GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

[fgwrich]

So, 004 has appeared in a GBRf-ised version of the former BR Research Development Derby RTC livery, as the former class 24 97201 “Experiment”.

Photo found on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/stpeterslayout/status/1494316594914226183?s=21

 

[D365]

Nice.

 

[pdeaves]

So, 004 has appeared in a GBRf-ised version of the former BR Research Development Derby RTC livery, as the former class 24 97201 “Experiment”.

Photo found on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/stpeterslayout/status/1494316594914226183?s=21

Good grief! Someone in GBRf is clearly having fun.

 

[RichJF]

Good grief! Someone in GBRf is clearly having fun.

Would look even better if the GBRF large text had been left off or placed under the 'GB Railfreight' by the cab windows in my opinion!

I'm hoping for a Loadhaul livery now!

 

[Grumpy Git]

I like that livery.

 

[pdeaves]

The address on the right is a nice touch.

 

[978wta]

Got to love GBRf for being non uniform with their liveries and this one looks great!

 

[43096]

The address on the right is a nice touch.

That’s the reason for doing it: GBRf are now the operator of Old Dalby.

 

[fgwrich]

A few more photos, courtesy of GBRf.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've posted this elsewhere, but thought members may be interested in seeing that some modellers have already managed to create a 69, as seen on one of the smaller display layouts at Doncaster last weekend:

 

[Strat-tastic]

Have they changed the front windows? They look like an 87.

 

[D365]

Have they changed the front windows? They look like an 87.

Don’t think the Class 69 conversion involves any structural changes to the cab.

 

[fgwrich]

Have they changed the front windows? They look like an 87.

Don’t think the Class 69 conversion involves any structural changes to the cab.

Quite likely to be the reinforced window frames which give them that appearance. They are certainly a more chunkier frame at the very least.

 

[Strat-tastic]

The front windows on 004, to me, look more sharp at the angles compared to a 56; maybe it's just my imagination...

 

[Grumpy Git]

The front windows on 004, to me, look more sharp at the angles compared to a 56; maybe it's just my imagination...

As above, the frames look to be structural, whereas on the 57 they looked like a simple rubber surround. Happy to be proved wrong though.

 

[BRX]

Do I remember something about there having been several different cab window designs amongst the variants of the 56s?

 

[Nym]

So, 004 has appeared in a GBRf-ised version of the former BR Research Development Derby RTC livery, as the former class 24 97201 “Experiment”.

Photo found on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/stpeterslayout/status/1494316594914226183?s=21

Why though?

I honestly don't understand the whole idea of "Cute" liveries on things? Especially with the fake Old Dalby address on it.

 

[trainmania100]

Video of it at Brighton. It has been parked in the wall siding. Nice attention to detail, at first from some photos I thought the GBRf was a bit skewed but seems ok to me.

Will be strange sight seeing this haul a gypsum or whatever in a few months time....

 

[pdeaves]

fake Old Dalby address

What's fake about it?

 

[Nym]

What's fake about it?

The RIDC on the "Old Dalby" test track is not in "Old Dalby", it's in Ashfordby Business Park off the outskirts of Melton Mowbray. There's nothing in Old Dalby except a few old sheds.

To my knowledge there is also no GBRf presence at this site, other than their movements of Aventuras from Derby.

 

[fgwrich]

That’s the reason for doing it: GBRf are now the operator of Old Dalby.

Why though?

I honestly don't understand the whole idea of "Cute" liveries on things? Especially with the fake Old Dalby address on it.

The RIDC on the "Old Dalby" test track is not in "Old Dalby", it's in Ashfordby Business Park off the outskirts of Melton Mowbray. There's nothing in Old Dalby except a few old sheds.

To my knowledge there is also no GBRf presence at this site, other than their movements of Aventuras from Derby.

First point answered above by @43096

As for the choice of livery and why they are choosing almost a different livery for each loco I don't know, though in today's era of corporate blandness, it is nice to see someone be a little more different and colourful.

 

[43096]

The RIDC on the "Old Dalby" test track is not in "Old Dalby", it's in Ashfordby Business Park off the outskirts of Melton Mowbray. There's nothing in Old Dalby except a few old sheds.

