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Category: Mainline Workings
News and updates on workings, locations or current status of mainline registered class 56 locomotives, including the group’s own 56301.
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Update 28th February 2021 – 56301 start up
First of all a belated happy birthday to 56006- It was 25th February 1977, 44 years ago , when the C56Gs locomotive became the first Class 56 accepted into traffic by British Rail.
Due to the restrictions little work has taken place on the loco but plans are being made for the resumption of working parties when safe to do so.
Reports from Leicester indicate 56301 is very nearly ready for release from its B exam with the only outstanding work being some test results on the axle bearings and then a test run.
The loco has had a new set of batteries and the attached video clip shows the start up las Thursday. Amazingly after virtually 2 years out of traffic the Ruston engine started first time and the dirty exhaust cleared almost immediately.
With the Class 69 project at the stage where 69001 is now being tested at the SVR (see link at foot of page for explanation of project and locos numbers) , there are signs that GBRf may still need their remaining ‘ classic’ 56s for a while yet (56081, 56098 and 56312) with a demand for the class and hopefully 56301 will finally have the opportunity for mainline running again.
Of course 56301 can’t run forever and the group policy is to try and earn enough revenue to ensure 56006 (as the groups ‘priority ‘ preserved’ locomotive) has a secure future funded by that mainline revenue. Whether 56301 can join 50006 and become ‘preserved’ in due course will depend on a number of factors but the group will consider all options to ensure 56006 continues to be operational for many years to come.
EXCLUSIVE: The GB Railfreight Class 69 project explained (railmagazine.com)
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56301 progress on bogie exchange
Update 23rd Jan 2020
Bogies arrived at UKRL and 56301 is currently inside shed and worn bogies are disconnected in preparation for exchange which is to take place next week.
12th Jan 2020
GBRf have confirmed the donor bogies have finally been removed from 56007 at Longport and should be delivered to the wheel is the at Doncaster Roberts Road this coming Monday. A quick turnaround is expected and the bogies should arrive at UKRL Leicester on Wednesday.
The schedule for the bogie
exhange work is not known at this time but UKRL will confirm once they receive the bogies.Updates will follow and hopefully 56301 will be available for potential spot hire work if required.
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Peak Forest duo- 5th September 2019
56098 has just propelled a rake back into the sidings while 56081 sits on the sand road ready for action.
Photo by C56G Chairman , and left uncropped to demonstrate view possible from the adjacent public roads.
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DCR new flow-Carlisle VQ to Boston Sleaford sidings-17/5 empties stage at Chaddesden
56091/56103 should work empry rake back to Chaddesden tomorrow (Fri 17/5)
Departing Boston at 1351 and running via Nottingham , arriving Chaddesden at 1744.
Locos then run light to Leicester at 1904 , arriving 2003.
DCR 56091 + 56103 should work upto Carlisle on Monday 13/5 with the empties from the initial runs of this working.
This could indicate the 2216 TThO could run on the 14/5 and 16/5 but no timings show in the system yet.Timings from RTT.
0Z56 Leicester L.I.P. 1000
Leicester 1003-1010
Syston South Jn 1017
Sileby Jn 1023
Loughborough 1028
East Midlands Parkway 1041
Trent South Jn 1044
Sheet Stores Jn 1046
Spondon 1054
Derby Way & Works Junction 1056
Derby 1058
Chaddesden Curve 1100
Chaddesden Sdgs 11046Z55 Chaddesden Sdgs 1239
Chaddesden Curve 1243
Derby 1245
L.N.W. Jn. Derby 1248
Melbourne Jn 1249
Sunnyhill 1252-1306
Stenson Jn 1311
North Stafford Jn 1312
Tutbury & Hatton 1319
Uttoxeter Signal Box 1328
Caverswall 1354
Longton 1359
Stoke Jn 1404
Stoke-on-trent 1406
Kidsgrove 1417
Alsager 1424
Barthomley Jn 1428
Crewe Sth Jn Nth Staff J 1431
Crewe 1435-1436
Crewe Coal Yard 1439
Winsford 1447-1453
Hartford Jn 1458
Acton Bridge 1501-1524
Weaver Jn 1530
Acton Grange Jn 1536
Warrington Bank Quay 1539
Dallam Junction 1541
Winwick Jn 1545
Golborne Jn 1548
Springs Branch Jn 1556
Wigan South Jn 1557
Wigan North Western 1557
Balshaw Lane 1605
Euxton Jn 1609
Farington Curve Jn 1613
Preston 1616-1621
Garstang & Catteral 1634
Oubeck Goods Loop 1644-1720
Lancaster 1724
Morecambe South Jn 1726
Carnforth D&U.G.L. 1732-1828
Carnforth North Jn 1830
Oxenholme Lake District 1844
Tebay 1859
Shap Harrisons Sdgs Loop 1914-2008
Penrith North Lakes 2019
Carlisle 2038
Caldew Jn 2039
Carlisle Kingmoor V.Q. 2047DCRail operated two trains between the above locations during the week commencing 29th April.
