British Rail Class 56

The British Rail Class 56 is a Type 5 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive built for heavy freight work and powered by a single Ruston-Paxman engine rated at 3,250 bhp, or 2,420 kW. Its bodyshell borrowed from the Class 47. Enthusiasts nicknamed the locomotives Gridirons after the grid-like horn cover on later cab ends. The class was introduced between 1976 and 1984, and 135 were made. The first 30, numbers 56001 to 56030, came from Electroputere in Romania as the LDE 3500, and their poor build quality meant most were taken out of service for rebuilding. British Rail Engineering Limited built 85 more at Doncaster Works, numbers 56031 to 56115, and 20 at Crewe Works. Doncaster then turned to the Class 58, so final assembly moved to Crewe. Disappointing early reliability helped prompt the later Class 58 and Class 60 designs.