GBRf Class 99 - 30 locomotives now ordered

[Dood75]

Pretty sure it has been at leicester for a while and incorrectly inputted as peterborough

Thank you

 

[Tobytrain10]

Thank you

Im not 100% though

 

[XCTurbostar]

Looks like some of the 99 London Gateway diagrams including 4M01 and 4M47 have been swapped for 66s recently. Drivers on social media appear to have been discussing and reporting wheel slip issues in the wet to signallers etc.

 

[Peter Sarf]

From the "Future Class 73 replacement" thread :-

The latest RAIL magazine has just dropped and has an item about the 99s set to be ordered for the Sleeper. The expectation is for 13x additional 99s, which would have electric train supply (unlike the first 20x 99s), possibly also 100mph top speed and each Highland sleeper would have one 99 run all the way from Euston-Inverness. The 92s, 73/9s and 66s will be withdrawn/cascaded elsewhere.

Further posts clarify that is 13 on top of the existing order for 30 of which 10 were to have ETS.
So 43 x 99s ordered so far.
23 with ETS
20 without ETS.
As the poster says - source RAIL magazine.
Thought I would copy here as it is the dedicated 99 thread.

 

[InvHst]

I presuming the 99 on diesel is more efficient and environmentally friendly than a 66 in the highlands?

Its not down to any of that GBRF currently don't have enough 66s to fulfil job lists. Works out cheaper than hiring in locomotives from other companies so has resulted in 99s being used on RHTT circuits and also gets drivers trained on them

 

[Rail Quest]

Drivers on social media appear to have been discussing and reporting wheel slip issues in the wet to signallers etc.

That's interesting. If its true and the class are struggling for traction, how on earth could they be getting beaten by the sheds in that regard? I notice the 99s are, according to Wikipedia, between 14 and 16 tons lighter than 66s, could this adversely affect traction? If not, then what else could it be?

Link to the Class 99 Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_99
Link to the Class 66 Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_66

 

[Tony2]

99012 and 99009 have been attended to at the Craigentinny wheel lathe and are currently sitting outside next to the main line. First of the class to need lathing?

There is a return path on Tuesday to Inverness

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R65079/2026-10-13/detailed

 

[Adrian Barr]

First of the class to need lathing?

99001 left Toton on Monday after wheel turning. 99004 was at Toton in July and 99005 in August, probably for the same reason.

Sunday evening TOPS locations:
99001 GBNX PBOREFLDJ
99002 GBNX INVERNSYD (on 3S95)
99003 GBNX DGNHMDKGB
99004 GBNX WEMRECP
99005 GBNX HAMSHALGB
99006 GBNX INVERNSYD (on 3S95)
99007 GBNX LESTER SD
99008 GBNX INVERNSYD (on 3S97)
99009 GBNX CRAIGNTNY
99010 GBNX LESTER SD
99011 GBNX PBONYGBRF
99012 MBEL CRAIGNTNY
99013 MBEL INVERNSYD (on 3S97)

----------------------------------------------

Summary of last week's class 99 activity (Sun 4th to Sun 11th)

99001 ran light from Toton to Leicester on Monday after wheel turning. On Thursday it ran to Peterborough and worked to Doncaster and back a few times on the usual training runs.

99002 ran light from Leicester Millerhill on Monday, and onward to Perth where it was attached to one of the RHTT sets, currently paired with 99006.

99003 worked the 6X41 Dagenham - Garston cars and 6L48 return on Tuesday and Wednesday

99004 has been working intermodals between London Gateway and EMG / Hams Hall.

99005 was taken off intermodal workings last weekend, moving from Hams Hall to Peterborough on 4L13 on Wednesday behind 66309. It ran light to Leicester on Thursday, back to Peterborough Saturday (on 0Z98 I think)? and then to Hams Hall again this morning on 0Z66 with 66306.

99006 has been on Inverness RHTT duties (3S95 / 3S97), currently paired with 99002

99007 has been on intermodal duties, mainly on the London Gateway - Birch Coppice circuit 4L68 / 4M68, then light to Leicester on Saturday.

99008 has been on Inverness RHTT duties (3S95 / 3S97) currently paired with 99013

99009 ran light from Inverness to Craigentinny on Wednesday for wheel turning with 99012

99010 has been at Leicester all week

99011 collected some sand wagons from Whitemoor on Monday and worked Peterborough - Doncaster training trips Tue/Wed before running light to Leicester on Thursday (I think it returned light to Peterborough on Saturday with 99005)

99012 ran light from Inverness to Craigentinny on Wednesday for wheel turning with 99009

99013 has been on Inverness RHTT duties (3S95 / 3S97), currently paired with 99008

 

[XCTurbostar]

Further posts clarify that is 13 on top of the existing order for 30 of which 10 were to have ETS.
So 43 x 99s ordered so far.
23 with ETS
20 without ETS.
As the poster says - source RAIL magazine.
Thought I would copy here as it is the dedicated 99 thread.

Is this likely to instigate further Class 66s being sent off lease?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is this likely to instigate further Class 66s being sent off lease?

I suppose it will depend which locos (e.g 57s, 66s or 69s) have the most expensive leases and when they come up for renewal.