GBRF confirms conversion of Class 56s to Class 69s

[cj_1985]

GBRf have had numerous new flows start running in the last few weeks... and with the first of the recent imports has still not entered service, the continuing need for 66 to pilot the sleepers, and the snow & ice trains running on the southern... They just don't seem to have the traction to spare, allowing 009 and/or 010 to go for painting at the moment

 

[Sun Chariot]

GBRf ... continuing need for 66 to pilot ... snow & ice trains running on the southern.

Mind you, on the de-icer's south coast runs, I'd take a pair of 69s over Sheds every time.

 

[ExRes]

56098 on hire to DCR to work tomorrows 0630 0Z56 Old Dalby to Chaddesden, loaded 0806 6Z82 to Brandon Down Sidings and Wednesdays 1411 6Z84 back to Chaddesden, unconfirmed suggestion that it will work the weekend Ravenhead sand

 

[Trainman40083]

GBRf have had numerous new flows start running in the last few weeks... and with the first of the recent imports has still not entered service, the continuing need for 66 to pilot the sleepers, and the snow & ice trains running on the southern... They just don't seem to have the traction to spare, allowing 009 and/or 010 to go for painting at the moment

69009 has now gone to Eastleigh for painting, working 0Z69 on Tuesday.

 

[Sun Chariot]

69009 has now gone to Eastleigh for painting, working 0Z69 on Tuesday.

Thanks for the insight. I'll keep an eye on RTT for Eastleigh-Tonbridge paths during Feb.

 

[SEtrains]

I don’t suppose anyone will know but since 69009 has gone for painting what is the chance that it will get painted into a rare livery or the common Gbrf livery?

 

[Sun Chariot]

I don’t suppose anyone will know but since 69009 has gone for painting what is the chance that it will get painted into a rare livery or the common Gbrf livery?

I'm hoping for a unique livery but I have no insight.

 

[Ashley Hill]

HS4000 livery,I can keep hoping

 

[Sun Chariot]

HS4000 livery,I can keep hoping

Kestrel wannabe -  that would look good.

Network Southeast / Civil Engineer's "Dutch" / SR malachite with yellow bands a la CC1. I'm not asking for much, honest.

 

[Rail Quest]

HS4000 livery,I can keep hoping

That is honestly a really good idea
Looking at it - the grids really do have a suspiciously similar shape in places to the kestrel!

 

[Richard Scott]

Looking at it - the grids really do have a suspiciously similar shape in places to the kestrel!

Not surprising given 56 bodyshell based on 47 design and Kestrel was also a Brush product!

 

[Rail Quest]

Not surprising given 56 bodyshell based on 47 design and Kestrel was also a Brush product!

Fair enough, ya learn something new everyday! (didn't know kestrel was brush)

 

[SEtrains]

Is this the path for 69009 out of the Eastleigh paint shop?

Realtime Trains | 0Z38 1622 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Westbury Up T.C. | 05/02/2024

Real-time train running information for 0Z38 1622 departure from Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Westbury Up T.C. on 05/02/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Trainman40083]

Is this the path for 69009 out of the Eastleigh paint shop?

Realtime Trains | 0Z38 1622 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Westbury Up T.C. | 05/02/2024

Real-time train running information for 0Z38 1622 departure from Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Westbury Up T.C. on 05/02/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Seems a bit quick. Not been in a week.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

HS4000 livery,I can keep hoping

That is honestly a really good idea
Looking at it - the grids really do have a suspiciously similar shape in places to the kestrel!

Not surprising given 56 bodyshell based on 47 design and Kestrel was also a Brush product!

I concur. Great idea.

 

[156444]

Seems a bit quick. Not been in a week.

Also that path is operated by Colas

 

[Whistler40145]

Also that path is operated by Colas

Aren't two Class 69s going on hire to Colas?

 

[45076]

Seems a bit quick. Not been in a week.

Possibly the path for 59003 going on hire to Colas as reported on WNXX.

 

[Western Sunset]

Why would a 69 be heading for Westbury anyway?

 

[31160]

Aren't two Class 69s going on hire to Colas?

Well that doesn't sound like good news for the remaining fleet, I assume to see if their fleet will be cucked as well

 

[D365]

Well that doesn't sound like good news for the remaining fleet, I assume to see if their fleet will be cucked as well

There hasn’t yet been a huge rush to convert the working 56s…

 

[Rail Quest]

Well that doesn't sound like good news for the remaining fleet, I assume to see if their fleet will be cucked as well

There hasn’t yet been a huge rush to convert the working 56s…

I've had my money on Colas eventually running a conversion program on their grids for a while now. Can only be a win for them from a business point of view provided they can justify cost of conversion with better reliability/availability. I keep hearing of Colas grid failings recently, such as both GBRf's 098 and one of Colas' locos failing on the same run of 6J37

I'm wondering if capacity at Longport is the main driver for such a contract not being signed yet...

 

[AlistairCowell]

69011 (ex-56009 / 56201) now fresh out of the shop at PR Longport: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7304949@N05/53520867609/in/pool-1980254@N25/

 

[SEtrains]

I heard rumours that there are to be 17 class 69s to be built and that 56 097 was still in the conversion program even though it’s damaged? And that 56 081 is to become 69 017. The contract was for 16 69s to be built right?

 

[Rail Quest]

The contract was for 16 69s to be built right?

To sum up the recent gen reports in the thread:
- GBRf order remains 16 locomotives
- Two additional locomotives will be converted, but not for GBRf (I believe 56081 was said to be one of these locos)
- The two additional 69s will be used by EMD (I believe its EMD) as demonstration locomotives (which, I'm assuming they'll use to demo to Colas to convince they should convert locos but thats entirely speculative)

Not sure about 56097. I was under the impression that was definitely being converted

Hope that helps

 

[Trainman40083]

I heard rumours that there are to be 17 class 69s to be built and that 56 097 was still in the conversion program even though it’s damaged? And that 56 081 is to become 69 017. The contract was for 16 69s to be built right?

I thought 56097 had a bent frame. Seems to recall when 47s were being converted to 57s, locos with bent frames were discarded

 

[ExRes]

I thought 56097 had a bent frame. Seems to recall when 47s were being converted to 57s, locos with bent frames were discarded

I'm pretty sure the bent frame thing was a false rumour

 

[156444]

I thought 56097 had a bent frame. Seems to recall when 47s were being converted to 57s, locos with bent frames were discarded

Are you perhaps thinking of 56303? That was the collision damaged one which sat at Willesden for some years.

 

[D365]

• 303 is a definite not 69.
• I’m not aware of any pre-existing damage from before 097 was ‘preserved’, or any incidents that might effect its suitability for conversion.

 

[DBS92042]

I'm pretty sure the bent frame thing was a false rumour

• 303 is a definite not 69.
• I’m not aware of any pre-existing damage from before 097 was ‘preserved’, or any incidents that might effect its suitability for conversion.

Yep it was confirmed elsewhere that 097 was fine and I believe is progressing well with its conversion to a 69