Running overnight the south bound train left Carlisle around 22:15 on Tuesday and Thursday. Arrival at Boston is around 07:58 (Wednesday and Friday morning respectively).
Return working ran as 13:51 from Boston arriving back at Carlisle 22:33.
56103 and freshly repainted 56091 worked the trains.
More workings are expected over the coming months.
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56081 on test Mon 3rd March 2019
56081 should go out on test from Leicester UKRL to Doncaster Decoy GBRF.
Departure is 0852 from Leicester and 56098 plus 47727 should go along too.
56081 is being prepared to take over from 56301 at Peak Forest
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56049 Colas freight debut
56049 ‘Robin of Templecombe 1938 – 2013’ & 56090, Crofton, 23/01/19. Photo copyright: Ben Wheeler 56049 finally made its return to mainline freight work yesterday, working the 6E32 08.55 Preston Docks (Ribble Rail) – Lindsey Oil Refinery empty Bitumen tanks. Colas Rail’s previous mainline returnee 56090 had handled the outward trip in a reverse view of the formation seen above.
This was 049’s first outing on a revenue earning freight train in the UK since January 2004, having been removed from use by EWS on 1st February of that year at Immingham, being stored to the WNTR ‘tactical reserve’ pool. The loco was later selected for export and use with French operator Fertis Rail, so was reallocated to the WZGF pool and (following attention at Bristol Barton Hill) moved to France in May 2005. It arrived back in the UK during November 2006, spending another five and a half years in storage at Old Oak Common and then Crewe Diesel Depot before being sold to European Metal Recycling (EMR) at Kingsbury in April 2012. It was finally given a stay of execution a few years later, when it was purchased by Colas Rail and moved to their premises at Washwood Heath where work to reinstate the loco started in earnest. Following the closure of this site to make way for HS2 foundation works, it was then relocated to its most recent home at Boden Rail, Nottingham Eastcroft from where its overhaul was completed.
It is the ninth and penultimate class 56 to return to front line service for Colas Rail, with just 051 (for now) waiting in the wings at Nottingham Eastcroft.
049 & 090 ventured out again this morning, working the 0E32 03.40 Barnetby Sidings – Wakefield Kirkgate & 0E33 05.47 return. These were traction training runs for new drivers.
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Update – 17th December 2018 to 11th January 2019
11th January 2019 – 56301 has very likely finished its spell at Peak Forest now and should return to UKRL Leicester to have the bogie exchange carried out. Despite speculation on the internet, the loco has been at Peak Forest since 8th October and performed well. Only a couple of issues during that time, one related to motor contactor and the other recent failure which was fortunately timed such that it coincided with the quarry Christmas shut down, and then the arrival on site of 56098 on either Mon 7th or Tue 8th January.
The repair to 56301 has been completed and all protective circuits and motors tested and the loco is serviceable but 56301 IS unlikely to be used much more due to 56098 & 56312 being on site now.56301 was only ever intended to be the short term cover while the other two 56s were prepared at Leicester so its done its job.
The rail head treatment trains have ceased and Colas 56s seem to have reappeared on the Lindsey – Preston – Lindsey tank trains again. 56049 is now showing in the operational Colas pool but no workings have been reported so far.
