British Rail Class 56

British Rail Class 56
Electroputere-built 56006 at Doncaster in 2003 painted in rail blue livery
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Electroputere (56001–56030) BREL (56031–56135) Build date 1976–1984 Total produced 135
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Co-Co  • UIC Co'Co' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Length 63 ft 6 in (19.35 m) Width 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) Height 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) Fuel capacity 1,150 imp gal (5,200 L; 1,380 US gal) Prime mover Ruston-Paxman 16RK3CT MU working ◆ Red Diamond Train heating None Train brakes Air
Performance figures Power output Engine: 3,250 bhp (2,424 kW) at rail: 2,400 bhp (1,790 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 61,800 lbf (275 kN) Continuous: 53,950 lbf (240 kN) at 16.8 mph Brakeforce 59 long tons-force (588 kN)
Career Axle load class Route availability 7

The British Rail Class 56 is a type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work. It is a Type 5 locomotive, with a Ruston-Paxman power unit developing 3,250 bhp (2,423 kW), and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement. The fleet was introduced between 1976 and 1983.

The first thirty locomotives (Nos.56001-56030) were built by Electroputere in Romania, but these suffered from poor construction standards and many were withdrawn from service early. The remaining 105 locomotives were built by BREL at Doncaster Works (nos. 56031 to 56115) and Crewe Works (Nos.56116 to 56135). Enthusiasts nicknamed them "Grids", likely due to the grid-like horn cover on the locomotive's cab ends.

Technical details

Engine

When introduced, Class 56s were arguably the first of the "second generation" of UK diesel locomotives.

The engine is a direct descendent of English Electric CSVT types, its closest relative being the 16CSVT used in the Class 50. Technical advances included significantly uprated turbochargers, gear driven camshafts in place of the timing chain used on Class 50s, and uprated cylinder heads, fuel pumps and injectors. The engine was nominally rated at 3,520 hp (2,620 kW), but was set at 3,250 hp (2,420 kW) for rail use.

Electrical equipment

A key difference between Class 56s and the earlier designs of the 1950s and 1960s is the use of self-exciting alternators rather than direct current (DC) generators for the generation of traction current and auxiliary supply. This produces a far more robust power unit, and greatly reduces the risk of flash-overs and other earth faults. Traction supply was rectified since the type employs DC traction motors. Many auxiliary machines (such as compressors and traction motor blowers) used the unrectified 3-phase AC output of the auxiliary alternator, and therefore run at a speed proportional to engine r.p.m.

Brakes

Class 56s were the first type to be built with air train brakes only, using the Davies and Metcalfe E70 system. Earlier designs had variously been fitted with vacuum train brakes, or a dual braking system.

Operation

In service the Class 56 proved to be a strong and capable locomotive, and less prone to wheelslip than the Class 58. However, maintenance needs were high by modern standards, and notwithstanding significant investment by Trans-Rail and Load-Haul in their Class 56 fleets in the 1990s, the class could not compete with the more modern Class 66 in terms of availability or maintenance costs. As Class 66 imports gathered pace the writing was on the wall for EWS operated Class 56s, which looked increasingly like locomotives from another era.

Class 56s today

Most examples were withdrawn by EWS on 31 March 2004. Some were subsequently reinstated for use on construction trains connected with the LGV Est in France, although all such locomotives have now returned to the UK. The rest work for Fastline.

In 2006, two locomotives (56045 and 56124) were overhauled at Brush Traction and renumbered as 56301 and 56302 for Fastline, the British freight company launched by Jarvis. 56125 was returned to service after a less thorough overhaul by FMRail and numbered 56303. They were used on intermodal traffic. The small fleet never achieved particularly impressive availability, and there were significant problems with bogies, turbochargers, and low power. Fastline have now dispensed with Class 56 operation due to the loss of intermodal traffic and operate Class 66s on their coal traffic. 56301 and 56302 are stored while 56303 has been returned to RVEL (successor to FMRail) and currently sits out of use at Derby, but in September 2009 it was repainted into Great Western Railway green livery, to mark the 175th anniversary of The Great Western Railway in 2010. The loco was expected to move to the Severn Valley Railway in October 2009 to participate in their 2009 diesel gala, before being used as part of the GWR 175 celebrations next year, but it's involvement was subsequently shelved. The loco is however in use with the freight spot hire market, having twice been hired from RVEL to Colas Rail in late 2009 to work the Boston to Washwood Heath steel train and return empties.

Formerly preserved 56057 (renumbered 56311) and 56003 (renumbered 56312) are now operated by Hanson Traction Ltd, and are frequently hired to Colas Rail to work their intermodal services between Dollands Moor and Hams Hall. They have also been used on Colas Rail's steel diagrams (which run between Boston and Washwood Heath currently) and their Dagenham to Dollands Moor "Transfesa" workings in London, supplementing Colas Rail's own class 47/7 fleet. It is not clear if 56311 or 312 will be repainted out of their non-standard liveries or not. 56114 and 128 are also owned by Hanson Traction but their use on the mainline is now uncertain, as 56114 (to become 56314) has donated it's power unit to 56311, whilst 56128 (which was to become 56313) remains stored at Wansford (Nene Valley Railway; Hanson's former base which they no longer use, instead favouring the former Alstom facility at Washwood Heath).

56115 on a railtour

Fastline 56303 passing Kingsthorpe, just north of Northampton station, 13 June 2007

Preservation

Five Class 56s are currently preserved.

Number	Name	Livery	Location	Notes
56040	Oystermouth	Railfreight Grey	Battlefield Line Railway	Operational.
56086	-	BR Large Logo Blue	Battlefield Line Railway	Operational.
56097	-	Railfreight Triple Grey (Coal Sector)	Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre	The first of its type to enter preservation. operational.
56098	-	-	Barrow Hill Engine Shed	Under repair.
56101	-	BR Large Logo Blue	Barrow Hill Engine Shed	Operational.

External links

• Class 56 Group - owners of preserved loco no. 56040
• Class 56 Diesel Photo Gallery
• The owners of 56101
• Electroputere Catalogue Entry for LDE 3500 HP-BR
• The Class 56 section of Ste's railway gallery