February target for testing of GBRf’s converted ‘69s’

MAIN line testing of the first GB Railfreight Class 69 should begin next February, the company has told RAIL.

An initial ten Class 69s are being converted from Class 56s by Electro-Motive Diesel at Longport (near Stoke), with an option for a further six likely to be agreed. The locomotives were bought from UK Rail Leasing for use as donors.

The ‘69s’ are being fitted with General Motors 12N-710G3B-T2 engines capable of 3,200hp. Originally, the first should have been released for testing in May this year, although the project was already slightly behind schedule before the COVID-19 pandemic introduced further delays.

Restrictions to work processes in the US and the UK have affected the scheme (the power units and other components are being dispatched from the US).

The first to be tested will be 69001, which is being converted from 56311. So far, identities for the next two have been confirmed, with 69002 to be converted from 56031 (the first of the UK-built Class 56s) and 69003 converted from 56018.

Meanwhile, three Class 66s imported for GBRf from Norway last year have been released from

Longport, following modifications to bring them up to UK standards.

Leased from Beacon Rail, 6679066792 were built in 2002. Two (66790/792) have been moved to Eastleigh Works, where they will be repainted into GBRf livery by Arlington Fleet Services. The third (66791) will retain its Beacon

Rail blue colour scheme and has been named Neil Bennett after the leasing company’s former chief operating officer, who retired from the business last year. It is planned that all three will enter traffic in August.

GBRf has also agreed a threeyear maintenance deal with DB

Cargo UK for its ten Class 60s.

DBC will also provide technical in-field support.

The contract is designed to drive reliability improvements for the ‘60s’, which GBRf bought from Colas Railfreight in 2018. Their main duty is to haul biomass trains.

CLIFF BEETON. Testing of the first Class 69 is due to begin next year. On July 4, 56031, which is due to become 69002, is shunted at EMD’s Longport facility. It has been fitted with overhauled bogies, a Class 66-style roof and new headlights as part of its rebuild. It’s further ahead in the rebuild than 56311, which is due to become 69001.