National Grid - The Class 56 Story (Reworked)

Рет қаралды 13,597

14 күн бұрын

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This is a reworked and reuploaded version of the original video.
Hello all! :D
Today, we examine the history of the Class 56, an extremely powerful freight locomotive built to handle the UK's vital coal traffic during the 1970s and into the 1980s, but one that was also dogged by an unfortunate reputation for unreliability, as caused when the first examples emerged from Craiova factory in Romania with a substandard build that required significant remediation work.
Despite their flaws, though, the Class 56s proved to be rugged and flexible for all manner of heavy freight work, and today many examples can still be found in revenue service across the UK, while others are upgraded with improved engines and traction equipment to become the Class 69, assuring these machine's continued use well into the 2020s.
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References:
- Class 56 Group (and their respective references)
- Kent Rail (and their respective references)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

Пікірлер: 41

@JonBowe 13 күн бұрын

Not bad for a frame built in the 1960's to still be hopefully mainline for at least another 20 years. Class 47, 56, 57, & 69.

@progenlol 13 күн бұрын

Honestly I find it really interesting that British trains have been sent abroad. Nice vid btw!

@mikeuk4130 13 күн бұрын

Wonderful - I've still got this in my Watch Later from the first time around! The opening shot is one of my all-time favourite Grid thrashes of all time!

@ashfaq1999 13 күн бұрын

Great video. I remember the original blue british rail class 56 pulling the GLC & later West Waste rubbish train from west ruislip to calvert back in the 80’s to early 90’s.

@UncleJoeLITE 13 күн бұрын

Reworked, rewatched & remembered! =)

@mandrillfoden 13 күн бұрын

Love a class 56 and love the videos. Greta would love that parting shot😂😮😊

@avalon7902 11 күн бұрын

How dare you.

@theleftyboater 12 күн бұрын

I know I keep saying this but this channel gets me into things that I had no idea I was interested in. Thanks for all of your hard work it’s really appreciated ❤️❤️🏳️‍⚧️

@daystatesniper01 13 күн бұрын

Good video ,still remember these hammering up the gradient from Moorthorpe to Ferrybridge on MGR trains ,turbos screaming happy memories

@Mike-kc8rl 11 күн бұрын

Another informative video. The 56 and 58s kept Britain fuelled for years! They worked hard, and the MGR trains were heavy at around 1650 tons 36 wagons . They also were a regular on the Chilterns with the GLC bin liners again heavy duty trains .You could hear a grid for miles ! Even as of 2024 they appear here on the spoil trains along with the 60s for Cappagh. Not bad for a 70s build!

@scofab 12 күн бұрын

Fascinating as always and thank you again.

@EM-yk1dw 13 күн бұрын

Excellent documentary again

@MonopodMan 13 күн бұрын

You should cover the class 58s in a future video

@1BCamden 13 күн бұрын

Great episode, the class 56 saved BR’s bacon

@fredburley9512 13 күн бұрын

Interesting stuff.

@briangriffiths1285 12 күн бұрын

Seems to me that these were really quite successful. That they were replaced by the Class 59/66 is no great shame given the testing ground of the US/Canadian locos. US and Canadian trains no doubt have their failures but running a train with 2, 3 or up to 5 locos means, like the HSTs in UK you have redundancy in the event of one failure, and a chance to prove the kit. Had we designed an upgraded Class 20 with an output of 1800 horse power these might have been the best bet overall with 8 driven axles?

@rob5944 13 күн бұрын

I couldn't believe how long it was, must be an incredible weight!

@caramelldansen2204 13 күн бұрын

That's what she said!

@BobC250 13 күн бұрын

@@caramelldansen2204 ^ ^ ^ ^ WINNER! 😄

@mickfromleitrim 13 күн бұрын

123 tons... long tons actually... lol

@rob5944 13 күн бұрын

@@caramelldansen2204 your mind lol

@rob5944 13 күн бұрын

@@mickfromleitrim sorry, I should of said the weight of the timber and all....

@garethmatthews7939 12 күн бұрын

i remember them on the margam to llanwern iron ore train taking over from tripple headed 37's and also later on working coal trains up past my house on the von (Vale of Neath line) under transrail then EWS also while i was working for great western trains i would see them passing on the mainline with coal or in laodhaul on the baglan - hull ethonal train and now on the baglan bay logs with colas rail

@gregrudd6983 13 күн бұрын

So EMD did tender did US GE also tender?

@johnkeepin7527 13 күн бұрын

Interesting about the class 56 history, and set against the background of coal fired power, with the Merry Go Rpund (MGR) workings.

@aarontrigg9463 8 күн бұрын

Wasn’t there meant to be 136 of them but the cabs went on 56004 after it had a smashup??

@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 13 күн бұрын

That’s why they are the screaming Romanian gridirons

@trainlover123trainsrock 10 күн бұрын

Can you do a video on the Class 67

@philsteele7151 12 күн бұрын

Doncaster works is still there, Electroputre park is a shopping centre.

@gyorgyzoltan7007 9 күн бұрын

Good day to everyone! Does anybody know what chassis number do these locomotives have? I am curious if they where mixed with other Romanian diesel locomotive productions or where a totally separate series. Thank you!