Will there be new life for stored Class 56s?

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CURRENTLY stored in a siding at Leicester depot are five Class 56s which could form the basis of a refurbishment by GB Railfreight.

Should GBRf buy Nos. 56081, 56098, 56104, 56311 and 56312, it is likely they will be moved to Longport, where they will be refurbished and re-engined with EMD power units.

Class 56 No. 56104 heads the line of Nos. 56312, 56081, 56098 and 56311, all minus any nameplates, at Leicester depot on April 21. Tucked away on the right is a former Eurostar generator car from the abandoned ‘Night Star’ project. CHRIS MILNER

A further five locos could also be refurbished, depending on the cost of the conversion.

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Exactly what GB plans for the locos is as yet unclear, but infrastructure trains for phase one construction of HS2 has been mooted.

Clearance of some of the sidings at Leicester, along with the installation of four fueling points and CET (controlled emission toilet) discharge points, additional lighting and walkways, has been completed at the depot, which will be used for train maintenance during the Derby blockade between July 22 and October 7.

Read more News and Features in the June issue of The RM – on sale now!

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