Colas to Reduce Class 56 Usage

[DJGREW999]

Should work 6C54

Realtime Trains | 6C54 1909 Toton North Yard to Hendon | 28/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C54 1909 departure from Toton North Yard to Hendon on 28/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6C54 back

Realtime Trains | 6C54 0539 St Pancras International to Toton North Yard | 29/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C54 0539 departure from St Pancras International to Toton North Yard on 29/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I suspect it will then run 6B01

Realtime Trains | 6B01 2205½ Toton North Yard to Derby | 02/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6B01 2205½ departure from Toton North Yard to Derby on 02/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6B01 back

Realtime Trains | 6B01 0700 St.Mary's South Junction to Toton North Yard | 03/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6B01 0700 departure from St.Mary's South Junction to Toton North Yard on 03/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also another pair of 6C54s to Attenborough Jn later next week.

It should also be noted that both are nearly out of hours.

56049 & 56051 both out of hours? What exam are they due? A major one?

 

[XCTurbostar]

56049 & 56051 both out of hours? What exam are they due? A major one?

WNXX is reporting that its an A exam which is light work but it depends what the long term plan is. Export is being mooted.

 

[83ck3tt]

I see that Colas are operating an engineers train out of Whitemoor this weekend - top and tailed as the train reverses at Peterborough. Could 051 and 049 be involved in this?https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:B26372/2026-05-02/detailed

 

[yorkshirerail]

I see that Colas are operating an engineers train out of Whitemoor this weekend - top and tailed as the train reverses at Peterborough. Could 051 and 049 be involved in this?https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:B26372/2026-05-02/detailed

There are also 2 moves out of Doncaster and one out of Toton on Saturday night. So they could end up on any of those.

 

[D365]

WNXX is reporting that its an A exam which is light work but it depends what the long term plan is. Export is being mooted.

does Beacon Rail own 049 and 051?

 

[43096]

does Beacon Rail own 049 and 051?

No.

AIUI the Beacon owned 56s are 56087/090/096/105/113.
56049/051/078/094/302 are owned by Colas.

 

[DJGREW999]

does Beacon Rail own 049 and 051?

Colas own those ones

 

[D365]

No.

AIUI the Beacon owned 56s are 56087/090/096/105/113.
56049/051/078/094/302 are owned by Colas.

Colas own those ones

Thanks. The first time that I've had confirmation of ownership by painted number!

 

[ExRes]

Reported on WNXX this evening that 56094 is currently being fitted with cab window bars and that the repainting of 56302 is underway, both are due to be shipped out of the UK in June

 

[XCTurbostar]

56302 56094 Colwick (Rectory)

Explore Ryan Tranmer's 187069 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

Looks like 56302 has also had its nameplates, GSMR equipment and antennas removed.

 

[CDM Transport]

Reported on WNXX this evening that 56094 is currently being fitted with cab window bars and that the repainting of 56302 is underway, both are due to be shipped out of the UK in June

Do we know where they are headed?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Do we know where they are headed?

Ghana apparently (WNXX)

 

[47286Dan]

Friday morning update

56094 showing in T (transfer status)

56049 COFS DONSDGCLS DONSDGCLS F N
56051 COFS DONSDGCLS DONSDGCLS F N
56078 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR X
56087 COFS NOTTM CMD RECTRYJCR F M
56090 COFS BONESSRPS BONESSRPS X
56094 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR F T
56096 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR F X
56105 COFS BONESSRPS BONESSRPS X
56113 COFS COLHAMLMD COLHAMLMD F X
56302 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR F X

Dan

 

[31160]

Ghana apparently (WNXX)

Wow just wow

 

[yorkshirerail]

Is it known whether 56049 and 051 will be on 6C88 tomorrow night working from Doncaster Down Decoy to York Strensall Signal Box
Thanks

 

[SEtrains]

56302 seen in the background behind undercoat 60022 at Boden Rail rectory jn today. Credits to Ryan Tranmer on Facebook.

 

[LUYMun]

Is it just the two being exported, or are there further Grids being planned to take away as I've been reading up different descriptions of there being more 56s to follow which supposedly lead back to WNXX?

Reported on WNXX this evening that 56094 is currently being fitted with cab window bars and that the repainting of 56302 is underway, both are due to be shipped out of the UK in June

 

[CDM Transport]

Is it just the two being exported, or are there further Grids being planned to take away as I've been reading up different descriptions of there being more 56s to follow which supposedly lead back to WNXX?

56049, 051, 078, 094 & 302 going to Ghana.

 

[CDM Transport]

Is it known whether 56049 and 051 will be on 6C88 tomorrow night working from Doncaster Down Decoy to York Strensall Signal Box
Thanks

Depends... 70815 will also be at Doncaster. There's another 6C80 towards Cleethorpes so the grids will either be on that or 6C88.

 

[SEtrains]

Is it just the two being exported, or are there further Grids being planned to take away as I've been reading up different descriptions of there being more 56s to follow which supposedly lead back to WNXX?

It’s been said on other platforms that the colas owned 049/051/078/094/302 will all see export whilst 087/096/113 won’t be exported.

 

[31160]

Nothing on 105?? Dunno if that's good or not?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Nothing on 105?? Dunno if that's good or not?

I don't think its a co-incidence its Beacon Rail owned. I suspect it and 090 are either close to or in the process of being taken off-lease.

 

[l3mm]

i cant believe 56s are now going to africa

long journey for me as a grid fan

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2026 ==

any status updates on 071?

 

[yorkshirerail]

There is now an 0Z89 movement from Doncaster Colas Sidings to Whitemoor Yard tomorrow which I presume will be one or both of 049 and 051

 

[83ck3tt]

There is now an 0Z89 movement from Doncaster Colas Sidings to Whitemoor Yard tomorrow which I presume will be one or both of 049 and 051

I can't find anything - please could you post a link?

 

[yorkshirerail]

I can't find anything - please could you post a link?

Schedule ID : 10639540

It’s only on Railcam at the moment for some reason

 

[83ck3tt]

0Z89 Doncaster Colas Sidings - Whitemoor Yard L.D.C.
https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c=R44202&d=2026-05-02

 

[yorkshirerail]

Depends... 70815 will also be at Doncaster. There's another 6C80 towards Cleethorpes so the grids will either be on that or 6C88.

Looks like the grids will be heading down to Whitemoor today on 0Z89 and 66551 is coming over from Newark so presume that will work 6C88

 

[CDM Transport]

It has been posted online that 56090 and 56105 have moved to the SRPS pool from Beacon Rail, I have attached the image which shows the current plans for Colas 56s that someone has kindly posted.

(The image below says '56090/56105 are in the hands of the SRPS and are no longer beacon rail'.)

 

[31160]

It has been posted online that 56090 and 56105 have moved to the SRPS pool from Beacon Rail, I have attached the image which shows the current plans for Colas 56s that someone has kindly posted.

(The image below says '56090/56105 are in the hands of the SRPS and are no longer beacon rail'.)

Wow if that's right that's proper random, srps grid tours are go