British Rail Class 56
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| British Rail Class 56 | |
 Electroputere-built 56006 at Doncaster in 2003 painted in rail blue livery |
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| Builder: | Electroputere (56001-56030) BREL (56031-56135) |
|---|---|
| Years built: | 1976-1984 |
| Introduced: | 1977 |
| TOPS numbers: | 56001-56135 |
| Replaced by: | British Rail Class 66 |
| Engine: | Ruston-Paxman 16RK3CT |
| Transmission: | Diesel-electric |
| Wheel layout: | Co-Co |
| Brakes: | Air |
| Brake force: | 59 LTf (590 kN) |
| Length: | 63 ft 6 in (19.4 m) |
| Width: | 9 ft 2 in (2.8 m) |
| Height: | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
| Weight: | 123 long tons (125 t) |
| Maximum speed: | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Engine power: | 3,250 bhp (2,420 kW) |
| Maximum TE: | 61,800 lbf (275 kN) |
| Multiple working: | Red Diamond |
| Fuel capacity: | 1,150 imp gal (5,200 l) |
| Route availability: | 7 |
| Operators: | EWS Fastline |
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.
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were built by Electroputere in Romania, but these suffered from poor construction standards, and many were withdrawn from service early.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".
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[edit] Technical details
[edit] Engine
When introduced, class 56s were arguably the first of the "second generation" of UK diesel locomotives. The engine is a direct descendent of English Electric CSVT types, its closest relative being the 16CSVT used in the British Rail Class 50.
[edit] Electrical equipment
A key difference between class 56s and the earlier designs of the 1950s and 1960s is the use of self-exciting alternators rather than direct current (DC) generators for the generation of traction current and auxiliary supply. This produces a far more robust power unit, and greatly reduces the risk of flash-overs and other earth faults. Traction supply was rectified since the type employs DC traction motors. Many auxiliary machines (such as compressors and traction motor blowers) used the unrectified 3 phase AC output of the auxiliary alternator, and therefore run at a speed proportional to engine r.p.m.
[edit] Brakes
Class 56s were the first type to be built with air train brakes only, using the Davies and Metcalfe E70 system. Earlier designs had variously been fitted with vacuum train brakes, or a dual braking system.
[edit] Operation
In service the class 56 proved to be a strong and capable locomotive, and certainly less prone to wheelslip than the class 58. However, maintenance needs were high by modern standards, and notwithstanding significant investment by Trans-Rail and Load-Haul in their class 56 fleets in the 1990s, the class could not compete with the more modern class 66 in terms of availability or maintenance costs. As class 66 imports gathered pace the writing was on the wall for EWS operated class 56s, which looked increasingly like locomotives from another era.
[edit] Class 56s today
The final examples were withdrawn by EWS on 31 March 2004. Some have since been reinstated for use on construction trains for the LGV Est in France. In 2006, three locomotives (56045, 56124 and 56125) were refurbished and renumbered as 56301-56303 for Fastline, the British freight company launched by Jarvis and are still in service.
[edit] Preservation
Four locomotives have so far been preserved.
| Number | Name | Livery | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56003 | - | Load-Haul | Nene Valley Railway | - |
| 56040 | Oystermouth | TransRail | Mid-Norfolk Railway | Started for the first time in preservation on 4th May 2008, at the Mid Norfolk Railway |
| 56097 | - | Trainload Grey | Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre | Having final painting work done with a 2008 return to traffic planned |
| 56098 | - | Railfreight Grey | Northampton & Lamport Railway | Currently undergoing a Turbo replacement |
[edit] External links
- Class 56 Group - owners of preserved loco no. 56040
- Class 56 Diesel Photo Gallery
- The custodians of 56098
- Electroputere Catalogue Entry for LDE 3500 HP-BR
- The Class 56 section of Ste's railway gallery
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