The Class 56 Group

Author: Ben Wheeler

  • GBRf acquires class 56 locomotives

    Sunday 17th June 2018 GB Railfreight (GBRf) has this week confirmed that it has acquired sixteen class 56 locomotives from UK Rail Leasing Ltd (UKRL), along with a number of spares and materials. The purchase, which includes a mixture of both serviceable and stored, non-operational ‘donor’ locomotives, is a result of the continued growth in the […]

  • Latest news – added 20/05/18

    56301 arrived back at it’s home depot of Leicester on Wednesday evening, having been hauled from Tyseley by Garcia Hanson’s 50008. The move was operated by DC Rail and we thank them for their involvement in proceedings. Further news on 56301’s return to traffic will be made available as and when it is known. 56096 worked the […]

  • Severn Valley Railway diesel gala – update

    Tuesday 15/05/18 Regrettably, Ruddington-based 56097 has been pulled from the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring diesel gala which kicks off this Friday. However, Colas Rail are kindly providing one of their class 56 locomotives as a replacement. Full event information and timetable can now be viewed here.

  • 56301 on the move!

    Tuesday 15/05/18 A path has been inputted for the movement of 56301 from Tyseley to Leicester tomorrow (Thursday), with DCR undertaking the transfer. It’s likely that 50008 will be the hauling loco. Timings are as follows: 0Z50 Leicester L.I.P. 1007 Leicester 1010 Leicester South Jn. 1011 Wigston North Jn 1014 Croft 1021 Hinckley 1027 Nuneaton 1031 […]

  • Monday 30/04/18 – Latest news

    Monday 30/04/18 A quick snapshot of TOPS from this evening shows that Colas Rail’s 56090, which hasn’t worked on the UK mainline since 2003, has been reinstated to the active COFS pool. The loco is currently situated at Nottingham Eastcroft and has been subject to a heavy overhaul along with 56049 & 56051. All three are expected […]

  • Friday 27/04/18 – Latest news update

    Friday 27/04/18 Last updated at 19:15 56078 & 56113 0E34 0127 Barnetby Sidings – Lindsey Oil Refinery / 6Z32 0240 Lindsey Oil Refinery – Preston Docks (Ribble Rail) / 6E32 0855 Preston Docks – Lindsey Oil Refinery / 0E33 1447 Lindsey Oil Refinery – Barnetby Sidings 56094 6R46 0640 Grangemouth Oil Terminal (Ineos) – Prestwick BP Oil / 6N47 […]

  • Monday 23/04/18 – News round up

    Monday 23/04/18 Last updated at 23:00 56098 & 56312 at Leicester Depot have recently had their Lostboys 68-88 and Jeremiah Dixon – Son of County Durham – Surveyor of the Mason-Dixon Line U.S.A. nameplates removed. This is prior to both these and several other Leicester-based 56s moving on to pastures new, following sale. It is speculated […]

  • Tuesday 17/04/18 – Latest news

    Tuesday 17/04/18 Last updated at 11:30 Today’s mainline workings: 56078 6C88 0550 Sandy – Doncaster Belmont Down Yard (engineers) 56094 6R46 0640 Grangemouth Oil Terminal (Ineos) – Prestwick BP Oil / 6N47 1347 Prestwick BP Oil – Grangemouth Oil Terminal (Ineos) 56096 & 56302 0E34 0127 Barnetby Sidings – Lindsey Oil Refinery / 6M32 0313 Lindsey […]

  • Your Questions Answered: Railfreight Red Stripe

    Tuesday 17/04/18 Your questions answered! Site visitor Michael Hall asks: “I’m after some info regarding liveries. I’m after which Romanian grids were painted in red stripe Railfreight livery. Can anyone help me?” As far as can be ascertained, the following ‘Grids’ all carried Railfreight red stripe livery; 56003, 011, 019, 044, 048, 049, 052, 067, 068, […]

  • Monday 16/04/18: Green Grid on the Barrington

    Monday 16/04/18 Last updated at 10:00 As hinted in Saturday’s news update, 56303 is back out this week on revenue earning freight duties for DCR with the welcome return of class 56 traction to the Barrington spoil trains. Although having run light engine from Wembley to Willesden on Saturday, the loco had returned to Wembley […]