GBRf Class 99 - 30 locomotives now ordered

[800001]

Right then, time to post a few updates on various things.

Firstly, yes, videos show both electric and diesel power were being tested last night.

Secondly, for anyone interested in the wagon data who hasn't seen a video, 4Q04, 4Q18, 4Z25 and 4Q19 last night were all 37 wagons with 23 containers. The first 14 wagons on 4Q04, 4Q18 and 4Q19 (and therefore the last 14 on 4Z25) were empty.

Thirdly, 99001 and 99002 remain at Peterborough as 0Q24 didn't run. Can anyone please confirm that RTT is correct in showing that tonight 99003 has joined them and that it worked 0Q25 Leicester - Peterborough linked below?

0Q25 from earlier (99003's first mainline run in 2026 if ID can be confirmed):

Realtime Trains | 0Q25 1925 Leicester L.I.P. to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf | 21/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q25 1925 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf on 21/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And finally, plans for this coming week starting on Monday.

99004 (IF it runs as it's the only 99 at Leicester) will work this to Northampton Gateway:

Realtime Trains | 0Q27 0730 Leicester L.I.P. to Northampton Gateway Gbrf | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q27 0730 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Northampton Gateway Gbrf on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Also, more light engine runs are planned between Peterborough and Doncaster next week and there's a Peterborough - Leicester move on Monday, but I don't have the time to list all the paths, if someone else wants to you're more than welcome.

That said, whichever 99 (or 99's) work those light engine moves to Doncaster should also work these all week. It's the usual Network Rail departmental service between Doncaster and Whitemoor (usually 6L84 and 6E04) recoded as 6Q84 and 6Q04.

6Q84 Doncaster Decoy - Whitemoor via the ECML:

Realtime Trains | 6Q84 2059 Doncaster Up Decoy to Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 6Q84 2059 departure from Doncaster Up Decoy to Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

6Q04 Whitemoor - Doncaster Decoy via Spalding + Lincoln Central:

Realtime Trains | 6Q04 0213 Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf to Doncaster Up Decoy | 24/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 6Q04 0213 departure from Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf to Doncaster Up Decoy on 24/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I've seen a picture/video of 99003 working Leicester to Peterborough yesterday.

Edit picture attached taken from the class 99 locomotive group on Facebook (pic shows 99003 at Stamford

 

[saismee]

Secondly, for anyone interested in the wagon data who hasn't seen a video

It looked to me as though 4Q19 was just pulling a usual Felixstowe intermodal train, 66 and all. So they're certainly testing them to replace locos on those routes. This is gonna save a lot of time switching to 90s at Ipswich, or save running diesel under the wires.

 

[99009]

I've seen a picture/video of 99003 working Leicester to Peterborough yesterday.

Edit picture attached taken from the class 99 locomotive group on Facebook (pic shows 99003 at Stamford

Cheers @800001 - my records are now fully* up to date. As of 22nd February 2026:

99001 - 127 confirmed movements on the mainline. Currently at Peterborough.
99002 - 82 confirmed movements on the mainline. Currently at Peterborough.
99003 - 3 confirmed movements on the mainline. (2 of these under its own power) Currently at Peterborough.
99004 - 2 confirmed movements on the mainline. (1 of these under its own power) Currently at Leicester.
99005+99006 - Currently at Portbury Docks.

Places visited** include:
GEML Stowmarket - Stratford
Stowmarket - Peterborough via Ely and March
Ipswich Yard - Felixstowe North
ECML Peterborough - Wallyford Jn and Millerhill Yard
Peterborough - Doncaster via Spalding and Lincoln Central
Peterborough - Leicester via Oakham
MML Silkstream Jn - Derby
Leicester Depot and Leicester - Nuneaton
East Midlands Parkway - Tapton Jn via Toton, Alfreton and Chesterfield
Tapton Jn - Barrow Hill Roundhouse via Barrow Hill South Jn
GWML Acton Main Line - Bristol Parkway
Severn Tunnel Jn - Cardiff Central
Stafford - Nuneaton via Penkridge, Walsall, Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway
WCML Carlisle Kingmoor Yard - Wembley Yard via Crewe station and Northampton + also Motherwell - Carstairs
Millerhill Yard - Polmadie Depot via Newcraighall, Slateford, Shotts and Holytown


*Except for one working which is ID unknown. 0Q99 Leicester - Leicester via Croft + Wigston South Jn 27/11/25. 99001, 99002, or both.
**Not all places, yards, stations and routes are listed here as only wanted to showcase the fact they've already covered a fair bit of ground, but all are listed on my records, so if anyone wants to know the full list I can post it here.

