THE TWO remaining Class 56s operated by GB Railfreight have seen differing futures in recent weeks. Firstly, the initial plan for BR blue 56081 to be withdrawn and sent to Progress Rail at Longport in early January was temporarily postponed due to Colas Rail Freight needing to hire-in classmate 56098 to supplement its Class 56 fleet on a short-term basis.
However, the end of 56098’s hire period to Colas ended with the locomotive suffering a failure while working a Carlisle Yard to Chirk log train, along with 56049, on January 12. After undergoing repairs at Leicester, the Large Logo Class 56 has now gone on hire to DC Rail, making its debut for the operator on January 30.
In the case of 56081, its spell in use at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre at Asfordby came to an end on January 25, when it headed light engine from Asfordby to Longport. It is currently unknown if the locomotive will be stripped for spares or converted into a Class 69 locomotive, although all 16 donor locomotive bodyshells for the GBRf order have been identified and prepared, and it is not thought that 56081 will be used for the GBRf Class 69 project.
GBRf is creating a
