Trainload Freight

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Decals applied to freight locomotives from 1987 to 1994: Distribution and General were applied to the locomotives of Railfreight, the other four were applied to Trainload Freight engines

Trainload Freight was the sector of British Rail responsible for trainload freight services. It was formed in 1987 and was subdivided according to the nature of the cargo. Each subsector had its own livery, all of which were based on a two-tone grey with different decals:

• Trainload Coal
• Trainload Construction
• Railfreight General
• Trainload Metals
• Trainload Petroleum

Other liveries that used the basic two-tone grey colour scheme were the original Railfreight Distribution livery, and later Trans-Rail livery.

Trainload locomotives could often be seen hauling passenger trains, either as "Thunderbirds" (rescue locomotives), relief trains, specials or on charter hire. For example, Class 33 locomotives in Railfreight Distribution livery would often haul Venice Simplon Orient Express trains for part of their journey, while Trainload Construction liveried locomotives would often be found hauling charters.

In 1994, immediately prior to privatisation, these subsectors were abolished, and replaced with three regional-based freight sectors; Load-Haul, Mainline Freight and Trans-Rail.

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