British Rail Class 69

British Rail Class 69
The first-built Class 69 locomotive at Tonbridge West Yard
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Electroputere, Romania BREL Doncaster Works BREL Crewe Works Build date 1976–1984 (as Class 56) Rebuilder Progress Rail, Longport Rebuild date 2020–present Number rebuilt 16 (ordered)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co′Co′  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Wheel diameter 1,143 mm (3 ft 9 in)[1] Minimum curve 80 m (262 ft 6 in)[1] Wheelbase 14.580 m (47 ft 10 in)[1] ​  • Axle spacing (Asymmetrical) Axles 1–2 and 5–6: 1.950 m (6 ft 4.8 in)[1] Axles 2–3 and 4–5: 2.150 m (7 ft 0.6 in)[1]  • Bogie 4.100 m (13 ft 5.4 in)[1] Pivot centres 14.480 m (47 ft 6.1 in)[1] Length 19.355 m (63 ft 6 in) (over buffers)[1] Width 2.792 m (9 ft 2 in)[1] Height 3.960 m (13 ft 0 in)[1] Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 5,200 litres (1,140 imp gal; 1,370 US gal)[2] Prime mover EMD 12N-710G3B-T2[2] Engine type Two-stroke V12 diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Displacement 139.6 L (8,520 in3) MU working AAR system[3][note 1] Train heating None Train brakes Air (Davies and Metcalfe E70)[3] Safety systems AWS TPWS[2]
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 mph (130 km/h)[4] Power output 2,390 kW (3,200 bhp)[2]
Career Operators GB Railfreight Numbers 69001–69016 Axle load class Route Availability 7[2] Current owner Progress Rail[2]

The British Rail Class 69 is a class of diesel locomotives which are converted from Class 56 locomotives. The conversion work is performed by Progress Rail at their workshop in Longport.

The Class 69 was developed to fulfil the needs of the rail freight operator GB Railfreight (GBRf), which was unable to purchase additional Class 66 diesel locomotives yet sought more capacity in a similar performance band. The conversion of surplus Class 56s, which were available in sufficient quantity and in good enough condition to make the class a good candidate for the project, proved to be a desirable option, being more affordable than new build locomotives while achieving similar performance to the Class 66 post-conversion. Many of the new systems installed are similar, or identical, to those present on the Class 66, including its EMD 710 powerplant and associated control systems; this was a deliberate choice in order to maximise the performance similarities. Retained elements were refurbished to an as-new condition.

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