winterbournecm Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) 2015 marks the 30th year of Class 59s entering service on BR metals. I'm surprised that such a notable anniversary hasnt been commemorated widly. These locos, particularly the class 59/0s have plodded the Berks & Hants for 3 decades, and must have taken millions of tonnes of stone from the Mendip quarries east during that time. These locos have no mega following like many other classes, but it is a remarkable milestone (no pun intended), that they have been so reliable and steadfast during these years. The Westerns only worked stone traffic for a fraction of the time these locos did. The other interesting fact is that these Foster Yeoman locomotives were the original private locos to run on the network in 1985, followed by the ARC class 59/1s, and National Power class 59/2s some time later. Perhaps some photos of the se locos, and the many liveries they wore could be shared here in the coming months? Edited March 21, 2015 by winterbournecm 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) Sounds like a good idea. Here are a couple from 1986, as I did not visit Westbury in 1985. 59003 heads west from the station with some rather new looking hoppers; 16th Sep 86 And a little further away from the station 59003 is about to meet 59002 with the more traditional Yeoman stone wagons of the time. Edited March 21, 2015 by jonny777 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM42 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Not got many photos of these locos but have found this one during a visit to the SVR on a diesel weekend Andy 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Wow. 30 years - that is quite a milestone. It's easy to forget that when these first appeared, they were so unlike anything seen before. As grubby Norwood drivers, we would often see a shiny new one at Purley and I remember once having a quick look inside. Slightly disappointed that the inside of the cab wasn't quite as futuristic as I'd expected... Scrubbed up, they are a good looking machine, I think. So many Class 66s around now that hardly anyone gives them a second look. Shame. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 The original livery was mainly silver with broad blue bands top and bottom. Here is 59001 also at Westbury on 19/6/86 At this stage there were only 4 of the class, 59005 appeared a couple of years later. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 And here is 59005 in November 1989, also at Westbury. (This photo captures the little known and very short lived addition of two 'street lamps' to the cab roof at one end of the locomotive ) 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted March 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2015 With all the managerial and ownership changes at Merehead it might not be surprising that they don't seem to be organising anything. However if they are planning anything maybe they are waiting the 30th anniversary of the arrival of the locos in Britain in early 1986 and entry into traffic in the Spring of that year? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted March 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2015 Of course they may well not want to do anything. It's hardly cutting edge to have something that is 30 years old..... Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted March 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2015 I think I remember reading once that, at the request of Yeoman's, the styling of these machines was deliberately influenced by the look of the Westerns. I can't say the similarity is very striking to me, but the "peak" above the front windows is perhaps reminiscent of the D1000's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfsup Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'm note sure if anything to mark the 30 year's of 59s have been proposed for on this weekend, but I believe GBRf is taking 59003 to the West Somerset's Mixed Traffic weekend on 5th - 7th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJ Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 There is something vaguely 'Western' about the front. There is a John Vaughan photo of a 66 with oil tank wagons in Cornwall. As he points out if you squint from a distance it could 'almost' be a maroon Western on the milk!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Simon Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Hi, Couple form a recent trip between Westbury & Acton 59102 in Woodborough Loops: 59205 at Acton: All pictures taken in a position of safety and with the kind permission of Network Rail and DB Schenker. Simon 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted March 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2015 There is a John Vaughan photo of a 66 with oil tank wagons in Cornwall. As he points out if you squint from a distance it could 'almost' be a maroon Western on the milk!!! Should have gone to Specsavers... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) Here are a couple from me showing 59002 getting a helping hand on the first test run. And one of 59003 before it left for it's holidays. Edited March 21, 2015 by brian daniels 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted March 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2015 The problem for the class 59 is that to many people because they look the same as a 66 they are pretty much lumped into the same boat and because the 66 is so ubiquitous people don't find them interesting. The fact that the 59 and 66 are completely different in just about every way except the shape of the body doesn't seem to matter. Which is a bit sad really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I remember we called them "Spaceships" when they first arrived as they looked so futuristic. They were also very quiet! I nearly missed my first one when I was gricing at Taplow car park as I didn't hear it coming. I once, illegally, drove 59001...but there was a driver on board at the time. steve 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 59104 in July 2012 on the Hamworthy branch, with a stone train from the Mendips. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Phil Mc Posted July 8, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8, 2016 59206 receiving some attention, at Toton today. Cheers, Phil. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 9, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 9, 2016 What is quite remarkable is they kept the same styling up to this year when what was hopefully the last 66 was built. This would have been the equivalent of the class 60 having class 31 cabs as that was 30 years before it 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted July 9, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 9, 2016 That seems to be an American characteristic when it comes to train styling. The basic EMD style that was developed for the SD35/GP35 remained the EMD style until spartan cabs died out in the 90's, GE basically kept the same house style from the U25B until the Dash 8 line appeared and the GE Gevo family still looks pretty much just like the originally GE C40-8Ws. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Here is 59003 passing Reading in July 1987. My, how things have changed at this location. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizz Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 ........and now for something special........well on the Central Division anyway. Double headed 59s are rare. Today the UP Newhaven ash train failed at Lewes on the UP London, platform 2. Blocked the up for minimum 2hrs 30mins. With UP Eastbourne to Victoria trains diverted via Brighton. It was the 12:15 ex Newhaven Day Aggregates to Acton T.C. Train 627D. The train loco was 59102. 59104 was sent to recover. Filmed at Hamsey AHBC (North of Lewes) climbing the grade towards Cooksbridge. That's clag above the wagons not mist n fog. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizz Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 More photos of the rescue....... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandrover Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 I have somewhere photo's of 59005 KJP on the Greenford Grinder excursion top n tailing with a 60 from the 1991 Old Oak common open day. I did the route so had 59 haulage! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 59003 on it's holiday in Germany https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains/Brits-abroad/i-NmbKzRL/A https://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains/Brits-abroad/i-MPp4B5V/A More pictures at https://mark5812.smugmug.com/UKpicturesclassorder/Class-59 Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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