Advanced party
Typically, I can't remember when I took this photo, but seem to recall it was at an open day immediately after Foster Yeoman had taken delivery of all five of their class 59 heavy freight locomotives from General Motors. If I do remember correctly, the firm had become increasingly disillusioned by failures with locomotives and rolling stock being provided by the ailing BR, and had gained dispensation to operate their own trains. With nothing suitable on offer from a British builder ... assuming they could find one, they turned to North American builder GM / EMD who provided these competent if un-stylish heavy freight haulers which gained the TOPS code Class 59. In the manner we've grown so accustomed to, the British locomotive building industry crumbled away to virtually nothing hence all further Diesel locomotive requirement being met by GM (Class 66/ 67) and latterly rival GE. (Class 70) I guess, there'll be no going back.
Advanced party
Typically, I can't remember when I took this photo, but seem to recall it was at an open day immediately after Foster Yeoman had taken delivery of all five of their class 59 heavy freight locomotives from General Motors. If I do remember correctly, the firm had become increasingly disillusioned by failures with locomotives and rolling stock being provided by the ailing BR, and had gained dispensation to operate their own trains. With nothing suitable on offer from a British builder ... assuming they could find one, they turned to North American builder GM / EMD who provided these competent if un-stylish heavy freight haulers which gained the TOPS code Class 59. In the manner we've grown so accustomed to, the British locomotive building industry crumbled away to virtually nothing hence all further Diesel locomotive requirement being met by GM (Class 66/ 67) and latterly rival GE. (Class 70) I guess, there'll be no going back.