Class 58 History

History of the Class 58 Locomotives

Conception and Development

In the early 1970s, British Rail (BR) anticipated a significant increase in mineral traffic, which necessitated the expansion of its locomotive fleet. The recently rationalised fleet needed to be more robust to meet the projected demand, particularly in transporting heavy minerals like coal. BR required high-horsepower locomotives to handle the expected load, and Brush Traction’s Class 56, derived from the 4,000 HP prototype locomotive Kestrel, initially addressed this need with over 100 units built.

However, by the late 1970s, BR sought to develop its design, leading to the conception of the Class 58 locomotive. Work on the first locomotive began in 1979, with the intention of producing a model that was not only suited for the UK but also geared toward potential export markets. Class 58 was a significant departure from traditional British locomotive design, focusing on cost-effectiveness in both construction and maintenance. This was achieved through a modular construction approach, allowing for the easy interchange of parts, which was crucial for minimising downtime and maintenance costs.

One of the most distinctive features of the Class 58 was its non-load-bearing body sides, a radical departure from previous designs. Instead, a robust girder construction chassis supported the locomotive’s weight. This design choice and the locomotive’s thinner body compared to the cabs led to its nicknames “Bones” and “Egg-timers.” Additionally, unlike previous BR locomotives, the Class 58 did not include an interior walkway between the cabs within the engine room, further contributing to its unique appearance and design.

Operational History

The first Class 58 was delivered in 1983, and the final locomotive was accepted into traffic in March 1987. The initial deliveries were subject to extensive testing, particularly 58001, which spent much of 1984 undergoing various trials. These tests revealed a crucial vulnerability in the Class 58’s design: a tendency for the locomotive to slip, especially under challenging conditions. Despite this, the Class 58 quickly settled into its primary role, hauling Merry-Go-Round (MGR) coal trains, which would dominate its service life.

However, the coal-focused work was temporarily disrupted in 1984 due to the miners’ strike, dramatically reducing coal traffic. During this period, the Class 58 locomotives were deployed on other duties, including the Fletton fly-ash service. This particular service became a favourite among railway photographers, especially when the locomotives were double-headed during Christmas as a precaution against potential failures while the Toton depot staff were on holiday.

Although designed primarily for freight, the Class 58s occasionally found themselves in passenger service, beginning with a railtour on 18th September 1983. Before this, the locomotives had been involved in high-speed tests on the Western and Eastern Regions. They also saw use on “drags” (hauling other trains) between Nuneaton and Birmingham when they were often stabled at Saltley.

Livery and Transition Through Privatisation

Upon delivery, the Class 58 locomotives were painted in Railfreight grey with a red solebar. This livery was soon replaced by the Trainload Coal livery, with 58050 being the first to receive the new colours. This livery remained standard until the lead-up to privatisation when the class came under the ownership of Mainline Freight. Some locomotives received the full Mainline Blue livery, while others retained the triple grey livery with Mainline branding.

With the privatisation of British Rail in the mid-1990s, the Class 58s were transferred to English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS). The locomotives then adopted the EWS livery, with two variations seen across the fleet. However, their time under EWS was short-lived, as they were soon displaced from their primary MGR duties. By the late 1990s, withdrawals began in earnest, with many remaining locomotives relegated to Eastleigh for departmental and Ministry of Defence (MoD) traffic.

By 2002, less than half of the Class 58 fleet remained in service, and withdrawals continued steadily. The class’s final passenger train duty occurred on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August 2002, when locomotives 58020 and 58024 hauled the Hertfordshire Railtours’ “Bone Idol,” marking the end of an era for these distinctive locomotives.

Export

Although their service life in the UK was relatively short, the Class 58s found new life abroad. Several locomotives were sold for export to countries like France, Spain, and the Netherlands, where they continued to serve in various capacities. Their modular design, which was a key feature from the outset, proved advantageous in their adaptation for use on foreign railways.

Most export locomotives were scrapped in early/mid-2023 at Alizay Depot in France, with some Spanish examples being scrapped in Monfrote-del-Cid, Spain, a few years earlier. A small number still survive and are stored in France and Spain. The most famous is 58 044, which was saved from the cutting torch due to its location away from the rest of the French locomotive due to its failure with axel box issues on its return to Alizay in 2013 and subsequently being dumped in Woippy Yard. Below is a list of these and their location;

58 025 - Albacete, Spain

58 026 - Albacete, Spain

58 041 - Albacete, Spain

58 044 - Woippy Yard, Metz, France

58 050 - Albacete, Spain (marked for the national collection)

Current Day and Preservation

Today, while the Class 58s no longer operate on the UK’s mainline, they are remembered for their distinctive design and role in British Rail’s transition into the modern era of freight transportation. Some preserved examples and exported units remind us of BR’s innovative approach to developing a locomotive for domestic and international markets.

A few locomotives were preserved in 2010 and 2016 when DB Cargo tendered several locomotives stored at Toton and Crewe. These have entered preservation with several owners, including the Class 58 Locomotive Group.

Currently, 58 023 is active and undergoing final preparation and testing before its imminent return to traffic in preservation. 58 016/048 are undergoing restoration at UKRL, Leicester and the Battlefield Railway, Shackerstone, respectively, and hopefully, these will join 023 in preservation within the coming years.

We have split the detailed history of the Class 58s working into their relevant periods & activities:

Railfreight  |  Trainload Coal  |  Mainline Freight  |  EWS   |  Passenger Workings  |  Netherlands  |  France   |  Spain

Each of these pages takes the you through the ins and outs of that specific time of the Class 58 history.