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56006 performed well today following repairs to rectify an electrical problem which has prevented full power being obtained.

We can now continue preparing the loco for its July Gala duties and a weekend diesel turn on the 26th and 27th July.

After many months of volunteers working on the external appearance of 56006 it’s a great feeling to now know that the internals work as they should and , baring unexpected problems, the gala attendees will get a chance to see the result of their hardwork.

Thanks to the ELR for organising the test runs at short notice and to the A1A team who allowed C56G to use their duty to test 56006.

See you at the Gala.

Following a test run last Friday to determine cause of low power issues volunteers have carried out investigation and repairs. Subject to availability another proving run is scheduled to take place this Sunday on the last train of the day details as above . Train arrives back in Bury 17:10.

56006 should pilot the train engine 31108 on this trip.

Our website will soon be updated and will give you an option to join and buy online. In the meantime we have some stock available and if you interested please get in touch

Good morning all. Who doesn’t love a class 56. After an amazing weekend in swanage and SVR next week with two of the class I’m happy to update you all subject to the usual caveats, operational availability etc that 006 will be doing the below turns at the east Lancs railway.

Fri/ Sat / Sun of Diesel Gala ( 4th to 6th July)

Diesel turn on 26th/ 27th July ( 3 round trips- starts 0910 to Heywood/ finishes 1710 back at Bury)

Our team of amazing volunteers have been working very hard behind the scenes to make this happen and to say we are all excited is an under statement

If you’re interested in our group, what we do, becoming a memeber or volunteering please head over to our website for more info www.class56group.co.uk

Class 56 Group You Tube Channel

Good morning all we are back at the Lancs this weekend to work on 006 so will update you all on progress early next week

We have purchased some new polo shirts as well as locating the remainder of our old stock

If you’d like any of the below items please get in touch via messenger or admin@class56group.co.uk

Polo Shirts £15 plus PP

Class 56 Group Logo Grey – L – 2 Left
Class 56 Group Logo Blue – M – 2 Left
Class 56 Group Logo Blue – XL – 3 Left
“Oystermouth” (56040) – Dark Blue – L – 1 Left
“Oystermouth” (56040) – Dark Blue – XL – 1 Left
“Oystermouth” (56040) – Dark Blue – 2XL – 1 Left
“Blyth Power” (56134) – Dark Blue – L – 1 Left
“Blyth Power” (56134) – Dark Blue – XL – 2 Left
“Blyth Power” (56134) – Dark Blue – 2XL – 3 Left
“Merehead” (56031) – Dark Blue – L – 3 Left
“Merehead” (56031) – Dark Blue – XL – 4 Left
“Merehead” (56031) – Dark Blue – 2XL – 4 Left
“Class 56 – 40 Years” – White – XL – 1 Left
“Railfreight” – Grey – L – 1 Left
“Railfreight” – Grey – XL – 1 Left
“Railfreight” – Grey – 2XL – 1 Left

Beanies and Scarves – Railway £6 plus PP

“Merehead” Beanie Hat – Dark Blue – 1 Left
“Merehead” Scarf – Dark Blue – 5 Left
“Oystermouth” Scarf – Dark Blue – 1 Left
“Thornaby Kingfisher” Scarf – Dark Blue – 1 Left
“Stratford Sparrow” Scarf – Dark Blue – 2 Left
“West Highland Terrier” Scarf – Dark Blue – 5 Left

The Class 56 Group is pleased to announce the completion of the transfer of 56301 to new owners DC Rail ( part of Cappagh Group).

We are proud to have been part of the locomotives history and it’s a sobering thought that we owned and operated 56301 for 14 years. BR only owned it for 16 years.

During those 14 years the loco travelled far and wide giving enthusiasts a chance to see and photograph it in far flung locations across the network.

The revenue generated by the mainline hire work helped fund work on 56006, the upkeep of 56301 itself and purchase of tools and spare parts for 56006.

Of course the loco spent significant periods out of traffic, for wheelset issues and more recently power unit repairs.

