Ahh wow no wonder its looking old now!
I do too honestly: really suits the loco whenever its working the more gritty looking freight runs (such as the scrap runs it did in the past with the old box wagons). Its just looking a bit worn now.
At least 17 years ago
They sounded great going through Long Eaton crossing just now, unfortunately it’s too dark to get a decent photo on an iPhone.News from a very reliable source on WNXX and now confirmation from the Class 56 Group website that 56301 & 56103 are scheduled to be working tonights 2201 6M70 Chaddesden Sidings to Tunstead Sidings empties, loaded 0338 6M71 to Humberstone Road No5 Top Siding and 1516 6D59 return to Chaddesden with the empties as their first working turn after repairs to both locos, C56G would be delighted if anyone is out taking pictures and would be happy to share them with the group, the contact address is on their website
If all goes well 56301 should become a DCR loco in the not too distant future and then verbal fisticuffs can begin over whether the loco will get a new coat of paint and if so which particular colour that paint will be
Not to leave 56006 out there are a number of pictures on C56G facebook of the progress currently being made on the loco
I did wonder myself whether DCR would still be interested in the 56s, as opposed to reactivating more ex-DBC 60s.Great news, always the worry that something would go wrong and they'd be replaced by the 60, now running under the proper headcode of 4M70, if you can manage to hang around a little bit longer they will be through Trent Jct at 0627
Oh no, failed already? Any indications what went wrong with it?
Have to say, that paintwork owes nothing to no-one! 19 years now, that has to be some sort of record for the class surely?
Late 2005/early 2006 beyond any doubt, pics of 302 running test trains in April '06 looking very shiny floating about. Fastline refurbished 3 machines (301-303; ex 045 & 124-125 respectively) for use on a short-lived container flow (4O90 Doncaster Railport - Thamesport), but I think this had ceased running by the time Fastline/Jarvis collapsed in March 2010. They also hired in a few other examples from the likes of Hanson periodically; 311 & 312 ring a distant bell. On this note, was there a specific reason the 56/3 subclass was created for these 3 machines? Was there any major technical change that justified/warranted it or was it merely a paper exercise? Seems as good a place as any to ask such a question lol
The /3 locomotives have a different OTMR, TPWS and fire suppression system to the /0s which were overhauled and modified by EWS. Other than that, no difference.
I saw 6M89 at Peterborough on Saturday afternoon - when the train arrived, only 56301 was running and the train went into the goods loop next to platform 7. The driver then started up 56103, but it was producing a lot of smoke and sounded very 'chuggy', like it was wasn't firing on all cylinders. It ran for while, then it was shut down along with 56301, then both were started up and appeared to be running OK. When the train left I think only 56301 was running (or at least providing power) - but the departure was fairly gentle so it was a bit hard to tell for sure.
56004 only ever wore BR Blue until scrapped in 2006, though the question arises as to whether that was as-delivered BR Blue, as it received a replacement cab following collision damage in October 1982. Though that still, potentially, puts it at over 20 years.
I did wonder about that, as I know a few members of the class retained BR Blue for either their entire or for a good chunk of their careers. 56010 was another example, as that was still in tatty/faded BR Blue in 1993-94 (linked photo copyright of Flickr's Dave Peachey). It had gained Railfreight Grey with Transrail markings by April 1995 though.
www.flickr.com
I did suspect that this is what it was, but just wanted to ask and make 100% sure. Cheers for the extra info.
Ah, yes, you're quite right.
