GB Railfreight is close to accepting the 16th (and final) Class 69 after its conversion by EMD at Longport was completed.

69015, which was built using the body and bogies from 56009, underwent an initial test run on July 14, running light from Longport to Bescot and back. It was accompanied by insurance locomotive 66721 Harry Beck.

GB Railfreight is close to accepting the 16th (and final) Class 69 after its conversion by EMD at Longport was completed.

69015, which was built using the body and bogies from 56009, underwent an initial test run on July 14, running light from Longport to Bescot and back. It was accompanied by insurance locomotive 66721 Harry Beck.

The test run was undertaken with the ‘69’ still in green primer undercoat, and on July 23 it moved to Doncaster Roberts Road hauling 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 for further tests and commissioning before it will move to Eastleigh for repainting. A special livery is expected.

69016 British Transport Police beat 69015 into traffic as the latter’s body donor had severe corrosion after 29 years out of traffic.

The four-year programme of rebuilding Class 56s with GM engines (the same as those in Class 66s) means GBRf now has 115 Class 66s (with one final locomotives, 66316 still to enter traffic), 16 Class 69s and ten Class 60s as its main freight locomotives.

The ‘69s’ allowed GBRf to grow its fleet affordably before opting to buy new Class 99s.

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Author: Pip Dunn
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Pip Dunn is a freelance journalist and author with over 25 years’ experience, and has written professionally about a variety of aspects of railway and road subjects, including intermodal operations. He was part of the RAIL editorial team from 1996 to 2006.