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.
56301 has been out on trial runs yesterday and today
37099 was under test and 56301 went along as back up and also to carry out preliminary testing on the 56.The pair ran out to Allington Junction.
Work to prepare 56301 for a return to use will continue at Colwick.
56006 will be a static exhibit at the above event.
We will have a small C56G stand near the loco and our 00 gauge layout ‘Arnold Lane’ will be present too.
Visitors will be welcome to take a look on the loco, talk to volunteers about our plans and how to join the Class 56 Group or even how to get involved ( while that can be on the loco itself, there are other aspects of the group which also need volunteers- such as admin and sales activities.).
56301 has moved under its own power today from UKRL Loughborough to Rectory Junction where BREL will carry out work related to the signing off of the locomotive repairs.
56301 had been load banked at UKRL prior to today’s move.
Further testing including loaded test runs will need to take place before the locomotive can at last be transferred to the ownership of the Cappagh Group.
The 3 day tour is named the Jugo Brush. Details in links below .
https://www.wnxxforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=39147&sid=c6e5c546a64dec0197f9526d346dc92e
Update 24th September 2024.
In the week following the ELR gala the technical team started working through the loco systems methodically to resolve the low power issues witnessed during the Autumn Gala, eliminating possible causes and moving onto the next possible cause.
As usual no pressure – but the ELR had already requested and announced 56006 be used on the 3 booked diesel turns (with 40145) the day after the CFPS members day on the 29th September. Even at low power it was felt the loco is a big draw and could boost attendance on the Saturday.
As a result of the post gala investigation the Engine Speed Valve (ESV2) was checked and the solenoid coil found to be breaking down when the 110v supply was applied. The coil was failing unpredictably and sometimes it checked out ok and a few minutes later it was in a fail condition. As a result the valve was not reliably sending sufficient air pressure to the engine Governor to make the engine reach full power. This is what we saw at the gala when the loco would develop full power on a few occasions, but the rest of the time it reverted to half power as the valve wasn’t being opened by the failing electric coil.
As it happened one of the technical team had a spare in his van and was going to attend Baron Street on the Friday 27th to fit it. Hopefully 56006 will perform at full power and start its long awaited period of decent reliability.
Following the CFPS members day on the 28th , 56006 should partner 40145 for the diesel turn in the Sunday 29th September. Subject to availability.