Class 69 on the rails.
 

I saw a short YouTube video of the first class 69 diesel on the move, albeit being towed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7qpjx4X6J4


Seems these are rebuilt and re-engined class 56, and this article gives details of the conversion and some history.

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fl...ject-explained

Thanks Philip.

So it's a stealth EMD in a UK bodyshell. And the blighters have even removed the defining quality of British locos - they've stopped the draught. Is nothing sacred? Real Train Drivers freeze to death whilst wrapped in bin bags. It's part of the job! ;)

Seriously though, it's not surprising they're rebuilding these. Nice to see the old bangers are still with us.

Cheers, John

69001 on test at the Severn Valley Railway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdSC...L&index=2&t=1s

From the Rail Magazine article:

"Once in traffic, the locomotives will be used on general purpose duties rather than being dedicated to any particular flow, although it’s likely they will be based in one part of the country for ease of maintenance and driver knowledge. Tiller declined to comment where."

The latest Railway Magazine reports that the class 69s will start work in the summer, initially based at Tonbridge.

Tony

69002 is on the way to Eastleigh to be painted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcY-AJqHiI

Testing at the Severn Valley Railway has finished for Class 56-convert Class 69 69001 and GB Railfreight has said what is next for the “new” locomotives.

A number of tests were completed on the Severn Valley Railway, including light and loaded test runs using SVR wagons.

GB Railfreight has said that 69002 is currently at Eastleigh Arlington for painting, and is scheduled to move back to Longport EMD in Mid-April.

69001 is currently awaiting a move from Longport EMD to Eastleigh Arlington, and this is scheduled to occur sometime in Mid April.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03...eid=aa4ee9b801





*

Will be interesting to see how far the conversion program goes - still six 56s allocated to Leicester TMD and nine to Nottm Eastcroft. (56006 & 097 are preserved, 56078 & 303 future uncertain)

New identity / Converted from

69001 56031
69002 56311
69003 56018
69004 56069
69005 56007
69006 56128
69007 56037
69008 56038
69009 56065
69010 56060

Leaves the survivors :-
56006 is at Bury
56032 & 077 are at Longport (donors for conversions)
56049, 051, 087, 090, 094, 096, 105, 113, 302 are based at Nottm Eastcroft
56078 is at Millerhill
56081, 091, 098, 103, 104, 106 (donor for convs), 301, 312 are based at Leicester
56097 is at Ruddington
56303 is at Willesden

Short video (shot today) showing 69002 in it's new livery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NboW5dOZDu4

A report from Railadvent today shows a photo of 69002 in it's new livery. 69001 will also be receiving a special (different) livery and is due to be named at the end of May. 69001 and/or 69002 will then enter service, working their first trains in June 2021.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/05...is-coming.html

Tony

Class 69 69001 "Mayflower" at Tonbridge moving under it's own power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qznqjPe3vx8

I've seen many videos of the two class 69s on YouTube, but apparently, on 31st August, with a loaded test train 69001 only got as far as Somerhill tunnel before having to reverse back into Tonbridge west yard. It had 66768 coupled between it and the consist.

Anyone know what the problem was ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUCAKMzeFmQ

I've now found this explanation.

"69001 showed a ground earth fault indication approaching Somerhill Tunnel, it was reset and power restored but due to the train weight, 1788 tons, was unable to get underway on the incline, the control jumper between 66768 and 69001 was activated but sent spurious signals meaning neither loco was able to power up, it was later found that the jumper from 66768 was defective and that the fault indication received by 69001 was a ghost software indication, the good news from all that being 69001 had no real problem"

Another thing I found is it seems ASLEF have blacklisted the class 69.

No idea why though. :confused:

From another forum - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads...180582/page-14

Quote:
Latest I've heard is the fleet is blacklisted by ASLEF who have instructed their members not to drive them on safety grounds, as I understand it because the Class 66 type control column takes up more space in the cab, there's not enough room for the driver to get some protection in the event of a head-on collision whereas the Class 56 interior did.

So don't expect them in regular service just yet.

Tony

Sounds rather implausible because even if it were true, non-ASLEF drivers can always do the work.

Do we have any solid evidence of ASLEFs stance, as opposed to rumour from a forum? There's nothing on ASLEF's website.

As you say, other Union's drivers could still be driving them.
Well someone's driving them - I've seen them!

Tony

Thanks for that Tony :)

Technical issues cause GBRf to withdraw Class 69s !

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/ne...draw-class-69s


https://youtu.be/z2NaBhl3NU8