Class 99s as it happened! The first 9 in the UK from Bristol ports - Leicester + 99004 Swanage Debut

And Then There Were 10! The First GBRF Class 99 Movements in the UK

With GB Railfreight's tenth Class 99 set to make its move from Avonmouth, we're taking a look back this #ThrowbackThursday at the journeys that have brought the first members of the class from the ports around Bristol to Leicester L.I.P. We'll also revisit the historic debut of a Class 99 in passenger service during the Swanage Diesel Gala. Affectionately dubbed 'Flakes' by UK rail enthusiasts, a play on the popular Cadbury Flake 99 ice cream, these powerful beasts are game changers for British freight.

This video follows the first nine Class 99 locomotives as they passed through Bristol after arriving from Spain, before heading to Leicester for the fitting of essential equipment and consumables required for operation in Britain. From the earliest deliveries being hauled by established GBRF locomotives to Leicester, to the most recent movements where a Class 99 itself transported newly arrived classmates, the story highlights the rapid growth of this impressive fleet.

Beginning with 99001 and 99002 arriving via Avonmouth in June last year, the fleet continued to expand with 99003 and 99004 hauled behind 47749 'City of Truro' before GBRF's Class 47 fleet was retired. This year's arrivals of 99005 and 99006 followed, leading up to the solo arrival of 99007 and the spectacular triple-header movements through Bristol.

The video also looks back at 99001's appearance at Railway 200 Greatest Gathering in Derby and 99002's visit to Barrow Hill's Railway 200 event. As the fleet continues to grow, the Class 99s have become the most powerful locomotives currently operating on the UK rail network, having received approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in October last year.

Class 99004 also earned the distinction of hauling passengers for the very first time during the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala in May, a milestone that attracted significant attention from enthusiasts. The following weekend, two more members of the class appeared at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala as the fleet began to establish itself across the network.

As the Class 99 story continues to unfold, enjoy this look back through the archives at the arrival and early movements of these remarkable new locomotives in the UK.

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