Cavalex Class 56 Project update with Hornby Magazine
GBRF Class 56 Farewell Railtour limited edition twin pack
Photo courtesy Alan Padley
In 2018 GB Railfreight acquired 16 Class 56 locomotives from UK Rail Leasing to meet the increased demand for motive power as the company continued its growth in the sector.
The plan was to rebuild the Class 56s based on the need to improve emissions, save costs through improved fuel economy and standardisation amongst the fleet. Classified as Class 69, the newly converted locomotives would incorporate various new parts including new engine and cooler group with the bogies and traction motors being retained but overhauled.
In April 2019, GB Railfreight announced that ten locomotives had been ordered, with the option for an addition six more, which would be rebuilt by Progress Rail at its Longport facility.
The first of the Class, 69001, was released from Longport in February 2021 and moved to the Severn Valley Railway for testing. 69002 followed in March of the same year and as of January 2023, the fleet currently stands at seven operational locomotives.
To mark the end of Class 56 operations by GB Railfreight, UK Railtours in association with GBRf, arranged a final mainline railtour with two of GBRf’s Class 56 locomotives before the last of the fleet prepared for conversion to Class 69.
Ahead of the Railtour, 56081 and 56098 were painted by local staff as a one-off before withdrawal, in B.R. Blue and Large Logo respectively. The locomotives looked resplendent in their retrospective British Rail liveries and are a credit to the staff involved.
On the 14th of January 2023, 56081 and 56098 worked the GBRF Class 56 Farewell Tour from Wembley Central to Barrow Hill and return.
To commemorate this event and due to the growing number of requests received for Cavalex to produce a limited number of models of these fine locomotives, we are delighted to announce that we will be offering 56081 and 56098 as a limited edition pair thanks to GB Railfreight.
The GBRF Class 56 Farewell Railtour twin pack is available exclusively from our retailers listed below. Price for the double pack will be £379.90 for the DCC ready version, sound fitted price TBA.
We hope to provide an update on the sound fitted version of our Class 56 at Model Rail Scotland later this month
● Collett’s Models - https://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk
● C&M Models - https://candmmodels.co.uk
● John Dutfield - https://www.johndutfieldmodelrailways.co.uk
● KMS Railtech - https://www.kmsrailtech.co.uk
● Rails of Sheffield - https://railsofsheffield.com
● Rainbow Railways - https://rainbowrailways.co.uk
● Trains4U - http://www.trains4u.com
● Ultimate Model Railways - https://ultimatemodelrailways.com
We would like to pass on our thanks to GBRF, Bob Tiller and Tony Middleton for their help and support with producing these models.