as a group really can't allow another 58 to be binned they are getting really rare

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There are 4 left of 50 so 8%, not a bad survival rate and being pragmatic they only survive if people get their hands in their pockets to get some cash out (generally, not specific to project 58048) and there are technical minded people who are willing to restore them in the rain and wind. Sadly there are very few of those people so I would rather see 2 class 58 in good condition than 4 rotting away

Spaceship323 said:

HTRS have done a lot of work to it, indeed the engine was running 3 years ago. Maybe the owner's put it up for sale?

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The tour I did earlier in the year suggested it would be unlikely to run again without a substantial spend on it.

But 58048 was nearly finished, the doors and roof panels had been blasted and the engine was running with most of the pipework replaced. Maybe the owner realised there would be no use for an air only, non heat, heavy freight loco on a preserved line

Spaceship323 said:

But 58048 was nearly finished, the doors and roof panels had been blasted and the engine was running with most of the pipework replaced. Maybe the owner realised there would be no use for an air only, non heat, heavy freight loco on a preserved line

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Is the owner the same one who has operational class 37s on the mainline - which only have air brakes and no heating ?

Seems 58048 has been withdrawn from sale so Project58048 is no more

PROJECT 58048​

PROJECT 58048 is disappointed to confirm that the project is being brought to an end after locomotive 58048 was withdrawn from sale.

Discussions with the owner began in February 2026. PROJECT 58048 had an agreement in principle with the owner to proceed towards purchasing the locomotive, subject to the final purchase price being agreed. The owner was aware that the group was being established for this purpose and had confirmed that the organisers could proceed.

On that basis, the group commissioned and paid for an independent inspection of the locomotive in May. Work also began on establishing a community benefit society, opening and administering accounts, developing merchandise and progressing an application for exempt charitable status. Approximately £5,000 has been spent, alongside a substantial amount of unpaid volunteer time.

Coinciding with the public launch of PROJECT 58048, another party approached the owner directly. The party concerned was known to the group through earlier discussions, during which they had expressed support for the project. On Sunday 20 September, the seller informed PROJECT 58048 that locomotive 58048 had been withdrawn from sale, meaning the proposed acquisition could no longer proceed.

We are disappointed with the way the matter has concluded. The project acted in good faith and incurred significant costs in reliance on its agreement in principle with the owner. It is particularly regrettable that the locomotive was withdrawn only after the campaign had launched publicly and the group had committed considerable time and money to the acquisition.

We understand that the plan is for locomotive 58048 to move out of preservation and return to commercial service. While this brings our own project to an end, it will be great to see 58048—and potentially other members of the Class—working again in the future.

Supporters had made commitments totalling approximately £45,000. All financial contributions received towards the acquisition will be returned, and contributors will be contacted directly about the repayment process. We have been advised that refunds for payments made by credit or debit card can take up to seven days to appear in the cardholder’s account.

The PROJECT 58048 online shop will remain open. The remaining merchandise, which now represents a unique record of the project, will be available at reduced prices. Income from these sales will help offset some of the costs already incurred.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported PROJECT 58048. The response demonstrated the strength of interest in the locomotive, and we regret that circumstances outside the group’s control mean the project cannot continue.

37114 said:

We understand that the plan is for locomotive 58048 to move out of preservation and return to commercial service.

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Really? Quite apart from the fact that pretty much no-one signs the class any more, what use is it that couldn't be covered by a 56 or 60?

D1537 said:

Really? Quite apart from the fact that pretty much no-one signs the class any more, what use is it that couldn't be covered by a 56 or 60?

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Precisely , if a company wanted a loco for freight work you would think a 58 would be of little use considering how rare they are now and presumably how small the spares pile will be now . If any sensible company wanted Locos for freight work they would pick up a few of the Ex Chiltern off lease 68s. Not a knackered 58.

Although I would love to see a 58 back on the mainline it doesn't make much sense from an operational perspective.

37114 said:

There are 4 left of 50 so 8%, not a bad survival rate and being pragmatic they only survive if people get their hands in their pockets to get some cash out (generally, not specific to project 58048) and there are technical minded people who are willing to restore them in the rain and wind. Sadly there are very few of those people so I would rather see 2 class 58 in good condition than 4 rotting away

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8% isn't a bad survival rate without the context that only a few years ago the survival rate was closer to 80% (though with the added complication of most survivors being overseas and stored in the open).
Does that current figure of 4 include the one that's been donated to the LMS 10000 project or not? Would that project have got as much support if the French 58s had already been destroyed? I suspect not. Donating one of dozens is no big deal, more akin to using a 37 for the Baby Deltic project... but destroying one of the last four or five to create an imperfect replica of a niche and largely forgotten design, is more of a gamble in my opinion.

sad1e said:

Precisely , if a company wanted a loco for freight work you would think a 58 would be of little use considering how rare they are now and presumably how small the spares pile will be now . If any sensible company wanted Locos for freight work they would pick up a few of the Ex Chiltern off lease 68s. Not a knackered 58.

Although I would love to see a 58 back on the mainline it doesn't make much sense from an operational perspective.

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It makes absolutely 0 sense from any perspective, how puzzling. Even if it's dirt cheap to purchase the operational costs are going to be astronomical. What if it breaks and nobody can repair it? Quite likely, using an old locomotive that's been sat long term for routine workings that something breaks. The chance that there's a spare lying around either in another 58 that can be cannibalised or in a scrapyard in France is low.

Does 58044 still exist in France?

Certainly still there in late 2025; still there on current Google Maps satellite image, whenever that was updated.

Will 048s new owner be desperate enough to try and repatriate 044? I understand it will be very, very ,if not impossible to do so.

61653 HTAFC said:

8% isn't a bad survival rate without the context that only a few years ago the survival rate was closer to 80% (though with the added complication of most survivors being overseas and stored in the open).
Does that current figure of 4 include the one that's been donated to the LMS 10000 project or not? Would that project have got as much support if the French 58s had already been destroyed? I suspect not. Donating one of dozens is no big deal, more akin to using a 37 for the Baby Deltic project... but destroying one of the last four or five to create an imperfect replica of a niche and largely forgotten design, is more of a gamble in my opinion.

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58012, 016, 023 and 048 are the four complete ones in the UK, I didn't count 58022 as that is in bits for conversion to 10000

37114 said:

58012, 016, 023 and 048 are the four complete ones in the UK, I didn't count 58022 as that is in bits for conversion to 10000

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Thanks.