Class 58 to run again at Chinnor
Newdeal will see running days throughout 2020, with possible visit to other heritage lines too.
IT is now 18 years since a Class 58 last hauled a passenger train in Britain, and 17 years since one last ran under its own power, but all that is set to change this year with the news that preserved No. 58023 is to move to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.
The loco was withdrawn in July 1999, but was never one of the class to be sent for further work abroad. Instead, it was stored out of use for many years at Toton, still carrying faded Mainline Freight blue livery and logos. It was eventually put up for sale by DB Schenker with four others in late 2015, being sold and moved to Ron Hulls scrapyard in Rotherham early in 2016, along with Mainline grey-liveried classmate No. 58012.
Both these ‘58s’ were sold on to a private owner and taken in spring 2016 to the Battlefield Line (Leicestershire) for restoration work on No. 58023 to begin, including a fresh coat of blue livery without logos, and then moved again to UKRL’s base at Leicester.
The loco is now awaiting movement to Chinnor by rail, although this could be delayed by paperwork and gauging issues due to the length of time since one of the class hasmoved on the main line.
If all goes to plan, the loco should be on site at the heritage line on
March 23, ready to take part in the C&PRR’s diesel gala on March 27-29. It will also take part in running days throughout the year on dates yet to be announced, but could also be loaned
out to other rail-connected heritage railways. The air-braked-only loco will be used with the 3-CEP stock based at Chinnor.
The last ‘58’-hauled passenger working was the farewell ‘Bone Idol’ tour on September 1, 2002, which featured Nos. 58024 from King’s CrossSkegness-Toton and No. 58020 from Toton-King’s Cross. The last ’58s’ to run under their own power in Britain were on March 19, 2003 when Nos. 58041+ 58043 (in GIF livery) ran from Eastleigh
to Dollands Moor for export to
Spain. Subsequent exports were hauled by other locos or as part of a freight working.
■ The C&PRR’s gala will feature up to eight locos over its three days, including (subject to availability)
Nos. 31128, 33053, 37227 and 55019 plus shunters Nos. 08629 (ex-Wolverton Works) and 08825 on brake van rides at Princes Risborough. A limited number of one-way cab rides will be available on each service.
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