GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

[221101 Voyager]

Already showing as cancelled on RTT!

No it isn't cancelled yet!

Realtime Trains - 0Z69 1300 Longport F.D. to Kidderminster S.V.R.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[RichardTBC]

No it isn't cancelled yet!

Realtime Trains - 0Z69 1300 Longport F.D. to Kidderminster S.V.R.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Oops I looked at the 11th February

 

[221101 Voyager]

Oops I looked at the 11th February

It’s easily done sometimes!

 

[Bob Price]

66702 has left Basford Hall heading for Longport to pick up 69001 on 0Z68

 

[Spartacus]

Might have an interesting departure with a broken rail at Stoke OT Jn.

Scrap that, line reopened, shouldn't cause any major issues.

 

[The_Train]

Typical isn't it? Both previous times it was due to run I'd have been able to time my exercise to see it and then the day it does run......I can't

Anyway, irrelevant of my personal needs, let's hope the testing goes well at SVR and these are out on the mainline sooner rather than later

 

[Bob Price]

If I can get a screenshot of it at Bushbury later I will do so.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

There she is:

 

[60163]

Good luck to GBRf, beats having yet more 66s (even if they're doing that anyway)

 

[Bob Price]

Courtesy of Railcam at Bushbury junction.

If you search @colasgrid on Twitter there is a video of it passing as well

Also footage of it running up the SVR tonight with a brake van just in case.

 

[Steddenm]

https://twitter.com/jackboskett/status/1361363480083894274?s=09

69 under her own power on the way to Bewdley.

 

[randyrippley]

There she is:

View attachment 90697

Looks a bit austere........kind of look of something built in Eastern Europe

 

[RichJF]

I notice the Wiki entry for them has been updated with the nickname 'Womble'!
Is this official or merely the Wiki editor picking that name?
Forgive me if it's been mentioned already in the thread.

 

[XAM2175]

Is this official or merely the Wiki editor picking that name?

The latter, until proven otherwise.

 

[pdeaves]

Looks a bit austere........kind of look of something built in Eastern Europe

The all-over undercoat doesn't help, that's for sure.

 

[birchesgreen]

The final paintwork makes a huge difference to the aesthetics of a design, Haresnape demonstrated this perfectly when he showed how the HST power cars looked in their undercoat alongside the finished article.

 

[37114]

Looks a bit austere........kind of look of something built in Eastern Europe

Technically at least one of the class 69s was built in Eastern Europe originally

 

[BRblue33]

There will be two ex Romania built class 56's.

 

[ExRes]

There will be two ex Romania built class 56's.

And I believe two of the reserve batch are the same

 

[BRblue33]

69003 ex 56018. 69005 ex 56007 Both Romania built.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Looks a bit austere........kind of look of something built in Eastern Europe

I see what you did there...

 

[swt_passenger]

I notice the Wiki entry for them has been updated with the nickname 'Womble'!
Is this official or merely the Wiki editor picking that name?

Not anymore. Numerous reversions have taken place since you posted this...

 

[ExRes]

I still prefer Frankengrids, seems to me to fit the bill perfectly

 

[Jamesrob637]

Not Fnarr-fnarrs as posted on page 3?

 

[ExRes]

Not Fnarr-fnarrs as posted on page 3?

Only in the school playground

 

[randyrippley]

I see what you did there...

At least someone got it......

 

[Jamesrob637]

Only in the school playground

A.k.a Wikipedia

 

[GB]

Video about the 69's on SVR

 

[ABB125]

Video about the 69's on SVR

"Low emissions"
"Good fuel economy"

Ummm..... doesn't the two-stroke EMD710 engine fulfill neither of these? It might do compared with the original engine, but I've always thought that the 710 wasn't a particularly good design for these criteria.

Also, "the latest stage 3a emissions regulations". Possibly some bending of the truth there...

 

[Speed43125]

"Low emissions"
"Good fuel economy"

Ummm..... doesn't the two-stroke EMD710 engine fulfill neither of these? It might do compared with the original engine, but I've always thought that the 710 wasn't a particularly good design for these criteria.

Also, "the latest stage 3a emissions regulations". Possibly some bending of the truth there...

We all know the decision is purely a financial decision to create sheds out of thin air, it's hardly going to have any selling points other than interoperability if you stick to the truth!