Class 56 Group 56006 (56301 now transferred to DCR)

[ExRes]

56301 is scheduled to return to the main line tomorrow after around 2 years out for repairs, it will be leading DCR 60055 on 0940 Leicester LIP to Long Marston and then inside the 60 on 1432 to Chaddesden with a rake of wagons, it should then run light back to Leicester

 

[ABB125]

56301 is scheduled to return to the main line tomorrow after around 2 years out for repairs, it will be leading DCR 60055 on 0940 Leicester LIP to Long Marston and then inside the 60 on 1432 to Chaddesden with a rake of wagons, it should then run light back to Leicester

It hasn't left Leicester yet. Is there an issue with it?

EDIT: it's now been cancelled

 

[ExRes]

It hasn't left Leicester yet. Is there an issue with it?

EDIT: it's now been cancelled

It all seems a bit unclear at the moment, the 60 move to Leicester is showing as cancelled, the pair moving to Long Marston also showing as cancelled but according to Rail Record there's a 1045 0Z60 Leicester to Chaddesden running with 56301 & 60055 on it, confusing or what?

 

[ABB125]

It all seems a bit unclear at the moment, the 60 move to Leicester is showing as cancelled, the pair moving to Long Marston also showing as cancelled but according to Rail Record there's a 1045 0Z60 Leicester to Chaddesden running with 56301 & 60055 on it, confusing or what?

Just a bit!

 

[ExRes]

A red herring? maybe even a red killer whale, but a VSTP 1248 6Z56 Chaddesden to York Holgate Siding has appeared ......

** Reported on WNXX as passing Derby Railcam with 56301 hauling 60055 and 24 JNAs

** Sadly not the outcome hoped for as 301 failed at Aldwarke Junction with an as yet unknown fault, 60055 ran round and returned the set to Chaddesden as 1628 6Z57



** 301 returned to Leicester LIP yesterday (20th) by 60055 for attention



** Reported that the fault was on the load regulator side of the control system causing a loss of power

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @ExRes to provide an update.

 

[ExRes]

Thread reopened for @ExRes to provide an update.

Thanks @Cowley

After a considerable amount of time 56301 has today re-entered the fray on 1006 0M56 Leicester LIP to Wembley ICD with 56081 for company, hopefully a more successful try than the last time

* The pair working back on 1347 0F92 to Loughborough Brush sandwiching 92006 then 1911 0F56 to Leicester LIP after dropping the 92 off

 

[D365]

Fantastic - good to see another 56 back on the move.

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks @Cowley

After a considerable amount of time 56301 has today re-entered the fray on 1006 0M56 Leicester LIP to Wembley ICD with 56081 for company, hopefully a more successful try than the last time

* The pair working back on 1347 0F92 to Loughborough Brush sandwiching 92006 then 1911 0F56 to Leicester LIP after dropping the 92 off

thanks - so that what the other loco was!

 

[ExRes]

56301 out today hauling 56081 on 1330 0Z56 Leicester LIP to Doncaster Roberts Road for a visit to the wheel lathe

 

[ExRes]

Anyone heard anything on 56301? I appreciate that everyone has to wait their turn these days but 2 months seems quite a considerable time for a wheel lathe visit, perhaps it's undergoing additional work while there?

 

[Pkh72]

Anyone heard anything on 56301? I appreciate that everyone has to wait their turn these days but 2 months seems quite a considerable time for a wheel lathe visit, perhaps it's undergoing additional work while there?

It’s been back at Leicester for a few weeks now, not sure if it requires further work or is available for traffic if required.

 

[ExRes]

It’s been back at Leicester for a few weeks now, not sure if it requires further work or is available for traffic if required.

Thanks for that @Pkh72 I'd not noticed anything on RTT or Rail Record ** but a look at Flickr just now certainly shows 301 back at Leicester on 28th Dec, perhaps we shall see if the rumours of a hire by DCR comes to fruition

** or C56G facebook

 

[D365]

With the remaining GBRf 56s soon to be converted, there won't be many operational 56s left!

 

[ExRes]

Reopened for @ExRes to post an update

Thanks @matt

56301 made a long awaited return to the main line today on test with GBRf 47749 along for insurance on 1121 0Z56 Leicester LIP to Barrow Hill Up Siding 4 GBRf and 1345 0Z57 return, both ran without delay so hopefully a good result this time

 

[ExRes]

Good news confirmed today by Class 56 Group that 56301 is going on hire to DCR, due to move on tomorrows 1130 0Z56 Leicester LIP to Chaddesden to undertake tests to check that it's still on talking terms with 56091



** Updated Monday 24th July **


Presumably 56301 passed its tests as C56G report that it is due to work dead inside of 56091 on tomorrows 4Z43 Chaddesden to Willesden empty JNAs



** Updated Thursday 27th July **


First revenue earning service for 56301 today working with 56091 on 0951 6Z60 Willesden to Merehead Quarry and loaded 1628 6Z61 return

 

[ExRes]

Some interesting news this evening from the Class56Group, 56301 has enjoyed a fault free hire period to DCR which will continue until 31st March 2024, subject to being in operational condition the ownership of the loco will then transfer to Cappagh (DCR) from 1st April, the C56G newsletter has lots of detail on the terms agreed but unfortunately will not link at present

 

[D365]

... subject to being in operational condition the ownership of the loco will then transfer to Cappagh (DCR) from 1st April, the C56G newsletter has lots of detail on the terms agreed but unfortunately will not link at present

That is very interesting indeed; I would be interested to know what drove this decision on the C56G side.

 

[ExRes]

That is very interesting indeed; I would be interested to know what drove this decision on the C56G side.

