British Rail Class 56

British Rail Class 56 Electroputere LDE 3500
A Class 56 at Doncaster Works in 2003
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Electroputere 56001–56030 BREL Doncaster 56031–56114 BREL Crewe 56115-56135 Model LDE3500 Build date 1976–1984 Total produced 135
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co′Co′  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Length 63 ft 6 in (19.35 m) Width 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) Height 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) Loco weight 123 long tons (125 t) Fuel capacity 1,150 imp gal (5,200 L; 1,380 US gal) Prime mover Ruston-Paxman 16RK3CT Alternator Brush BA1101A Traction motors Brush TM73-62 MU working ◆ Red Diamond Train heating None Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 mph (129 km/h) Power output Engine: 3,250 bhp (2,424 kW) at rail: 2,400 bhp (1,790 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 61,800 lbf (275 kN) Continuous: 53,950 lbf (240 kN) at 16.8 mph (27 km/h)[1] Brakeforce 59 long tons-force (588 kN)
Career Operators British Rail Colas Rail English Welsh & Scottish Fastline Floyd Zrt. UK Rail Leasing Numbers 56001–56135 Nicknames Gridirons, Grids[2] Axle load class Route availability 7 Withdrawn 1991-present Disposition 3 preserved, 35 still in service, remainder scrapped. Conversions to Class 69 ongoing

The British Rail Class 56 is a type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work. It is a Type 5 locomotive, with a Ruston-Paxman power unit developing 3,250 bhp (2,423 kW), and has a Co-Co wheel arrangement. Enthusiasts nicknamed them "Gridirons" (or "Grids" for short), due to the grid-like horn cover on the locomotive's cab ends fitted to nos. 56056 onwards. Under its Romanian railway factory nomenclature, the locomotive was named Electroputere LDE 3500, with LDE coming from Locomotivă Diesel-Electrică (Diesel-Electric Locomotive) and the 3500 being the planned horsepower output.^{[citation needed]}

The Class 56 fleet was introduced between 1976 and 1984, a total of 135 examples were manufactured. The first 30 locomotives (56001 - 56030, factory classification LDE3500) were built by Electroputere in Romania, but these typically suffered from poor construction standards and many were withdrawn from service early for extensive rebuilding before re-entering revenue service.^[3] The remaining 105 locomotives were built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at Doncaster Works (56031 to 56115) and Crewe Works (56116 to 56135).