Colas Rail’s 56049 ran out from Nottingham Eastcroft to Crewe Basford Hall on Friday 18th January.
With 56105 taken along as both a load and as insurance against a problem, the test seems to have gone okay as 56049 showing on TOPS as back at Nottingham this morning, with 56105 left at Crewe.
A working day is planned for the above date. If anyone would like to come a long and help, or perhaps just see what we do before they get involved please get in touch via the e-mail address in the contacts section of the website – please use the one starting with chair@…….
The next dates are set as:
Sunday 24th February
Sunday 31st March
And we hope to establish the last Sunday in the month as the regular working party date.
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
56032 GBGS LONGPTDBC
56037 GBGS LONGPTDBC
56049 COFS NOTTM CMD
56065 UKRS LESTER SD
56078 COFS NOTTM CMD
56087 COFS 6E32 Preston Docks – LNDSYOR
56094 COFS NOTTM CMD
56096 COFS TOTONN YD
56105 COFS SHREWCLSS
56302 COFS 6N47 PRSTWKOIL – GMOUTH OT
56312 GBGD PEAKFOCEM
The next edition of Gridiron is very close to production, after some delays caused by the change over to a new editorial team. I’d guess it should be landing on doormats before this time next month.
As Gridiron is also used to get membership renewals out to members there may be some members who have not received their expected renewal forms. These will be with you soon.
If anyone has any items they’d like included in Gridiron, whether they be photos, news reports or articles of a reminiscent nature (hopefully with a class 56 related theme!) please get in touch.
Regards
Keith
As reported previously – 56312 ran light to Peak Forest on the 28th November. The loco has been reallocated from HTLX to the GBGD pool, a new pool created for the active GBRf Class 56s.
The RHTT season concluded around 8th December and the circuits using 56s were operated by the following locomotives:
Gloucester – 56078 & 56302
Toton – 56090 & 56105
North Wales – 56087 & 56094 – the final working on the 8th was topped by Class 50 No. 50050 which operated from Crewe to Holyhead and return.
The release of 56s from the RHTT duties brought an end to Colas class 70 and hired in DB Cargo class 60s on the Lindsey to Preston and return oil workings. 56094 & 56096 worked the train on the 11th December.
56301 remains on hire at Peak Forest working alongside new arrival 56312. The hire is expected to run until at least 8th January, when the locomotive could be replaced by 56104 which is being prepared for a return to traffic at UKRL Leicester.
Saturday 24/11/18
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.
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!
Friday 16th November 2018
Colas ‘Grid’ visits CLC line: With the exception of test trains and MPVs during RHTT season, there is no booked freight along the CLC line from west of Trafford Park to Liverpool South Parkway, with the staple diet being units from Northern Rail and East Midlands Trains. Freight along this line is very rare and are normally only seen during the early hours of the morning. It is strongly believed that a class 56 hasn’t visited this line since their days of operation with EWS, as such despite the challenging lighting conditions one of our site visitors, Tom Swift, recorded the rare passing. In the above image, 56094 is seen at Padgate (near Warrington) on 11th November, working the 6C92 Crewe Basford Hall – Liverpool South Parkway. 37099 ‘Merl Evans 1947-2016’ was on the rear. Photo copyright: Tom Swift.
Stay of execution for 56303: Damaged during a shunting related incident at Wembley earlier in the year, 56303 has now been moved to Willesden F Sidings to allow basic repairs to be done to it. This, in turn, should enable the locomotive to be towed to Leicester or Eastleigh at a later date, so that more extensive repairs can be undertaken. Speculation several months ago was rife that the loco, then facing a more uncertain future, could be sold to GB Railfreight for use as part of their Class 56 re-engineering project.
EMDC occupants: 56018, 098 & 104 remain at Castle Donington EMDC with the former EPS ‘Night Star’ generator coach vehicle and did not move on 13th November, as was originally planned. 47815 worked 5Z59 with just two blue barrier vehicle coaches instead. Also, DC Rail’s 56103 has now returned to Willesden after moving 33053 from Knighton Junction to Leicester on 12th November with 50008.
The Rail Operations Group should be collecting the stored GBRf class 56s and stock from Castle Donington EMDC on Tuesday (13/11), returning them to Leicester Depot.
Also, DC Rail’s currently sole operational class 56, 56103, is planned to return from Willesden to Leicester tomorrow. It is to be engaged in the collection of preserved 33053 from Knighton Junction (Leicester), which is to be tripped across to Leicester Depot tomorrow evening as 8Z58.
A working day is planned for the above date. If anyone would like to come a long and help , or perhaps just see what we do before they get involved please get in touch via the e-mail address in the contacts section of the website – please use the e.mail starting chair@…….
The next dates are set as
Sunday 24th February
Sunday 31st March
and we hope to establish the last Sunday in the month as the regular working party date so people can plan ahead.
Update Nov 2018
A working day is being planned on 56006 to tackle a range of work on the locomotive. This will range from repairs to known faults, preventative maintenance jobs and checks, to painting and general housekeeping work.
There are therefore opportunities for all C56G members to get involved with this work regardless of skills or abilities. All work will be supervised and any members who have not attended the ELR as a working volunteer will be able to try it and see whats involved and hopefully become part of the regular band of volunteers we hope to grow.
If any C56G members are interested and would like to find out more please get in touch via the e-mail address – chair@class56group.co.uk