BRITISH RAIL CLASS 59

The 'Class 59' Co-Co diesel locomotives were built & introduced by General Motors Electro Motive Diesel for private British companies, between 1985 & 1989 initially Foster Yeoman (59/0). They were designed for hauling heavy freight and designated 'JT26CW-SS'.

Contents

Overview

Mendip Rail

Class 59 Derivatives

Class 59/0 – Foster Yeoman

Class 59/1 – Hanson ARC

Class 59/2 – National Power

Notable workings

Export

Enthusiast nicknames

Fleet details

External links

Overview

Following Foster Yeoman's dissatisfaction with the availability and reliability of British Rail's Class 56 diesel freight locomotive, four Class 59/0s were ordered from EMD and arrived in 1986. A new design to the British loading gauge and specifications, derived from the EMD SD40-2, it used the cab layout of the British Rail Class 58 to aid driver assimilation.
They are the first US built (and privately owned) diesel locomotives to operate regularly on the British main-line. However, EMD powered locomotives have been the mainstay in both the Republic since 1961 and Northern Ireland since 1980.
Following on Foster’s example, ARC purchased four (Class 59/1) and National Power purchased six (Class 59/2) locomotives. Foster Yeoman and ARC merged their rail concerns into Mendip Rail, whilst National Power was taken over by EWS.
Ultimately EMD's diligence and flexibility in designing and constructing such a small order paid off in opening the way for the later, much larger, Class 66 order. This design shares a common body shell but is internally different. The only livery shared between the classes is EWS red and gold, but whereas the 66s have a zigzag gold stripe, the 59's stripe is straight.

Mendip Rail

To better manage their fleet availability and scale needs, Hanson ARC and Foster Yeoman founded Mendip Rail. The assets are still owned by both parent companies and the staff seconded. Subsequently Mendip Rail has obtained Train Operating Company status. Mendip Rail's Class 59s work services between various destinations, which have changed over time according to demand and specific contracts. They have worked regularly over Southern metals, most notably to the Foster Yeoman terminals at Eastleigh and Botley and Channel Tunnel construction work.

Class 59 Derivatives

Class 59/0 – Foster Yeoman

Because of poor reliability and low availability of the various locomotives used by British Rail to haul the stone trains from the West Country, Foster Yeoman began negotiations with British Rail to improve service. Having already supplied their own wagons with a reliability level of 96%, they suggested to British Rail that they could operate their own locomotives. British Rail's problem was the hard tie-in and control of the Rail Unions, but accepted the proposal in principle.
Foster Yeoman invited tenders for the supply of six locomotives from a manufacturer with a proven availability record of 95%. It is untrue that British rail refused to tender, but withdrew having conceded that they had nothing which was of the required combination of power and reliability. Having already operated an EMD SW1001 switcher in the Merehead Quarry with good results, Fosters approached General Motors who were able to demonstrate the required long-term 95% availability. Derived from the EMD SD40-2, the cab layout was based on the British Rail Class 58 for easier driver assimilation. To meet the British loading gauge, an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 man-hours of design work was carried out by EMD. Some compromises were required, the large exhaust silencer required to meet BR noise levels left no room for Dynamic Braking equipment. However, it was possible to retain the all-important Super Series Creep Control, which because of its superior traction can eliminate the need for double heading. Foster Yeoman therefore reduced their original requirement from six to four locomotives, ordering four in November 1984, and a fifth in 1988. All five locomotives were custom built by General Motors Diesel Division at their La Grange, Illinois, USA, plant in 1985 and 1989.
In their first ten years of operation, the five locomotives between them hauled over 50 million tonnes of aggregates away from Merehead.

Class 59/1 – Hanson ARC

Built by General Motors Diesel Division at their London, Ontario, Canada, plant in 1990. The four Class 59/1 locomotives owned by Hanson (parent company of the former owners ARC) are similar to the Class 59/0 locomotives of Foster Yeoman. The main differences being a revised head light and marker light layout and the fitting of yaw dampers to permit the maximum speed to be increased to 75 mph.

Class 59/2 – National Power

Following Foster Yeoman, National Power decided to investigate the possibility of running its own trains, by ordering a single pilot locomotive. Following the trial, National Power ordered a further five locomotives and a fleet of hopper wagons to carry coal and limestone.
Built by General Motors Diesel Division at their London, Ontario, Canada, plant in 1994 and 1995, the six Class 59/2 locomotives differ from the Class 59/1's in several ways. A carbon dioxide fire control system replaces the original Halon system, NiCd batteries replace lead-acid, and the fleet all have drop-head knuckle couplers fitted. A more advanced slow speed control suitable for merry-go-round power station coal train operation has been fitted, as well as yaw dampers for a higher top speed.
In April 1998 EWS took over the National Power rail operations. Now that the locomotives are under EWS management, they will be used more widely over the network.

