British Rail Class 56
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 3,250bhp (2,423kW), and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement. The fleet was introduced between 1976 and 1983.
| British Rail Class 56 | |
| |
| Electroputere-built 56006 at Doncaster in 2003 painted in rail blue livery | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | Electroputere (56001–56030) BREL (56031–56135) |
| Build date | 1976–1984 |
| Total production | 135 |
| Configuration | Co-Co |
| UIC classification | Co'Co' |
| Gauge | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track gauge/data' not found. |
| Length | 63 ft 6 in (19.35 m) |
| Width | 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
| Locomotive weight | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Fuel capacity | 1,150 imp gal (5,200 l; 1,380 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Ruston-Paxman 16RK3CT |
| Multiple working | ◆ Red Diamond |
| Top speed | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Power output | Engine: 3,250 bhp (2,424 kW) |
| Tractive effort | Maximum: Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Train heating | None |
| Locomotive brakeforce | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Train brakes | Air |
| Career | British Rail EWS Fastline |
| Number | 56001–56135 |
| Axle load class | Route availability 7 |
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were built by Electroputere in Romania, but these suffered from poor construction standards, and many were withdrawn from service early.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. The 'Grid' name was given due to the fact that class 56 locomotives were the main motive power used on merry-go-round coal deliveries to national grid power stations.
British Rail Class 56 Media
British Rail Class 56, no. 56115 "Barry Needham" at Cheltenham Spa on 31st March 2004. This was its final day in traffic before withdrawal, and is seen hauling the farewell railtour from Bristol to York. Image by Phil Scott (Our Phellap)
Fastline 56303 passing Kingsthorpe, just north of Northampton station, 13 June 2007
A convoy of diesel locomotives led by two Class 56s at UK Rail Leasing base at Leicester, April 2016
56049 on display at Old Oak Common Depot open day in 2017.
