Description
Cavalex Models Class 56 – 56006 – BR Blue – DCC Ready – OO Gauge
56006 – The First Class 56 to Enter BR Service
Cavalex Models presents Class 56 No. 56006 in BR Blue, recreating one of the most historically significant locomotives of the entire Class 56 fleet.
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.
It is an especially appropriate release as 2026 marks 50 years since the first members of the Class 56 fleet arrived in the UK, while February 2027 will mark 50 years since 56006 became the first member of the class to enter service.
The Story of 56006
British Rail identified a requirement for a new generation of heavy freight locomotives for coal traffic during the 1970s. With insufficient UK manufacturing capacity available to meet the required timescale, Brush Traction subcontracted construction of the first 30 Class 56 locomotives to Electroputere at Craiova in Romania.
56006 formed part of this first batch.
The Romanian-built locomotives travelled across Europe to Zeebrugge before crossing by train ferry to Harwich and travelling onwards to Tinsley for commissioning. 56006 reached Zeebrugge on 8 September 1976.
Problems with the early Romanian-built locomotives required extensive rectification work following their arrival in Britain. As a result, it was not until 25 February 1977 that 56006 was accepted into traffic by British Rail.
In doing so, 56006 became the first Class 56 to enter BR service.
Initially allocated to Tinsley, the locomotive was immediately put to work on the traffic for which the Class 56 had been designed – heavy merry-go-round coal trains linking the collieries of South Yorkshire with major power stations including Ferrybridge, Eggborough and Drax.
That association was recognised in January 1995 when 56006 received the name “Ferrybridge C Power Station”.
More Than Just a Freight Locomotive
Although coal traffic formed the backbone of 56006's working life, the locomotive also enjoyed some less conventional duties.
It was used on passenger workings, including locomotive-hauled diversions and drags when electric traction could not operate, with one of its earliest recorded passenger workings taking place between Birmingham New Street and Nuneaton in June 1981.
56006 also appeared on several enthusiast railtours, including the Cattal Grid in 1995, Marching Cat in 1997 and Desert Mule in 2002.
The Return to BR Blue
During its career, 56006 carried several of the liveries most closely associated with the Class 56.
Beginning life in BR Blue, it subsequently appeared in original Railfreight Grey, Railfreight Triple Grey with Coal sub-sector branding and Loadhaul black and orange.
Then, in August 1999, 56006 returned to BR Blue.
The repaint was undertaken by EWS ahead of the EWS Classic Traction Event at the East Lancashire Railway in September 1999.
Following the event, 56006 became part of the EWS heritage fleet, celebrating the history of locomotive classes inherited by the company. In this role, 56006 became something of an ambassador for the Class 56 during the final years of widespread operation.
It is this BR Blue EWS-era appearance that Cavalex has recreated with this model.
56006 remained in service until its withdrawal in December 2003, only a few months before EWS withdrew its remaining Class 56 fleet in March 2004.
The Preservation Story
Thankfully, withdrawal was not the end of 56006.
After spending time at Barrow Hill and later UKRL's Leicester Depot, the locomotive was purchased by the Class 56 Group in November 2012.
It subsequently moved to the East Lancashire Railway, where the Class 56 Group's volunteers have worked to preserve, maintain and operate this historically important locomotive.
Today, 56006 is the only preserved Class 56, giving the locomotive an even greater significance as the surviving representative of a class that played a major role in Britain's heavy freight railway.
Supporting the Class 56 Group
This Cavalex release has a particularly special connection with the full-size locomotive.
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 with the aim of preserving examples of the Class 56 for future generations. Having previously owned 56040 and 56301 as well as 56006, the group's efforts are now concentrated on ensuring that 56006 continues to represent the class for years to come.
Purchasing the Cavalex model therefore doesn't simply add an important Class 56 to your collection – it also helps support the group caring for the real 56006.
Model Details
- Manufacturer: Cavalex Models
- Catalogue Number: CM-56006-BRBEWS
- 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: DCC Ready
- Condition: New
An historically significant locomotive, an equally special model and a release that directly helps support preservation of the real 56006.
