British Rail Class 58

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British Rail Class 58

58001 at Doncaster Works
Also called: Bone
Builder: BREL
Years built: 1983-1987
TOPS numbers: 58001-58050
Number built: 50
Replaced: British Rail Class 47
Replaced by: British Rail Class 66
Engine: Ruston Paxman 12RK3ACT
Transmission: Diesel Electric
Wheel layout: Co-Co
Brakes: Air
Length: 19.13 m
Width: 2.72 m
Height: 3.91 m
Weight: 130 tonnes
Maximum speed: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Engine power: 3,300 bhp (2,460 kW)
Maximum TE: 60,000 lbf (270 kN)
Fuel capacity: 4,480 litres
Operators: EWS Foreign Contract Spain - 8
EWS Foreign Contract France - 20
EWS Foreign Contract Netherlands- 4
Two British Rail Class 58s at Barrow Hill Engine Shed.
Two British Rail Class 58s at Barrow Hill Engine Shed.

The British Rail Class 58 is a class of Co-Co diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight. Introduced in 1982, they followed American practice of modularisation. From new they were painted in grey Railfreight Sector livery, instead of BR blue. EWS withdrew them in 2002 after 20 years in service, though 30 were subsequently hired abroad - 4 to the Netherlands, 8 to Spain, and 20 to France.

Contents

[edit] History

In the late 1970s, British Rail was keen to develop a new, low-cost, easily maintainable freight locomotive that would handle the predicted rail freight growth during the 1980s. The Class 56 had a troublesome entry into service, and BR was also keen to enter the export market.

Once a design for the new Class 58s had been approved by the British Rail Board, the contract to build the locomotives was awarded to British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in Doncaster where work started on a major multi-million pound upgrade of ‘E2’ shop where the locomotives would be manufactured. BREL dropped traditional locomotive construction methods in favour of an entirely new approach – an innovative modular design. This offered savings on construction and maintenance compared to previous locomotive builds. The load-bearing underframe was fitted with exchangeable modules - number 1 cab, radiator, power unit, turbocharger, electrical equipment and number 2 cab. If required, each module could be easily removed from the underframe and replaced.[1]

The narrow body with cabs at either end led to them being given the nickname "Bone" by railfans, but the design also made an American-style single cab version possible.[2]

[edit] In Service

The first locomotive, 58001, was handed over to British Rail at Doncaster Works on 9 December 1982 and delivery of the remainder of the locomotives swiftly followed. 58050 was temporarily fitted with a SEPEX wheelslip control system, but this was deemed a failure and removed before the locomotive entered traffic with BR in 1987. After delivery of the locomotive, the expected orders for export designs never came and so the jigs at Doncaster were dismantled and 58050 became not only the last Class 58 to be built, but the last diesel locomotive to be built at ‘The Plant’.

Since they were introduced in the early 1980s, the 58s have gone about their duties quite happily. Mainly destined for the Midlands MGR coal traffic, their arrival unfortunately coincided with the miners' strike, and British Rail apparently only tolerated the construction of so many because the components were already on order.[3] As a result, the 58s could also be seen working other services – Freightliners, Speedlinks, steel, automotive traffic, enterprise and even the occasional passenger rail tour service.

[edit] Decline

58021 in Mainline Freight livery
58021 in Mainline Freight livery

During the late 1990s, it was almost certain that the entire Class 58 fleet would see in the next millennium as working locomotives. Quoted as “EWS’ most reliable and consistent Type 5s”, it came as a shock to many when in 1999 it was announced a large number of Class 58s were going to be placed into long term store: 58017 was the first to be stored, quickly followed by 58022.

Since then, the remainder of the Class 58s were stored at various points around the country. This was not really helped with the introduction of 250 Class 66s. The last few Class 58 locomotives were simply switched off in September 2001 after working the last charter train, the “Bone Idol” from King's Cross to Skegness and return.

[edit] Reinstatement in Europe

A class 58 in Spain in Spanish infrastructure operator GIF's livery
A class 58 in Spain in Spanish infrastructure operator GIF's livery
ACTS 5812 in the Netherlands, driving a freight train through Amersfoort.
ACTS 5812 in the Netherlands, driving a freight train through Amersfoort.

EWS announced in 2000 that five Class 58s were to be sent to the Netherlands on hire to Dutch container train operator ACTS. Since then, some members of the Class 58s fleet have also been sent to Spain (on hire to Spanish infrastructure operator GIF) and more recently, a large number of Class 58s (alongside Class 56s) operated in France for Fertis, TSO and Seco. With the lack of orders for export designs of the locomotives at their construction stage, it now seems ironic that these locomotives have been sent abroad to work.

As of May 2007, all of the locomotives from the French contract have been returned to the UK and placed back into storage. The Dutch and Spanish contracts remain active at this time.

[edit] Models

Since 1983, Hornby Railways have sold an 00 Gauge Model of a Class 58. This has now been superseded by a newly released model by Danish manufacturer Heljan.


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British Rail Class 58 Detailed Technical Information
Specification Details 
Currently owned by: EWS
Operated by: EWS
Built: 1983-1987
Builder: BREL
TOPS Numbers: 58 001 - 58 050
Engine: Ruston Paxman 12RK3ACT
Cylinder Bore: 254 mm
Cylinder Stroke: 305 mm
Main alternator: Brush BA1101B
Traction motors: Brush TM73-62
Maximum tractive effort: 61,800lb
Continuous tractive effort: Unknown
Horsepower 3,300hp
Horsepower at rail: 2,387hp
Wheel arrangement: Co-Co
Train brakes: Air
Brake Force: 60 Tonnes
Brake Manufacturer: Unknown
Length: 19.13m
Width: 2.72m
Height: 3.91m
Mass: 130 t
Wheel Diameter: 1120 mm
Wheelbase: 14.85m
Bogie Wheelbase: 4.18m
Bogie Type: Unknown
Minimum Curve: 4 Chains (80.46m)
Design speed: 80 mph
Maximum speed: 80 mph
Fuel capacity: 4,214 litres
Route availability: 7
Electric train supply: None Fitted
Train Heating None Fitted
Multiple working: Unknown
Multiple Connectors: Red Diamond
Withdrawl/Scrapped: 2002 - 18 Stored, 32 On Hire in Mainland Europe
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[edit] References

  1. ^ Class 58. Southern E-Group. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
  2. ^ Artists Impressions - Locomotives. TheRailwayCentre.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
  3. ^ Thomas, David St John; Whitehouse, Patrick (1990). BR in the Eighties. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, p.142. ISBN 0-7153-9854-7. 

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