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GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

The_Train

The_Train

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Ash Bridge said:
Just spotted it passing by our house (0.5 miles south of Reddish South) double heading with 60076 working 6E17 Liverpool - Drax Biomass service. Still unpainted and service running approximately 40 mins down at this point according to RTT, by the sound of things the 60 leading was doing all the work!
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Ash Bridge said:
Interesting point regarding the windows, hadn’t noticed that as it passed by. What would be the likely purpose of the locos inclusion in this service?
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Not sure of the exact reasons for it's trip to Drax and then onward movement to Doncaster (was reported at the RMT this morning) but I believe the end goal is still to get it down to Eastleigh. Whether this is all positional so as to have something to drag it down there, I'm not sure, but you'd think they'd be able to get it from Longport to Eastleigh without it going on a magical mystery tour
 
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johnselekta

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Hate to be that guy (ok I don't) but it's yin and yang not ying and yang. Hilariously, in written Taiwanese, this is translated to im-iông
 
4-SUB 4732

4-SUB 4732

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The_Train said:
Not sure of the exact reasons for it's trip to Drax and then onward movement to Doncaster (was reported at the RMT this morning) but I believe the end goal is still to get it down to Eastleigh. Whether this is all positional so as to have something to drag it down there, I'm not sure, but you'd think they'd be able to get it from Longport to Eastleigh without it going on a magical mystery tour
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Without a special path and a small number of drivers who would need a conductor or two, it wouldn’t work. So it goes dead in transit around the place.
 
61653 HTAFC

61653 HTAFC

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4-SUB 4732 said:
Everyone will enjoy the new one on 69003...
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You mean it isn't staying in primer? How disappointing! ;)

Is it another retro livery planned? Maybe red stripe*, or "Dutch"?

*= possibly without an actual red stripe, as per many 56s back in the day.
 
Ash Bridge

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When fully commissioned and to contain costs a little, just shove 69003 on RHTT duties as is…..surely choosing a livery then wouldn't matter a jot? ;)
 
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dmncf

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Please excuse me if this has been answered previously, but here goes...

Why has GBRf chosen to rebuild class 69s from class 56s, rather than buying/hiring class 57s that were rebuilt from class 47s, and perhaps spending some money to give them a further refurbishment? Is there a reason why class 57s can't meet GBRf's needs?
 
Strathclyder

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61653 HTAFC said:
You mean it isn't staying in primer? How disappointing! ;)

Is it another retro livery planned? Maybe red stripe*, or "Dutch"?

*= possibly without an actual red stripe, as per many 56s back in the day.
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I'd personally like to see one in Railfreight Two-Tone Grey with Coal Sector markings, as that always seemed to suit the 56s, especially when clean (linked photo copyright of Martin Loader).

56018 Wolvercote Junction 29 August 1991

www.hondawanderer.com
 
F

FOCTOC

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dmncf said:
Please excuse me if this has been answered previously, but here goes...

Why has GBRf chosen to rebuild class 69s from class 56s, rather than buying/hiring class 57s that were rebuilt from class 47s, and perhaps spending some money to give them a further refurbishment? Is there a reason why class 57s can't meet GBRf's needs?
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Yep - 56/69/66 share common components. There's a reason why the power unit and electronics were used in the 69s too - its proven, reliable and available.
 
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ExRes

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dmncf said:
Please excuse me if this has been answered previously, but here goes...

Why has GBRf chosen to rebuild class 69s from class 56s, rather than buying/hiring class 57s that were rebuilt from class 47s, and perhaps spending some money to give them a further refurbishment? Is there a reason why class 57s can't meet GBRf's needs?
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As far as I'm aware the 57 engine would never produce the power required for single headed use, and that's if the spare parts could be obtained anyway, if the EMD engine was to be used would it actually fit into the 47/57 bodyshell? the 56s were available and an EMD engine can be / has been fitted giving the pulling power of a 66, plus of course there's the question of where would the 57s have come from, it would have needed DRS to agree to sell them to GBRf
 
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JMH77

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Are any of these likely to be returning to Peterborough at any point? Just noticed they passed my workplace in Huntingdon yesterday and would have loved to catch a glimpse of them.
 
A

AMD

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dmncf said:
Please excuse me if this has been answered previously, but here goes...

Why has GBRf chosen to rebuild class 69s from class 56s, rather than buying/hiring class 57s that were rebuilt from class 47s, and perhaps spending some money to give them a further refurbishment? Is there a reason why class 57s can't meet GBRf's needs?
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Bob Tiller speaks about the decision on why the 56s were chosen in this webinar -
 
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Wyrleybart

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dmncf said:
Please excuse me if this has been answered previously, but here goes...

Why has GBRf chosen to rebuild class 69s from class 56s, rather than buying/hiring class 57s that were rebuilt from class 47s, and perhaps spending some money to give them a further refurbishment? Is there a reason why class 57s can't meet GBRf's needs?
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I guess that the class 56 bogie, including it's refurbished traction motors would lay down power more effectively than a class 57. The donor class 56s were available and the bodyshells being newer than class 47s were also probably more adaptable for the new innards.

Makes perfect sense to me
 
Ciderking

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69003 Seen outside Eastleigh Works this morning. Flickr picture here.

www.flickr.com

Eastleigh Works 69003

Early morning shot of new arrival GBRf 69003 (former 56018). I see the drivers side window is different on this one (Romanian built) and some of the welding on the front is pretty uneven. Now painted in the same livery as 69001 but without the flags and nameplate.
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com
 
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Hadleywood

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GrimShady said:
What was the reason in choosing 56s instead of 58 or 60s?
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I really liked driving 58s although they were quite scarce. 56s were a great freight engine. I liked the 57s also. Although they were a little down on poke they were nice and quiet on long journeys.
 
A

agourdie

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Managed to catch it tonight passing through Corby. Many thanks for the heads up
 

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