Notable workings

Designed for reliability and 95% availability, the Class 59 has achieved a 99% level during its life. On 26 May 1991 class member 59 005 set the European haulage record for a single locomotive, with a stone train weighing 11,982 tonnes and 5,415 feet long.
While working the 6A20 Whatley to Acton (West London) stone train 59 103 and the first ten hopper cars derailed at 23:20 on 12 September 2000 between Great Elm Tunnel and Bedlam Tunnel on the single track branch line to the Hanson Quarry at Whatley. The locomotive and the first two hoppers rolled and 59 103 came to rest on the parapet of a small bridge on the driver's side (left by direction of travel) with the trailing truck partially torn off by the following hopper car. The locomotive was pulled upright on 19 September 2000 and removed to Whatley Quarry where an initial assessment of the damage was made and repairs made to make the locomotive safe for removal by road. The locomotive was then moved by road to Derby on 2 November 2000 for further assessment before moving to Eastleigh for repairs.

Export

In 1997 one of the Foster Yeoman locomotives, 59 003 ''Yeoman Highlander'' was exported to Germany, renumbered as 259 003, and operated by Yeoman/DB, pulling stone trains. It has since moved on to Heavy Haul Power International where it is still working hard on coal trains and pulls the highest train weight of any loco presently in Germany.^[1].

Enthusiast nicknames

Class 59 locomotives are known by enthusiasts as 'Daddy Yings', due to the noise of the engine and that they are the design on which the later Class 66 locomotives were based. They are also occasionally referred to as 'GM', due to the General Motors powerplant.

Fleet details

Specification	Sub-class
	59/0	59/1	59/2
Built for:	Foster Yeoman	ARC, daughter company of Hanson	National Power
Currently owned by:	Foster Yeoman	Hanson	EWS
Operated by:	Mendip Rail	Mendip Rail	EWS
Built:	1985 or 1986 by General Motors, USA	1987 or 1988 by General Motors, Canada	1989 by General Motors, Canada
Engine:	General Motors 16-645E3C two stroke of 2460 kW (3300 hp) at 900 rpm
Main alternator:	General Motors AR11 MLD-D14A
Traction motors:	General Motors D77B
Maximum tractive effort:	506 kN (113,550 lbf) until 14.3 mph
Continuous tractive effort:	291 kN (65,300 lbf)
Power at rail:	1889 kW (2533 hp)
Train brakes:	Air brakes
Brake force:	69 t
Dimensions:	21.35 x 2.65 m
Mass:	121 t
Wheel diameter:	42 inch
Design speed:	60 mph	60 mph	75 mph
Maximum speed:	60 mph	60 mph	75 mph
Fuel capacity:	1000 gallons (UK), (4546 litres)
Route availability:	RA 7
Electric train supply:	Not equipped
Multiple working:	AAR System

Number	Works No	Commissioned by	Build Date	Ship	Arrive UK	Revenue	Owner	Name	Notes
59 001		Foster Yeoman		MV Fairlift	21 Jan 1986	Feb 1986	Foster Yeoman	Yeoman Endeavour
59 002		Foster Yeoman		MV Fairlift	21 Jan 1986	Feb 1986	Foster Yeoman	Alan J Day	Renamed from ''Yeoman Enterprise'' at Merehead Quarry on 21 June 1996 by Alan J Day, Managing Director of Day Aggregates
59 003	848002-3	Foster Yeoman	Dec 1985	MV Fairlift	21 Jan 1986	Feb 1986	Heavy Haul Power International		Originally 59 003, named ''Yeoman Highlander.'' Transferred to Germany in 1997
59 004		Foster Yeoman		MV Fairlift	21 Jan 1986	Feb 1986	Foster Yeoman	Paul A Hammond	Renamed from ''Yeoman Challenger'' at Merehead Quarry on 21 June 1996 by Paul A Hammond, Managing Director of Yeoman Aggregates
59 005		Foster Yeoman		MV Fairlift	4 June 1987	June 1987	Foster Yeoman	Kenneth J Painter
59 006	878029-1	Hanson ( formerly ARC )		MV Stellamare	20 Oct 1987	11 Nov 1987	Hanson	Village of Whatley
59 007	878029-2	Hanson ( formerly ARC )		MV Stellamare	20 Oct 1987	11 Nov 1987	Hanson	Village of Chantry
59 008	878029-3	Hanson ( formerly ARC )		MV Stellamare	20 Oct 1988	11 Nov 1988	Hanson	Village of Mells
59 009	878029-4	Hanson ( formerly ARC )		MV Stellamare	20 Oct 1988	11 Nov 1988	Hanson	Village of Great Elm
59 010	918273-1	National Power		MV Haskerland	16 Feb 1989	26 April 1989	EWS	Vale of York
59 011	948510-1	National Power		MV Condock V	4 Aug 1989	Oct 1989	EWS	Vale of White Horse
59 012	948510-2	National Power		MV Condock V	4 Aug 1989	Oct 1989	EWS	Vale of Pickering
59 013	948510-3	National Power		MV Condock V	4 Aug 1989	Oct 1989	EWS	Vale of Glamorgan
59 014	948510-4	National Power		MV Condock V	4 Aug 1989	Oct 1989	EWS	L Keith McNair	Originally named ''Vale of Evesham'' on 14 June 1996 at Ferrybridge. Renamed on 28 March 1998 at Ferrybridge.
59 015	948510-5	National Power		MV Condock V	4 Aug 1989	Oct 1989	EWS	Pride of Ferrybridge

External links

★ History of Class59 at SEMG