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GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

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The_Train

The_Train

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pdeaves said:
No, but as trainmania100 said, it's still a good thing. Or, thank goodness someone thought something might, possibly, go wrong and planned for it (rather than assume it will all be fine).
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Exactly, it's just sensible planning
 
Nym

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DanNCL said:
Not looking good for the GBRF tour in a week's time then if the drivers won't drive them... Unless they manage to get it sorted within the next few days (unlikely if they've been blacklisted), that'll be three major losses already for the tour, as they've already lost the 86 up the Lickey and the 33 to Oban.
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Not a surprise since the Class 66 controller is already an HF nightmare in terms of 'proper' design, even though it does technically meet the standards, it just doesn't make sense in terms of the 'old' spec from BR and LT days.
 
BRX

BRX

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69001 is currently running from Crawley to Tonbridge with a full rake of JNA wagons. Here it is in south london just now.

 
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ExRes

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trainmania100 said:
69001 failed at somerhill tunnel today with its first loaded run. Good thing it had a 66 to support.
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An update on the problems encountered by 69001 on this run taken from yesterdays WNXX (subscription section) report

69001 showed a ground earth fault indication approaching Somerhill Tunnel, it was reset and power restored but due to the train weight, 1788 tons, was unable to get underway on the incline, the control jumper between 66768 and 69001 was activated but sent spurious signals meaning neither loco was able to power up, it was later found that the jumper from 66768 was defective and that the fault indication received by 69001 was a ghost software indication, the good news from all that being 69001 had no real problem
 
Bosch91

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ExRes said:
An update on the problems encountered by 69001 on this run taken from yesterdays WNXX (subscription section) report

69001 showed a ground earth fault indication approaching Somerhill Tunnel, it was reset and power restored but due to the train weight, 1788 tons, was unable to get underway on the incline, the control jumper between 66768 and 69001 was activated but sent spurious signals meaning neither loco was able to power up, it was later found that the jumper from 66768 was defective and that the fault indication received by 69001 was a ghost software indication, the good news from all that being 69001 had no real problem
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Turns out dragging a 66 along incase if broke down wasn’t a great idea then.
 
D365

D365

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ExRes said:
… it was later found that the jumper from 66768 was defective and that the fault indication received by 69001 was a ghost software indication, the good news from all that being 69001 had no real problem
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Sounds like the train management software on 69001 was doing the right thing.
 
The_Train

The_Train

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69001 also worked a freight service the day after the above issues with a 66 DiT and had no issues, arriving at destination early.

Obviously since then, both loco's seem to have encountered issues of some sort during their run on the GB tour, although I believe both loco's were back under power from Reading to Paddington
 
The_Train

The_Train

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RichJF said:
Is there a timeline for 3rd loco completion & further examples?
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DanNCL said:
If I recall correctly 69003 is near enough finished at Longport but yet to be renumbered or to appear outside. I don’t know about the others.
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I believe 003 is complete. I saw a photo of it elsewhere not so long ago and it was said to be scheduled to move to Eastleigh last week but the move never happened for whatever reason
 
RichJF

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The_Train said:
I believe 003 is complete. I saw a photo of it elsewhere not so long ago and it was said to be scheduled to move to Eastleigh last week but the move never happened for whatever reason
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Thanks. Will be interesting to see the livery going forward is standard GBRF from 003 onwards.
 
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50002Superb

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Can anyone tell me what the number of the Blue 56 is please?

also there was an unnumbered 69 moving around today. I’m assuming 003?
 

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The_Train

The_Train

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50002Superb said:
Can anyone tell me what the number of the Blue 56 is please?

also there was an unnumbered 69 moving around today. I’m assuming 003?
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Bit of a personal plug here but if you ever have some info, but are missing other details like the number, use the search function on www.ukraillog.co.uk - I've just thrown in 56 for class, blue for livery and Longport for depot and it has returned these results:

Untitled.jpg

Personally, I'd say the livery in your photo is more light blue than BR Blue but I guess we all view colours differently :D

And yes, 003 is said to be complete so I would guess that is the 69 you saw.
 
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172007

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Traksy has 5Z69 stabled in the down up goods loop at Dorridge. Shows as GBRF. Is this a class 69 with something; barrier vehicles?
 
_toommm_

_toommm_

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172007 said:
Traksy has 5Z69 stabled in the down up goods loop at Dorridge. Shows as GBRF. Is this a class 69 with something; barrier vehicles?
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66798 according to RealTimeTrains. Whether 66798 was pulling a dead 69 or not I’m not too sure:

Realtime Trains - 5Z69 2340 Birmingham New Street to Dorridge

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
 
The_Train

The_Train

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ExRes said:
56018 now renumbered to 69003 and out on a solo Longport - Crewe - Longport debut yesterday
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It didn't make it as far as Crewe. In fact it was due to do Longport-Stoke-Crewe-Longport and it only made it to the sidings outside Stoke station and then reversed before very slowly moving back towards Longport. After what seemed an age, it made it to Kidsgrove before being looped at Alsager and returning back to Longport much to the dismay of myself and a fair few others on P2 at Crewe awaiting it's arrival :lol:

That was supposed to be a bit of a test working prior to it working light to Eastleigh later that day - obviously the Eastleigh run was caped and 003 remains at Longport as of now
 
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Dhansak

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Both 69001 and 69002 were out in RHTT duties around South London, Surrey and Sussex today covering for a pair of unavailable 73s.
 
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Roger B

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The consensus appears to be that the 69s will be operating from Tonbridge Yard. Is that just going to be a few of them, or are all 69s going to be based there? And which depot are they allocated to? Many thanks
 
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