The Class 69 is a rebuild of the
Class 56 with an EMD 710 engine and updated controls and some equipment (similar to those used on the
Class 66). GB Railfreight ordered the rebuilds from sixteen Class 56s they bought in 2018, some of which had been out of service for some time. Ten are to be rebuilt in the initial batch with an option for six more.
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| 69 005 leads a convoy into Kidderminster |
| Information |
| Number built: |
10 (conversions from Class 56) |
| Built: |
1976-84
(Conversions 2020-) |
| Builder: |
BREL Crewe, Doncaster, Brush Traction Electroputere
(Conversions Progress Rail) |
| Motor: |
EMD 12N-710G3B-EC-T2 diesel |
| Power: |
3, 200 hp (2, 390 kW) |
| Wheel arrangement: |
Co-Co |
The first Class 69 began trials on the Severn Valley Railway in early 2021. The locomotives began to enter service in 2022. Each of the locomotives built to date has been in a different livery, mostly updated versions of heritage liveries.
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| 69 005 is in British Railways green, seen here at Kidderminster Town (SVR) |
 |
| 69 005 was originally 56 007, one of the earliest Class 56s which was built in Romania |