 

[Bald Rick]

This is gonna save a lot of time switching to 90s at Ipswich, or save running diesel under the wires.

GBRf don’t switch to 90s at Ipswich, or indeed anywhere.

 

[66701GBRF]

It looked to me as though 4Q19 was just pulling a usual Felixstowe intermodal train, 66 and all. So they're certainly testing them to replace locos on those routes. This is gonna save a lot of time switching to 90s at Ipswich, or save running diesel under the wires.

GBRf don’t have any 90’s or do any switching at Ipswich

 

[saismee]

GBRf don’t switch to 90s at Ipswich, or indeed anywhere.

GBRf don’t have any 90’s or do any switching at Ipswich

Whoops. Saves diesel under the wires then ... hopefully Freightliner will invest in some if they prove successful.

 

[Roger B]

Cheers @800001 - my records are now fully* up to date. As of 22nd February 2026:

99001 - 127 confirmed movements on the mainline. Currently at Peterborough.
99002 - 82 confirmed movements on the mainline. Currently at Peterborough.
99003 - 3 confirmed movements on the mainline. (2 of these under its own power) Currently at Peterborough.
99004 - 2 confirmed movements on the mainline. (1 of these under its own power) Currently at Leicester.
99005+99006 - Currently at Portbury Docks.

Places visited** include:
GEML Stowmarket - Stratford
Stowmarket - Peterborough via Ely and March
Ipswich Yard - Felixstowe North
ECML Peterborough - Wallyford Jn and Millerhill Yard
Peterborough - Doncaster via Spalding and Lincoln Central
Peterborough - Leicester via Oakham
MML Silkstream Jn - Derby
Leicester Depot and Leicester - Nuneaton
East Midlands Parkway - Tapton Jn via Toton, Alfreton and Chesterfield
Tapton Jn - Barrow Hill Roundhouse via Barrow Hill South Jn
GWML Acton Main Line - Bristol Parkway
Severn Tunnel Jn - Cardiff Central
Stafford - Nuneaton via Penkridge, Walsall, Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway
WCML Carlisle Kingmoor Yard - Wembley Yard via Crewe station and Northampton + also Motherwell - Carstairs
Millerhill Yard - Polmadie Depot via Newcraighall, Slateford, Shotts and Holytown


*Except for one working which is ID unknown. 0Q99 Leicester - Leicester via Croft + Wigston South Jn 27/11/25. 99001, 99002, or both.
**Not all places, yards, stations and routes are listed here as only wanted to showcase the fact they've already covered a fair bit of ground, but all are listed on my records, so if anyone wants to know the full list I can post it here.

Many thanks 99009 - loving your work!

Do you know whether this mean that they are now authorised to use these routes, or whether that's still outstanding?

I'm curious about the Severn Tunnel Jct - Cardiff route ..... I can't see how a 99 could have got to either Severn Tunnel Jct or Cardiff, or anywhere between them, from the other routes listed. Has a 99 been through the Severn tunnel from Bristol Parkway?

 

[47476NightMail]

I'm curious about the Severn Tunnel Jct - Cardiff route ..... I can't see how a 99 could have got to either Severn Tunnel Jct or Cardiff, or anywhere between them, from the other routes listed. Has a 99 been through the Severn tunnel from Bristol Parkway?

99001 & 002 (with 66302) last worked through the Severn Tunnel on 03/10 with 4Q48 18:39 Pengam Reception Sidings-Wellingborough.

 

[Roger B]

99001 & 002 (with 66302) last worked through the Severn Tunnel on 03/10 with 4Q48 18:39 Pengam Reception Sidings-Wellingborough.

Many thanks 47476Night Mail.

