Converted GBRf ‘69s’ all in traffic by end of summer

All 16 of GB Railfreight’s Class 69s are due in service by the end of the summer.

Work on 69016 (using 56097 as its body donor) was nearing completion in early April, while 69015 will take a little longer as the donor locomotive (56009) has severe corrosion having last worked a train nearly 30 years ago.

By April 13, 69016 had been reunited with its correct bogies at Longport and was expected to undergo main line testing soon after prior to moving to Eastleigh for repainting.

Meanwhile, 69014 and 69001 have both made their debuts on one of the class’s regular turns - the 0815 Middleton Towers-Monk Bretton sand train.

On March 31, 69014 (using 56104 as the body donor, and which had been named EMD Longport six days earlier at the site) was moved to Peterborough.

Speaking at the naming ceremony, GBRf Chief Executive John Smith said: “This is the fourth locomotive we have named on behalf of EMD, which just goes to show the strength of the relationship our two companies share.”

The locomotive sports vintage golden livery inspired by 1960s prototype locomotive HS4000 Kestrel and a lower black band from an American General Motors locomotive.

On April 2, along with 66315 and 66728, 69014 was attached to pilot 69001 Mayflower on the sand train as far as Doncaster.

69001 had made its debut on the train on April 1, meaning that all the ‘69s’ built so far have now appeared on the service.

On the same day that 69001 was being used on the sand train, 69013 moved to Eastleigh for repainting into a special Andy’sMan’sClub livery, to highlight the work the mental health charity does for young men across the country.

There are no more Class 69 conversions planned for Class 56s, which leaves the futures of 56081/303, owned by EMD, in limbo.

EMD has also said it could repower redundant Class 60s, but as yet no customers have come forward to make that happen.