47 805 at Eastleigh and 69015 GBRf Class 69 outshopped from paint in Red Stripe Livery

GB Railfreight 69015 has been unveiled today by Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh Works in a version of the popular Railfreight 'red stripe' livery that adorned many Class 56s (and other locomotive types) during their early years in traffic under British Rail. It is the sixteenth and final Class 69 to be delivered to service by GB Railfreight following conversion from 56009 by EMD / Progress Rail at Longport.

As well as recognising railfreight's contribution to Rail 200 and UK history, this repaint also marks next year's 50th anniversary of the first Class 56s being built and introduced to traffic. 56009 was one of these early examples, as although it didn't enter traffic until 1977 the loco was believed to have been built in September 1976, arriving from Romania in early October 1976 and moving by rail to Doncaster for rectification work / acceptance along with 56010 the same month.

56009 in its later life was utilised at Brush Traction's Loughborough site where it was deployed as a test bed for Paxman engines being fitted to other 56s. For this role it carried a non-standard blue livery and the unofficial number 56201. The loco never carried Railfreight red stripe but did carry the standard Railfreight livery complete with red buffer beams.

This is my final class 69 livery and tje last conversion and its a pleasure and privilege to work with Carl Watson at Arlington- many thanks to him and to the team there.