@99009 - looks like some additional places to be added to your list!

 

[BRX]

Cheers @800001 - my records are now fully* up to date. As of 22nd February 2026:

99001 - 127 confirmed movements on the mainline. Currently at Peterborough.
99002 - 82 confirmed movements on the mainline. Currently at Peterborough.
99003 - 3 confirmed movements on the mainline. (2 of these under its own power) Currently at Peterborough.
99004 - 2 confirmed movements on the mainline. (1 of these under its own power) Currently at Leicester.
99005+99006 - Currently at Portbury Docks.

Places visited** include:
GEML Stowmarket - Stratford
Stowmarket - Peterborough via Ely and March
Ipswich Yard - Felixstowe North
ECML Peterborough - Wallyford Jn and Millerhill Yard
Peterborough - Doncaster via Spalding and Lincoln Central
Peterborough - Leicester via Oakham
MML Silkstream Jn - Derby
Leicester Depot and Leicester - Nuneaton
East Midlands Parkway - Tapton Jn via Toton, Alfreton and Chesterfield
Tapton Jn - Barrow Hill Roundhouse via Barrow Hill South Jn
GWML Acton Main Line - Bristol Parkway
Severn Tunnel Jn - Cardiff Central
Stafford - Nuneaton via Penkridge, Walsall, Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway
WCML Carlisle Kingmoor Yard - Wembley Yard via Crewe station and Northampton + also Motherwell - Carstairs
Millerhill Yard - Polmadie Depot via Newcraighall, Slateford, Shotts and Holytown


*Except for one working which is ID unknown. 0Q99 Leicester - Leicester via Croft + Wigston South Jn 27/11/25. 99001, 99002, or both.
**Not all places, yards, stations and routes are listed here as only wanted to showcase the fact they've already covered a fair bit of ground, but all are listed on my records, so if anyone wants to know the full list I can post it here.

They've been to Tonbridge too.

 

[99009]

Thank you @BRX and @Roger B - yes, I've got these places/routes already on the list. The post was only meant to be listing a few main examples. When I get the time I'll post the full list of routes here.

Gen update for today.

99001+99002 are currently heading back to Leicester on this working. I don't know which 99 is leading, so if anyone sees it please post here.

0Q28 Peterborough - Leicester (99001+99002):

Realtime Trains | 0Q28 1205 Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q28 1205 departure from Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The move to Northampton Gateway this morning, which would have been 99004 as it was the only 99 at Leicester, was cancelled.

99003 should work the following:

0Q23 Peterborough - Doncaster Decoy via Spalding + Lincoln Central:

Realtime Trains | 0Q23 1625 Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf | 23/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q23 1625 departure from Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf on 23/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then 6Q84 to Whitemoor and 6Q04 back to Doncaster Decoy which I've already linked in post #1350.

 

[nigelsporne]

There is a path in for tomorrow from Portbury to Leicester.

 

[99009]

And here is that path for this afternoon in case anyone hasn't seen it. 57305+99005+99006.

0Q33:

Realtime Trains | 0Q33 1410 Portbury Auto Terminal Gbf to Leicester L.I.P. | 25/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q33 1410 departure from Portbury Auto Terminal Gbf to Leicester L.I.P. on 25/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[1D54]

Anyone that is awaiting the above en route to Leicester should be aware that it is currently running about 90 minutes early.

 

[ABB125]

Has now pulled into Cheltenham High Street loop, it won't leave before both the (slightly late) Manchester and Worcester services have overtaken, and probably will also wait until both Nottingham and Glasgow services have passed (at which point it will be about an hour early)

 

[1D54]

Good to know ABB 125. Will save me hanging around. Thanks.

 

[ABB125]

Now on the move again as expected - 1h early

 

[99009]

Confirmed consist order of 0Q33 for anyone interested is 57305+99006+99005.

Not really an urgent request, but does anyone know the confirmed consist order of 6Q04 Whitemoor - Doncaster Decoy in the early hours of this morning? 99003+66705 were on 6Q84 Doncaster Decoy - Whitemoor according to RTT, then 66712 was added at Whitemoor to return north on 6Q04.

