“Grid” Group News

Following a test run last Wednesday when 56301 (with 47749 in tow) ran from Leicester to Barrow Hill and back, the locomotive has been returned to operational status. The locomotive has been out of traffic for over 4 years since returning from a hire period at Peak Forest in 2018 . After a very long […]

Work to rewire the wheelslip protection circuits on 56006 has continued over the winter but unfortunately the work cannot now be completed soon enough to allow the full testing and proving of the work and then the essential test runs(s) before the upcoming Diesel Gala. Work will continue but the locomotive not scheduled to appear […]

This years C56G & C56LL AGM will take place on – Saturday 15th July 2023 -at Bury East Lancashire Railway Start time is 12:30 at the Meeting Room at the ELR’s Buckley Wells Locomotive Depot, Baron Street, Bury, BL9 0TY , which is the same venue as last year. A light buffet will be served from around 12:15 […]

56006-progress. Pleased to report the tarpaulin fitted over the weekend of the AGM is doing its job as the inside of the locomotive is now bone dry. One unforeseen consequence is the lack of natural light- it wasn’t appreciated how much daylight was filtering into the loco through the cantrail air filter louvres. Recent work […]

56006 It is regretted that 56006 will not be available for the ELR September Gala. As explained previously to G56G members , the amount of work which can be completed by the small team of volunteers is the constraining factor. Recent appeals have not produced any additional volunteers. The ELR Gala organisers have been informed […]

The C56G AGM took place on Saturday 23rd July at the East Lancashire Railway in Bury. The meeting was reasonably well attended and two members attended by remote video link. A group picture appears below. On the Sunday a team of 7 volunteers set to work on 56006 and the main accomplishment was the fitting […]

56006 remains unavailable and will not be performing at next weekends ELR Diesel Gala. The overhaul of the top part of the electrical cubicle is ongoing and attendance by our small team of regular volunteers has been affected to greater or lesser degrees by Day jobs, family, Covid, TPE & RMT strikes. As a result […]

The Annual General Meeting of the Class 56 Group will take place on Saturday 23rd July 2022. The venue is now confirmed and the meeting will take place in the East Lancashire Railway Training Room , Baron Street Works , Baron Street, Bury BL9 0TY. As part of our drive to recruit new volunteers , […]

We are well aware that our attempts to provide updates on the progress of repairs on 56301 has seen a number of ‘false dawns’ in terms of deadlines which have come and gone. One wheelset was causing issues and it has been away at the South Devon Railway being overhauled. It should hopefully be returned […]

Regular working parties continue on 56006. These normally take place on the middle Sunday of each month but occasionally vary due to the shift patterns of a couple of key volunteers. Next working dates are Mon 14th and Tue 15th March. 10th April 2022 (Sunday) In an effort to encourage some much needed volunteers to […]