If you have a read of the C56G newsletter things will become clearer, to me it seems very much down to the costs of trying to operate 56301 and finance work on the renovation of 56006 at the same time along with virtually no volunteers to do the work, of the various routes they could go down this one is best for them

 

[D365]

If you have a read of the C56G newsletter things will become clearer, to me it seems very much down to the costs of trying to operate 56301 and finance work on the renovation of 56006 at the same time along with virtually no volunteers to do the work, of the various routes they could go down this one is best for them

Ah, I'm struggling to get on the website but I have seen the headline. It makes sense as DCR has taken on increasing custodianship of 301 again. And as you say, volunteer resourcing seems sparse.

 

[31160]

On Farcebook it does state that DC have agreed to supply a class 56 to a gala once a year for the next three years so that's something, of course that means it could be either 091 or 301 also it says the 56 group have a agreement that they will be offered the chance to buy back the loco once DC have finished with it, also DC now have a working pair with is more useful to keep up with the modern busy network, no mention is made of 103 which is probably having spares for 091 being taken off it. I can remember when EWS took them out of service in 2004 there was a lot of interest in them ,but I feel when the 56 group stripped and scrapped 040 some volunteers who got it back working felt aggrieved their work was wasted and stepped back also a 3000 plus hp,air brake only non heat loco on a pres line is if limited use 99% of the time

 

[ExRes]

On Farcebook it does state that DC have agreed to supply a class 56 to a gala once a year for the next three years so that's something, of course that means it could be either 091 or 301 also it says the 56 group have a agreement that they will be offered the chance to buy back the loco once DC have finished with it, also DC now have a working pair with is more useful to keep up with the modern busy network, no mention is made of 103 which is probably having spares for 091 being taken off it. I can remember when EWS took them out of service in 2004 there was a lot of interest in them ,but I feel when the 56 group stripped and scrapped 040 some volunteers who got it back working felt aggrieved their work was wasted and stepped back also a 3000 plus hp,air brake only non heat loco on a pres line is if limited use 99% of the time

Yes, it seems to me a fair deal for both sides, I think it also says that 301 will be named for the C56G, just one minor but happy point, 56103 was reinstated to the DCRO operational pool this week so we may well see all three available in the near future

 

[43096]

If you have a read of the C56G newsletter things will become clearer, to me it seems very much down to the costs of trying to operate 56301 and finance work on the renovation of 56006 at the same time along with virtually no volunteers to do the work, of the various routes they could go down this one is best for them

It doesn’t solve the volunteer issue, though.

I’d also question why giving up on the loco that has all the mainline safety equipment on it is the best choice. Yes, I know there is an emotional attachment to 56006, but there was to 56049, too - and they ditched that.

 

[Cowley]

Is 56006 significant to the group due to it likely becoming the only surviving Romanian example in original condition?

 

[D365]

It doesn’t solve the volunteer issue, though.

The rationale seems to be that 301, now that it is back in working order, is better suited to a mainline operator. Additionally, DCR is involved with ETCS - getting 301 onto the Class 56 fitment programme would mean that its [currently non-standard] TPWS & OTMR will be replaced.

Is 56006 significant to the group due to it likely becoming the only surviving Romanian example in original condition?

It seems so.

 

[37114]

It doesn’t solve the volunteer issue, though.

I’d also question why giving up on the loco that has all the mainline safety equipment on it is the best choice. Yes, I know there is an emotional attachment to 56006, but there was to 56049, too - and they ditched that.

I guess DCR were only interested in buying an operational mainline registered class 56 i.e. 56301 rather than 56006 which would need a lot of work to get to mainline condition. Agree it doesn't fix the volunteer issue however.

Is 56006 significant to the group due to it likely becoming the only surviving Romanian example in original condition?

And from reading the press release it seems that is part of the logic for keeping 56006. If they sell it no guarantees that it will survive (e.g. damaged in accident, left to rot after a major failure) and the press release references not wanting to demotivate volunteer who have worked on it presumably a learning form the 56040 outcome.

 

[43096]

It doesn’t solve the volunteer issue, though.

I’d also question why giving up on the loco that has all the mainline safety equipment on it is the best choice. Yes, I know there is an emotional attachment to 56006, but there was to 56049, too - and they ditched that.

Typo alert: 56040, not 56049.

 

[ExRes]

I guess DCR were only interested in buying an operational mainline registered class 56 i.e. 56301 rather than 56006 which would need a lot of work to get to mainline condition. Agree it doesn't fix the volunteer issue however.


And from reading the press release it seems that is part of the logic for keeping 56006. If they sell it no guarantees that it will survive (e.g. damaged in accident, left to rot after a major failure) and the press release references not wanting to demotivate volunteer who have worked on it presumably a learning form the 56040 outcome.

It should be borne in my mind that the C56G/DCR agreement gives C56G the option to repurchase 56301 when no longer required by DCR, as long as it's still in one piece of course, so it could then enter preservation, by the time that happens then who's to know what condition 56091 & 56103 will be in

 

[DarloRich]

I notice the loco will be painted in a heritage livery. Surely either plain blue or large logo then sprayed brown with an oil stain down one side

It should be borne in my mind that the C56G/DCR agreement gives C56G the option to repurchase 56301 when no longer required by DCR, as long as it's still in one piece of course, so it could then enter preservation, by the time that happens then who's to know what condition 56091 & 56103 will be in

Yes - thought that clause was interesting. Stressed a buy back option AS LONG as the loco was complete!

 

[ExRes]

After failing on last Fridays 6Z45 and being given a helping hand to Chaddesden 56301 worked the 1006 4Z57 Chaddesden to Chaddesden via Barnetby empty test train



** Updated Monday 11th December **


Not a happy time for 56301, due to work 6Z41 Chaddesden to Burton OT West Yard today but cancelled due to "traction failure"