23/02/26 6Q84 = 99003+66316+wagons confirmed.
24/02/26 6Q04 = 99003+66316+wagons most likely.
24/02/26 6Q84 = 99003+66705+wagons most likely.
25/02/26 6Q04 = 99003+66705+66712+wagons maybe?

 

[Web4160]

0Q33 passing Yate Station this afternoon.

 

[99009]

Latest update on plans for today and tomorrow.

99003 should work between Doncaster and Peterborough today and then 6Q84/6Q04 Doncaster - Whitemoor - Doncaster tonight. After doing all of this, tomorrow it will only work the following:

0Q32 Doncaster Decoy - Peterborough:

Realtime Trains | 0Q32 0832 Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q32 0832 departure from Doncaster Down Decoy Gbrf to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

0Q28 Peterborough - Leicester:

Realtime Trains | 0Q28 1205 Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q28 1205 departure from Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Also for tomorrow, a 99 or 99's (take your pick from 99001, 99002, 99004, 99005 or 99006) will work all this...

0Q27 Leicester - Northampton Gateway via Hinckley, Nuneaton (reverse) and Rugby:

Realtime Trains | 0Q27 0730 Leicester L.I.P. to Northampton Gateway Gbrf | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q27 0730 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Northampton Gateway Gbrf on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

0Q30 Northampton Gateway - Peterborough via Bletchley (reverse), Woburn Sands, Bedford, MML to Leicester and Oakham:

Realtime Trains | 0Q30 1330 Northampton Gateway Gbrf to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q30 1330 departure from Northampton Gateway Gbrf to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

0Q34 Peterborough - Leicester via Oakham:

Realtime Trains | 0Q34 1809 Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q34 1809 departure from Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf to Leicester L.I.P. on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

And finally, late on tomorrow in the darkness, any of 99001-99006 could work this:

0Q35 Leicester - Peterborough via Oakham:

Realtime Trains | 0Q35 2022 Leicester L.I.P. to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf | 27/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q35 2022 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Peterboro Maint Shed Gbrf on 27/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2026 ==

To update all of the above, 99003 only worked 0Q32 Doncaster - Peterborough yesterday and RTT has 66727 + 99004 allocated to the 0Q27 move this morning.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Not really an urgent request, but does anyone know the confirmed consist order of 6Q04 Whitemoor - Doncaster Decoy in the early hours of this morning? 99003+66705 were on 6Q84 Doncaster Decoy - Whitemoor according to RTT, then 66712 was added at Whitemoor to return north on 6Q04.

23/02/26 6Q84 = 99003+66316+wagons confirmed.
24/02/26 6Q04 = 99003+66316+wagons most likely.
24/02/26 6Q84 = 99003+66705+wagons most likely.
25/02/26 6Q04 = 99003+66705+66712+wagons maybe?

6Q84 Mon 23/02 was 99003, 66316, 2 loaded FEA supertench, and 12 loaded YKA Osprey with old track panels
6Q04 Tue 24/02 was 99003, 66316, Kirow crane DRK 81613 + support wagons, 2 empty FEA supertench, 9 empty YKA Osprey
6Q84 Tue 24/02 was 99003, 66705, 2 loaded falcons (JNA & MLA), 7 loaded FEA salmons with concrete sleepers
6Q04 Wed 25/02 was 99003, 66712, 66705 plus 7 empty YKA Osprey
6Q84 Wed 25/02 was 99003, 66763 plus 3 empty YKA Osprey
6Q04 Thu 26/02 was 99003, 66763, 66795 plus 12 empty YKA Osprey

The consists were the regular infrastructure traffic, nothing particularly heavy (less than 1000 tons trailing even including the dead 66s). Typical traffic on these trips is scrap rail and sleepers in supertench or falcon wagons, and scrap track panels on Osprey wagons, heading from weekend engineering worksites to Whitemoor. New concrete sleepers from Doncaster Wood Yard can also use the Whitemoor trip heading to the southern region via the Whitemoor to Hoo Junction trip.

 

[BRX]

Will be interesting to see if the 99s appear on the Whitemoor/Hoo trips at some point.