To my knowledge there is also no GBRf presence at this site, other than their movements of Aventuras from Derby.

Your knowledge is out of date, as a quick search came up with this:

https://www.gbrailfreight.com/gbrf-...rail-innovation-development-centre-at-melton/

GB Railfreight (GBRf), one of the largest rail freight operators in the UK, has struck an agreement with Network Rail for the operation of its Rail Innovation & Development Centre (RIDC) Melton at its facility in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

The contract, signed this week by GBRf Managing Director John Smith will run from 1 April 2021 and last for four years.

RIDC Melton offers a dedicated test facility to provide safe and reliable testing environments for new and modified technology within the rail industry. This is a unique high speed test facility for the UK rail industry: it provides a safe specialised non-mainline facility for the testing, validation and commissioning of new and modified rolling stock, plant, on track machines, infrastructure, equipment and technology, away from the constraints of the mainline network.

RIDC Melton has been purpose-built to support both high and low speed testing. The facility provides two separate test tracks: a high-speed 13 mile test track between Melton Junction and Edwalton up to 125mph – 11 miles of this with 25kV overhead line equipment (OLE); and a slower-speed 4 mile test track from Old Dalby to Stanton Tunnel up to 60mph with 25kV OLE and DC 4th rail capability.

Tim Hartley, Business Development Director at GB Railfreight, said:

“Winning this contract not only expands GB Railfreight’s offering to Network Rail but also to the stakeholders of RIDC Melton. This is another diversification to our traditional business model of running freight trains but positions us really well to offer a more efficient end-to end service to all RIDC stakeholders. Innovation is at the heart of our business model, so running the operations at RIDC Melton is very exciting for us.”

 

[northernbelle]

Why though?

I honestly don't understand the whole idea of "Cute" liveries on things? Especially with the fake Old Dalby address on it.

It'll basically come down to being able to get much more media and press coverage than by outshopping it in standard livery - quite a sound business reasoning really.

That said, I do think company brand is better when it's relatively uniform with just a few exceptions - too many special treatments and it all starts to look a bit of a confusing mess (thinking of certain bus operations who don't have a single identity as such).

 

[pdeaves]

The RIDC on the "Old Dalby" test track is not in "Old Dalby", it's in Ashfordby Business Park off the outskirts of Melton Mowbray

OK, I see.

 

[50002Superb]

I really like the livery to be honest and it’s nice to see them mixing it up

 

[D365]

As above, the frames look to be structural, whereas on the 57 they looked like a simple rubber surround. Happy to be proved wrong though.

Last time I was on a 56, the windows didn’t look non-structural!

 

[Geeves]

Looks really good, I agree Loadhaul next! As for the new windows, maybe they just don't want their drivers sat in a draught?

 

[birchesgreen]

Why though?

I honestly don't understand the whole idea of "Cute" liveries on things? Especially with the fake Old Dalby address on it.

Because they can.

Plus gets them noticed and spoken about. Including by yourself.

 

[Neptune]

Do I remember something about there having been several different cab window designs amongst the variants of the 56s?

The original 30 Romanian locos had a different design on the small triangular cab side window. It had a rounded top and a thick rubber surround compared to the Doncaster and Crewe built locos.

Some of the Romanian locos had the later style replacement cabs after collisions such as 56004 at both ends and 56030 at one end so there ended up being the odd exceptions.

 

[Bonemaster]

The RIDC on the "Old Dalby" test track is not in "Old Dalby", it's in Ashfordby Business Park off the outskirts of Melton Mowbray. There's nothing in Old Dalby except a few old sheds.

To my knowledge there is also no GBRf presence at this site, other than their movements of Aventuras from Derby.

Its a heritage livery, the test centre was in Old Dalby when locos were painted in that livery originally.

The test centre moved to Asfordby when Alstom took over the test centre for Pendolino testing following its closure by British Rail.

Hence the Old Dalby lettering is reasonably authentic, most inauthentic thing about it is the cab sides that were in the inside the red area on the original livery on 97201. Although not on 97403.