Loco locations on 8/1/19
56006 BURY (EAST LANCS) – OUT OF SERVICE FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE.56007 UKRS LONGPORT56009 LONGPORT56018 UKRS LONGPTDBC56031 GBGS LONGPTDBC
56032 GBGS LONGPTDBC
56037 GBGS LONGPTDBC56038 UKRS LONGPTDBC56049 COFS NOTTM CMD
56051 COLS NOTTM CMD56060 UKRS LESTER SD
56065 UKRS LESTER SD56069 GBGS LONGPTDBC56077 UKRS HUMBSTNRD
56078 COFS NOTTM CMD56081 UKRL LESTER SD
56087 COFS 6E32 Preston Docks – LNDSYOR56090 COFS 6E32 Preston Docks – LNDSYOR56091 HTLX LESTER SD
56094 COFS NOTTM CMD
56096 COFS TOTONN YD56097 GCR (N) RUDDINGTON56098 UKRL PEAKFOCEM56101 FLOYD HUNGARY56103 HTLX WILSDNDCR56104 UKRL LESTER SD
56105 COFS SHREWCLSS56106 UKRS LESTER SD56113 COFS NOTTM CMD56115 FLOYD HUNGARY56117 FLOYD HUNGARY56128 LONGPORT56301 UKRL PEAKFOCEM
56302 COFS 6N47 PRSTWKOIL – GMOUTH OT56303 HTLX WILSDNDCR56311 GBGS LONGPTDBC
56312 GBGD PEAKFOCEM -
Latest news – 24/11/18
Saturday 24/11/18
Another recent view of 56301, stabled at Peak Forest on the night of 24th November 2018. Photo copyright: Kevin Dowd. 56312 to Peak Forest … More GBRf 56s to Longport? – Schedules have been inputted for a GBRf operated Leicester – Longport and also a Longport – Peak Forest movement this coming Monday (26th November), most likely conveying more class 56s to the EMD facility for re-engineering. The onward movement to Peak Forest is likely to feature 56312, which (as reported on here earlier in the week) should be moving there imminently. Timings as follows:
0Z56 1000 Leicester L.I.P. – Longport F.D.
0Z57 1540 Longport F.D. – Peak Forest Cemex Sidings (GBRf)
Colas Class 56 fleet survey – A snapshot of the current Colas fleet, as things stand at 23:30 tonight:
56049 (COFS) – Nottingham Eastcroft, out of traffic (awaiting parts)
56051 (COFS) – Nottingham Eastcroft, out of traffic (awaiting bogies, having donated original set to 56090)
56078 (COFS) – Nottingham Eastcroft, normal status
56087 (COFS) – Shrewsbury Coleham (RHTT, with 56094)
56090 (COFS) – Toton TMD (RHTT, with 56105)
56094 (COFS) – Shrewsbury Coleham (RHTT, with 56087)
56096 (COFS) – Gloucester Horton Road (RHTT, with 56302)
56105 (COFS) – Toton TMD (RHTT, with 56090)
56113 (COFS) – Grangemouth Ineos, normal status
56302 (COFS) – Gloucester Horton Road (RHTT, with 56096)56312 rides again – Now unnamed and unbranded, DC Rail grey liveried 56312 returned to mainline service for new owners GB Railfreight earlier this week, working the 0Z56 Leicester LIP – Barrow Hill test run on Wednesday (21st November). 47749 went along for insurance and hauled it back to Leicester as 0Z57, the 47 itself fresh from receiving maintenance and in need of a test run ahead of charter train commitments this weekend.
EMDC ‘Grids’ return home – After the originally planned movement did not transpire last week, GBRf trio 56018, 56098 & 56104 finally returned home to Leicester Depot on Monday (19th November), with the Rail Operations Group hauling them from Castle Donington EMDC using 47812. Former EPS generator coach 96371 was also in the consist, meaning that the sidings at Castle Donington are now once again empty.
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56301 Peak Forest update
Update 20/12/2018
56301 suffered a general fault this evening while the driver was changing ends to propel back into the quarry sidings. After running throught the fault diagnostic process UKRL were contacted and will attend site tomorrow morning to rectify the fault, which is suspected to be a sticking traction motor contactor
UKRL’s response time was impressive this evening. This is the first significant fault on 56301 after around 10 week at Peak Forest.
Update 29/11/2018
56312 has arrived at Peak Forest and put to work. 56301 received an A exam.
Update 24/11/2018 – 56301 continues on shunting duties at Peak Forest. As was known before making the decision to hire 56301 to GBRf, the duties at Peak Forest are arduous but we’re pleased to report that so far the 56 has performed well and UKRL have attended the loco very promptly for the few problems which have arisen. These include clearing out damp sand from the sand boxes at No. 1 end (the end which really needs sand when the loco is shoving 24 boxes up the incline towards the Cemex loader) and repair of the DSD pedal at No. 1 end, after it became stiff due to ingress of quarry dust.
56312 is expected to join 56301 at some point and it is unclear whether the locos will be used individually as was previously the case with the DRS 37 and the Colas 56, or whether 56301 will return to Leicester after the 60 day hire finishes on 9th December.
It is thought that 56312 does not have operational multiple working equipment so the possibility of a pair of 56s working at Peak Forest seems unlikely, unless UKRL restore the equipment on 56312.
Attached is a photograph showing 56301 at 7am on Thursday 22/11/2018 – and yes, it was as cold as it looks on the picture!