GBRf Class 56s to be converted to Class 69s

GB Railfreight has confirmed an order for 16 Class 69s to be converted from Class 56s it bought last year.

The locomotives will be converted by Progress Rail, from which GBRf will also lease the ‘69s’.

Work involves replacing the existing Ruston-Paxman RK3 engines and control gear with EMD 12-710 Series engines rated for EU Stage IIIA emissions certification, and updated electronic controls based upon the Class 66 design. The Class 56s were built between 1976 and 1984.

Prototype 69001 is due for delivery in May 2020. GBRf believes the locomotives will offer more power, reduced fuel consumption and improved emissions, as well as an enhanced driver cab environment compared with the Class 56.

In a statement, the operator added that the locomotives will also address the shortage of locomotives available in the UK. No work has been mentioned for the ‘69s’, but they will be able to replace ‘66s’, enabling GBRf to utilise its fleets more efficiently. The company is also known to be interested in operating construction trains for HS2.

“This is a fantastic move, which will enable GBRf to expand its operations significantly, while also providing the extra freight capacity the industry really needs,” said GBRf Managing Director John Smith.

“I remember working on the ‘56s’ as a young engineer, and it really will be amazing to see them come back into use under the GBRf banner.”

Billy Ainsworth, Group President of Energy & Transportation for Caterpillar Inc, said: “Renewing fleets such as GBRf’s with our advanced EMD engines and

upgraded locomotive technologies will allow the railway to achieve lower emissions and higher performance compared with prior models.”

GBRf owns 56007/018/031/03 2/037/038/060/065/069/077/081/ 098, 56104/106/128, 56311/312, with not all to be converted.

So far, GBRf has moved nine to Progress Rail’s Longport facility (56007/018/031/032/037/038/069, 56128, 56311), while 56081/098, 56104 and 56312 have been used for shunting at Peak Forest. The other locomotives remain at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester depot.

GBRf bought the ‘56s’ from UKRL (apart from 56128, which was bought from C F Booth’s).

Assistant Editor

ROBERT FALCONER. GB Railfreight 56098 brings out a loaded train at Peak Forest on March 28, while GBRf 56081 rests in the background. The ‘56s’ are used for shunting the heavy aggregates trains here, but will both be re-engineered in the future.