GB Railfreight Class 99 becomes most powerful loco on UK network as it hauls test train

The first Class 99 to work on the national network under its own power was 99001 on July 23 when it worked the 2150 Peterborough yard-Doncaster Decoy Yard test train.

The train of 20 IIA hopper wagons had 69014 EMD Longport inside for insurance and 69013 on the rear, bringing the total weight on the drawhook to 910 tonnes.

The test run was delayed by two days due to paperwork issue, but once that was in place, 99001/002 were collected from Leicester and hauled to Peterborough.

The train left GBRf’s Peterborough depot ten minutes late. After a couple of unexpected brake applications that had become 36 minutes late by the time it passed Tallington.

Further delays happened before Stoke Tunnel due to other trains, but thereafter the train kept to time, albeit arriving an hour late in South Yorkshire.

The Class 99 then ran round and topped 69013 and worked south as the 0016 from Doncaster, leaving 96 minutes late. Twenty minutes recovery time planned into the schedule meant it arrived 72 minutes late back in Peterborough.

The test run breaks a new record for the most powerful single locomotive on the UK network, at 8,200hp. The previous most powerful locomotives have been the 6,760hp Class 92s.

The following night, 99001 and 99002 operated together, with the same load of 20 wagons and two Class 69s.

Six days earlier the Class 99s were formally launched to the press, staff and stakeholders at an event at Peterborough depot where GBRf CEO John Smith OBE highlighted that it was imperative that the company invested in new, state-of-the-art technology.

Each ‘99’ built at Stadler’s Valencia factory costs approximately £5 million. The fleet of 30 is being leased through Beacon Rail.

99003, which will have very slight tweaks to its decals and number positions, is expected to land in the UK in October and thereafter two new locomotives should arrive every month until late 2026.

There is an option for an additional 20 locomotives and GBRf hopes to take that up.

The plan is 99021-030 will have Electric Train Supply for working Belmond’s Royal Scotsman and Britannic Explorer trains - and two locomotives should each appear in those respective liveries.

Smith would not be drawn on suggestions some additional ‘99s’ could be ordered for the Caledonian Sleeper contract with Dellner couplers, uprated ETS and a higher top speed of 90mph.