 

[47286Dan]

Class 99s today

99001 MBEL LESTER SD 590Q981N02 F PBOROSDGB B -231H A
99002 MBEL LESTER SD 590Q981N02 F PBOROSDGB B -149H A
99003 MBEL PBOROSDGB 450Q991F02 F LESTER SD B -45H A
99004 MBEL PBONYGBRF 450Q331I02 F DONCDNDCY B -7H A
99005 MBEL LESTER SD LESTER SD F B 1H A
99006 MBEL LESTER SD LESTER SD F B 1H A

Dan

 

[99009]

6Q84 Mon 23/02 was 99003, 66316, 2 loaded FEA supertench, and 12 loaded YKA Osprey with old track panels
6Q04 Tue 24/02 was 99003, 66316, Kirow crane DRK 81613 + support wagons, 2 empty FEA supertench, 9 empty YKA Osprey
6Q84 Tue 24/02 was 99003, 66705, 2 loaded falcons (JNA & MLA), 7 loaded FEA salmons with concrete sleepers
6Q04 Wed 25/02 was 99003, 66712, 66705 plus 7 empty YKA Osprey
6Q84 Wed 25/02 was 99003, 66763 plus 3 empty YKA Osprey
6Q04 Thu 26/02 was 99003, 66763, 66795 plus 12 empty YKA Osprey

The consists were the regular infrastructure traffic, nothing particularly heavy (less than 1000 tons trailing even including the dead 66s). Typical traffic on these trips is scrap rail and sleepers in supertench or falcon wagons, and scrap track panels on Osprey wagons, heading from weekend engineering worksites to Whitemoor. New concrete sleepers from Doncaster Wood Yard can also use the Whitemoor trip heading to the southern region via the Whitemoor to Hoo Junction trip.

Thank you very much Adrian, that's extremely helpful and appreciated.

More testing is taking place this week between Doncaster and Peterborough with wagons this time under the headcodes 6Q38, 6Q39, 6Q40 and 6Q41. A 99 is going to March yard tonight to collect wagons for these tests running as 0Q37 and 6Q37.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Will be interesting to see if the 99s appear on the Whitemoor/Hoo trips at some point.

Yes. It does strike me as maybe driver training Doncaster/Peterborough. Then Whitemoor then a growing sphere of infrastructure work. However that is not really making extensive use of their 25KV AC capability ?.

 

[Class15]

Yes. It does strike me as maybe driver training Doncaster/Peterborough. Then Whitemoor then a growing sphere of infrastructure work. However that is not really making extensive use of their 25KV AC capability ?.

Actually it is, I’d say quite a decent portion is under the wires, although i don’t think it’s the best use for them.

 

[zwk500]

Actually it is, I’d say quite a decent portion is under the wires, although i don’t think it’s the best use for them.

If they're doing the 'Network Path' runs moving wagons/material between depots AND it ran via the ECML then yes (e.g. 6L84 https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H29690/2026-03-02/detailed). If it ran via the GNGE, as is more likely, (e.g. 6L32 https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H39569/2026-03-02/detailed) then it's not electrified, and if working into actual possessions there's a high chance of the wires being switched off for safety of the workforce.

 

[BRX]

This I think is a typical routing for the regular (pretty much every weekday) Hoo <> Whitemoor trips and quite a big chunk of it is under the wires, as far as I can see

Realtime Trains | 0L34 1948 Hoo Junction Up Yard to Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf | 24/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 0L34 1948 departure from Hoo Junction Up Yard to Whitemoor Yard L.D.C Gbrf on 24/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Wyrleybart]

Actually it is, I’d say quite a decent portion is under the wires, although i don’t think it’s the best use for them.

I would have thought a 99 under the wires is very good use, because it is not using the EMDs - exactly what they were built for.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I would have thought a 99 under the wires is very good use, because it is not using the EMDs - exactly what they were built for.

I was wondering if there were better workings that spend a larger proportion of their time under the wires than the aforementioned infrastructure maintenance trains.

Mainly intermodals as some of these only need the diesel for the last little bits of their journey. For example Felixstowe via London to places up the WCML (or thereabouts). Granted some of those routes I am thinking of (the ones easier than Felixstowe probably) could be just as well covered by a 93, but wrong company !.