It was never our long term plan to own two locos. The time and effort spent managing a mainline registered locomotive was significant and the sale of 56301 will release us all to concentrate our efforts on 56006.

It’s been a great experience owning a mainline locomotive , frustrating at times, but immensely rewarding at others.

None more so than last Monday when I made a trip to Peak Forest to witness what was a loaded test run prior to the expected handover to DCR and was to be one of the last workings of 56301 as a Class 56 Group loco. The fact it was an 03:38 departure says a lot about how I felt personally about 56301.

We wish DCR good fortune with the loco and hope to see it hauling heavy trains for many years to come.

Keith

Crewe is the place to be on Monday. Not only should 56301 pass through around 10 o’clock on the working to Ravenhead ( see below), but 45 mins later 56103 passes through on what appears to be a route learning trip from Chaddesden up the North Wales Coast.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R62138/2025-03-31/detailed

56103 does a couple of trips. One out and back to Chester ( about 3pm ) then another out to Crewe ( around 6pm)

Tuesday is similar with appearances at Chester at 11am, 3pm then Crewe at 6pm.

There is no return working to Chaddesden in the system yet , so loco may repeat similar on Wednesday.

27th March 2025

56301 should work tomorrows ( 28th) 6L92 11:08 Chaddesden to King’s Lynn TC.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H46123/2025-03-28/detailed

If all goes to plan 56301 should then work Mondays ( 31st March) 6L89 04:05 Middleton Towers- Ravenhead Sidings sand train, which is booked to load to 2000 tonnes https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R37407/2025-03-31/detailed

24th March 2025

56301 + 56103 worked light to Rectory Jcn where 56103 was due an A Exam.

22th March 2025

56301 continues to perform.duties for DCR and worked Saturdays ( 22nd March) Middleton Towers to Ravenhead as far as Chaddesden Sidings where 60046 took over.

56301 worked the 2000t train solo for the last leg from Peterborough .

20th March 2025

56301 + 56103 should operate the following working to King’s Lynn tomorrow.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H46123/2025-03-21/detailed

16th March 2025

56301 should work in multi with 56103 on this evenings ( Sun 16th March) 6M70 22:01 Chaddesden Sidings to Tunstead Sidings.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H01881/2025-03-16/detailed

After loading the pair should depart as 6M71 03:38 Tunstead Sidings to Humberstone Road. Load should be 2000 tones

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H01882/2025-03-17/detailed

If anyone is up early/ out late to witness these workings , we’d love to see any pictures , which can be sent to the contact@ e.mail address listed in the contacts section of the website

Hopefully members have received their latest edition of Gridiron.

SInce Gridiron went to press we have seen 56301 move from Loughborough to Boden Rail Engineering at Rectory Junction. There the locomotive will undergo final work to prepare it for return to mainline use and long awaited transfer of ownership to Cappagh/DCR.

56006 – our volunteers numbers continue to grow and as a result there is steady progress on returning 56006 to service after it’s winter hibernation. We now have a healthy pool of around 15 volunteers , and most are progressing through the ELR safety process to ensure they are fully aware of the methods of safe working.

Next working dates are 1st/ 2nd March and 22nd / 23rd March with others being planned. The objective is to get the loco ready for starting up during April in advance of testing and prep ready for the ELR Summer Gala.

Please get in touch if you want to get involved. It is an interesting fact that most of our new volunteers have come from the ELR side of things, very few are home grown from our pool of 200 C56G members.

Those attending the Autumn gala will recall 56006 wasn’t developing full power and we this will be investigated and hopefully resolved before the Gala.

A good day yesterday, even if it was a bit chilly.

56006, for once! , did exactly what it was supposed to do. That is sit in the platform, do exactly nothing , and look so unloved that it encourages people to not only join thd C56G but to volunteer to help work on the loco.

Fortunately the rather faded and weathered side of 56006 was on the platform side.

And it worked, we recruited 8 new members , at least three of which have already begun the process of becoming working volunteers. Welcome on board.

Our layout ‘ Arnold Lane’ was reunited with 56006 for the first time since they both appeared together at Bartow Hill.