Description
Cavalex Models Class 56 – 56006 – BR Blue – DCC Sound Fitted – OO Gauge
SKU: CM-56006-BRBEWS-SF
56006 – The First Class 56 to Enter BR Service
Cavalex Models presents Class 56 No. 56006 in BR Blue, recreated in OO Gauge and supplied DCC Sound Fitted.
The model depicts 56006 in BR Blue as repainted by EWS, representing the locomotive during its final years of mainline service in the early 2000s.
56006 has a particularly important place in British diesel locomotive history. While 2026 marks 50 years since the first members of the Class 56 fleet arrived in the UK, 25 February 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of 56006 becoming the first Class 56 to enter service with British Rail.
The Story of 56006
During the 1970s, British Rail identified a requirement for a new generation of powerful heavy freight locomotives, particularly for the substantial coal traffic being moved across the network.
Brush Traction was the only bidder for the initial order for 60 locomotives. With the urgent requirement for the new locomotives and insufficient UK manufacturing capacity immediately available, production of the first 30 Class 56s was subcontracted to Electroputere at Craiova in Romania.
56006 was one of these original Romanian-built locomotives.
The locomotives travelled by rail across Europe to Zeebrugge before crossing to Harwich by train ferry and travelling onwards to Tinsley Depot for commissioning.
56006 reached Zeebrugge on 8 September 1976 as part of the third batch of locomotives.
Problems discovered with the early Romanian-built Class 56s required significant rectification work after their arrival in Britain. Consequently, it was not until 25 February 1977 that British Rail finally accepted 56006 into traffic.
In doing so, 56006 became the first Class 56 to enter service with British Rail.
Interestingly, the first Doncaster-built Class 56, 56031, entered service only around three months later.
Built for Britain's Heavy Coal Traffic
Initially allocated to Tinsley, along with the other Romanian-built locomotives, 56006 was quickly put to work on exactly the type of traffic for which the Class 56 had been designed.
Merry-go-round coal trains formed the backbone of its early duties, moving huge quantities of coal from the extensive network of South Yorkshire collieries to major power stations including Ferrybridge, Eggborough and Drax.
The locomotive's long association with this traffic was formally recognised in January 1995 when 56006 received the name:
“Ferrybridge C Power Station”
More Than Just a Freight Locomotive
Although heavy freight and particularly coal traffic dominated the working life of 56006, the locomotive was also called upon to work passenger services on several occasions.
These included passenger “drags” when engineering work or isolation of the overhead electrical supply prevented electric traction from operating normally.
One of the earliest recorded examples involving 56006 took place in June 1981 between Birmingham New Street and Nuneaton.
56006 also made appearances on enthusiast railtours during its mainline career, including:
- The Cattal Grid in 1995 between York and Newcastle
- The Marching Cat in 1997 between Ipswich and Felixstowe
- The Desert Mule in 2002 between Paddington and Westbury
56006 Returns to BR Blue
During its working life, 56006 carried several of the liveries that became synonymous with the Class 56.
The locomotive originally entered traffic in BR Blue, before subsequently appearing in original Railfreight Grey, Railfreight Triple Grey with Coal sub-sector branding and later the distinctive black and orange colours of Loadhaul.
Then, in August 1999, 56006 returned to BR Blue.
The locomotive was repainted by EWS ahead of its appearance at the EWS Classic Traction Event at the East Lancashire Railway in September 1999.
Following the event, 56006 joined a number of other locomotives in the EWS heritage fleet, celebrating the history of the locomotive classes the company had inherited.
In this role, 56006 became something of an ambassador for the Class 56 during the final years of the type's widespread operation, appearing at events and helping maintain interest in the increasingly scarce “Grids”.
It is this BR Blue EWS-era appearance that Cavalex Models has recreated with CM-56006-BRBEWS-SF.
56006 remained in mainline service until its withdrawal in December 2003, only a few months before EWS dispensed with its remaining Class 56 fleet in March 2004.
The Preservation of 56006
Thankfully, withdrawal was not the end of the story for this historically important locomotive.
Following withdrawal by EWS, 56006 appeared at an event at Barrow Hill and subsequently remained there for several years.
In November 2012, 56006 was purchased by the Class 56 Group.
Following a period at UKRL's Leicester Depot, the locomotive moved to the East Lancashire Railway, where a dedicated team of Class 56 Group volunteers has continued to care for it.
Today, 56006 is the sole preserved Class 56 locomotive, making its survival especially important in telling the story of a class that played such a significant role in Britain's heavy freight railway.
The locomotive's BR Blue appearance has subsequently been refreshed by the owning group as they continue their work to maintain and operate this unique survivor.
Supporting the Class 56 Group
There is another very special element to the Cavalex 56006 project.
Cavalex Models is making a donation to the Class 56 Group from the proceeds of sales of these models.
The Class 56 Group was formed in 1992 by enthusiasts who wanted to ensure examples of this important class of locomotive survived for future generations.
Over the years the group has owned three Class 56s – 56040, 56301 and 56006. Today, its efforts are concentrated on the preservation and continued care of 56006.
Purchasing this model therefore does more than add an historically significant locomotive to your collection – sales of the Cavalex 56006 are also helping support the group responsible for preserving the real locomotive.
Cavalex CM-56006-BRBEWS-SF – Model Details
- Manufacturer: Cavalex Models
- Catalogue Number / SKU: CM-56006-BRBEWS-SF
- Scale: OO Gauge / 1:76
- Class: British Rail Class 56
- Running Number: 56006
- Livery: BR Blue
- Period Represented: EWS Heritage / final years of mainline service
- Prototype Builder: Electroputere, Craiova, Romania
- Traction: Diesel
- DCC Status: DCC Sound Fitted
- Sound: Factory Fitted DCC Sound
- Condition: New
A Very Special Class 56
From becoming the first Class 56 to enter British Rail service, through decades of heavy freight operation and its later role as an EWS heritage locomotive, to its survival today with the Class 56 Group, 56006 has a remarkable story.
Cavalex Models' CM-56006-BRBEWS-SF DCC Sound Fitted release captures one of the most recognisable later appearances of this unique locomotive in OO Gauge.
And with Cavalex making a donation to the Class 56 Group from sales of these models, this is a model that doesn't simply celebrate the history of 56006 – it also helps support its future.
