🚂 The British Rail Class 17 “Clayton” — A Diesel That Tried, But Never Quite Triumphed 🚂 Introduced in the early 1960s, the Class 17 was an ambitious attempt by British Rail to replace ageing steam shunters and mixed-traffic engines with a new generation of centre-cab diesel locomotives. Built by the Clayton Equipment Company and Beyer Peacock between 1962 and 1965, these distinctive machines were instantly recognisable by their low profile and central cab — designed to improve visibility for

The Mighty Class 56 – Britain’s Heavy Hauler! 💨 Introduced in the mid-1970s, the British Rail Class 56 was a true workhorse of the diesel era. Built for heavy freight duties, these 3,250-horsepower locomotives were affectionately known as “Grids” due to the distinctive grilles on their sides. The early examples were built in Romania by Electroputere, but quality issues meant later units were assembled at Doncaster and Crewe. Despite a rough start, once sorted, the Class 56 became a favourite am

The Mighty Class 56 – Britain’s Heavy Hauler! 💨 Introduced in the mid-1970s, the British Rail Class 56 was a true workhorse of the diesel era. Built for heavy freight duties, these 3,250-horsepower locomotives were affectionately known as “Grids” due to the distinctive grilles on their sides. The early examples were built in Romania by Electroputere, but quality issues meant later units were assembled at Doncaster and Crewe. Despite a rough start, once sorted, the Class 56 became a favourite am

The Mighty Class 56 – Britain’s Heavy Hauler! 💨 Introduced in the mid-1970s, the British Rail Class 56 was a true workhorse of the diesel era. Built for heavy freight duties, these 3,250-horsepower locomotives were affectionately known as “Grids” due to the distinctive grilles on their sides. The early examples were built in Romania by Electroputere, but quality issues meant later units were assembled at Doncaster and Crewe. Despite a rough start, once sorted, the Class 56 became a favourite am

The Mighty Class 56 – Britain’s Heavy Hauler! 💨 Introduced in the mid-1970s, the British Rail Class 56 was a true workhorse of the diesel era. Built for heavy freight duties, these 3,250-horsepower locomotives were affectionately known as “Grids” due to the distinctive grilles on their sides. The early examples were built in Romania by Electroputere, but quality issues meant later units were assembled at Doncaster and Crewe. Despite a rough start, once sorted, the Class 56 became a favourite am

The Mighty Class 56 – Britain’s Heavy Hauler! 💨 Introduced in the mid-1970s, the British Rail Class 56 was a true workhorse of the diesel era. Built for heavy freight duties, these 3,250-horsepower locomotives were affectionately known as “Grids” due to the distinctive grilles on their sides. The early examples were built in Romania by Electroputere, but quality issues meant later units were assembled at Doncaster and Crewe. Despite a rough start, once sorted, the Class 56 became a favourite am