Colas to Reduce Class 56 Usage

[fgwrich]

Looks like 56051 is heading to Rectory Jn tomorrow on this https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:75624/2026-05-18/detailed
Presume it’s going for storage there.

Also anyone know the reason for 049 going to Rugby

049 ran from Kidderminster to Rugby yesterday to work a ballast / engineers train for Colas.

 

[47286Dan]

Morning update

56049 COFS RUGBY OLE RUGBY OLE F N
56051 COFS DONSDGCLS 230Z562K18 F RECTRYJCR 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

 

[yorkshirerail]

This morning both 56049 and 051 are now Colwick. Is that them finished or is there any more planned work for them

 

[47286Dan]

This morning both 56049 and 051 are now Colwick. Is that them finished or is there any more planned work for them

Tuesday afternoon update

56049 & 56051 both showing as N status at Rectory, no allocations showing at present

56049 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR F N
56051 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR 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

 

[yorkshirerail]

Tuesday afternoon update

56049 & 56051 both showing as N status at Rectory, so allocations showing at present

56049 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR F N
56051 COFS RECTRYJCR RECTRYJCR 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

Thanks @47286Dan

 

[F8RQ3]

This morning both 56049 and 051 are now Colwick. Is that them finished or is there any more planned work for them

I believe that 56049 & 56051 are planned to take 56302 & 56094 to the port for sale which is why theyre at colwick.

 

[yorkshirerail]

I believe that 56049 & 56051 are planned to take 56302 & 56094 to the port for sale which is why theyre at colwick.

Interesting any idea when this might be

 

[Richard Scott]

I believe that 56049 & 56051 are planned to take 56302 & 56094 to the port for sale which is why theyre at colwick.

Is 56302 the last Crewe built loco left in UK that's complete? 56303 is apparently damaged and 56128 was rebuilt as a 69.

 

[yorkshirerail]

Realtime Trains | 0Z55 0854 Rectory Jn (Colwick Colas) to Marchwood | 23/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Z55 0854 departure from Rectory Jn (Colwick Colas) to Marchwood on 23/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Could this be 56302 on the move

 

[CDM Transport]

Could this be 56302 on the move

Yep, 56094 & 302.

 

[alexl92]

How many active or could-be-fairly-easily-revived Class 56s remain in the UK?

 

[Dood75]

56049 56302 56051 supposed to be working Colwick-Leeds Midland Rd today and returning back tomorrow

 

[ExRes]

56049 56302 56051 supposed to be working Colwick-Leeds Midland Rd today and returning back tomorrow

WNXX & RTT have them as todays 1226 0Z57 Rectory Junction to Leeds Balm Road and tomorrows 1213 0Z57 return

 

[wickham]

Yep, 56094 & 302.

Export via Marchwood ?? This would be a new one - is there some military connection with this ??

 

[Festiniog24]

This afternoons Class 56 move, 0Z57 passing Hexthorpe Yard Doncaster.

 

[SEtrains]

Yep, 56094 & 302.

Has been reported elsewhere that 56094 is not yet ready for export and it will be only 56302 getting dragged for export.

 

[DGH 1]

This afternoons Class 56 move, 0Z57 passing Hexthorpe Yard Doncaster.View attachment 204631View attachment 204631

Great catch, Do we know if the plain white is the final livery?

 

[CDM Transport]

Has been reported elsewhere that 56094 is not yet ready for export and it will be only 56302 getting dragged for export.

Good news then. I did wonder why the path for export was a bit early, as it was stated both would be ready in June.

 

[Forty29]

On 56302, the grid has grid's, over the windows!
Is this protection in transit or have they a bad vandalism problem in Ghana?!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 May 2026 ==

Not clear on the photo above but fitted as seen on a YouTube video at Doncaster.

 

[47286Dan]

Saturday update

56049 COFS RECTRYJCR 550Z551D23 F MARCHWOOD N
56051 COFS RECTRYJCR 550Z551D23 F MARCHWOOD N
56094 COFS RECTRYJCR 550Z551D23 F MARCHWOOD T
56302 COFS RECTRYJCR 550Z551D23 F MARCHWOOD T

Dan

 

[317362]

56049 on the tail end of this, 66544 leading

Realtime Trains | 6C24 1935 Westbury Down T.C. to Acton Main Line | 23/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 6C24 1935 departure from Westbury Down T.C. to Acton Main Line on 23/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[RichardAsh1981]

Great catch, Do we know if the plain white is the final livery?

Looks like the white (pale grey?) is final, as this photo shows some of the plastic sheeting has come away to reveal a "Ghana Railway Development Authority" crest underneath.

Southampton Central 56094 Ghana Railway Development Authority

56051+56302+56094+56049 (0Z55) 08.54 Rectory Junction (Colwick Colas) to Marchwood 56094 56302 in white livery with bars over cab windscreens, for export to Ghana.

www.flickr.com

(Photo of the partly obscured crest behind plastic sheeting covering the lower body side).

 

[DGH 1]

Looks like the white (pale grey?) is final, as this photo shows some of the plastic sheeting has come away to reveal a "Ghana Railway Development Authority" crest underneath.

Southampton Central 56094 Ghana Railway Development Authority

56051+56302+56094+56049 (0Z55) 08.54 Rectory Junction (Colwick Colas) to Marchwood 56094 56302 in white livery with bars over cab windscreens, for export to Ghana.

www.flickr.com

(Photo of the partly obscured crest behind plastic sheeting covering the lower body side).

Thank you for this information, it's very much appreciated , I was wondering if it would have some kind of company name etc...

 

[802020]

Does anyone know 049 & 051’s next moves with both at Westbury?

TIA

 

[Pkh72]

Back to Bescot this morning behind 70811.

 

[Class_90 fan 0]

(not my photo) 56096 has been taken out of the storage line (in colwick) as of yesterday and shunted into the depot, also had its wipers taken off.

 

[XCTurbostar]

It’s also lost its GSMR equipment.

 

[DJGREW999]

Realtime Trains | 0F55 1100 Coleham Lmd to Rectory Jn (Colwick Colas) | 26/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 0F55 1100 departure from Coleham Lmd to Rectory Jn (Colwick Colas) on 26/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

56049+56051 taking stored 56113 from Coleham to Colwick today

 

[l3mm]

wow. i guess this is it?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2026 ==

are there any reports of DCR reducing their 56 usage?

 

[ExRes]

are there any reports of DCR reducing their 56 usage?

Not after spending all that money on 56045 only a year ago, anyway there aren't enough 60s rebuilt yet to consider making the 56s redundant