POWER BY THE HOUR
No. 69001 debuts on the national network wearing a livery commemorating the fusion of British and American railway heritage in this new locomotive class.
The first Class 69 operates under its own power; LNER 91s are back; Patriotic ‘Duff' repaired.
HAVING completed its successful trials at the Severn Valley Railway in March, GB Railfreight's No. 69001 has completed its next milestone, its first main line test runs.
The doyen of the new class was unveiled in a special UK-US paint scheme at Eastleigh Works on June 14, complete with Mayflower name, inspired by the ship that delivered the Pilgrim fathers to America in 1620 after a gruelling 10-week voyage from Plymouth.
The new livery includes UK and US flags and ‘speed whiskers' that are reminiscent of those applied to DMUs in the 1950s, and which have divided the enthusiast community.
The former No. 56031, the first British-built Class 56, was released from BREL Doncaster in May 1977 and has been re-engineered by Progress Rail at Longport with an EMD 12N-710G3B-T2 power unit that meets stage 3A of EU emission regulations, similar to the later-built Class 66s, along with the latest versions of the popular EM2000 software and ‘uptime' computer control. This provides better performance, noise control and fuel economy. Fuel capacity remains at 5200litres and the route availability is unchanged at RA7.
MAIN LINE TESTS
No. 69001 departed Eastleigh Works on the same day of its unveiling, forming the train for Nos. 73212 and 73213, which worked a 0Y69 to Tonbridge West Yard. After two days of staff training at Tonbridge, Mayflower was finally let loose on the main line under its own power.
Partnered with No. 73212 as a precaution, No. 69001 was tasked with an 0Y69 circular test run via Hastings, Rye and Ashford International. The pair were out again over the following few days on similar trips, although by the 24th No. 69001 was partnered with
No. 73961.