Class 59

The Class 59 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives were built and introduced between 1985 and 1995 by Electro-Motive Diesel for operation in Great Britain. They are simlar to the Class 66s and other Type 5s.

Accidents and Incidents

 * On 19 September 1997, 59101 was involved in the major Southall railway accident. The locomotive had just passed across the main line, under clear signals on its way into the goods yard, and escaped damage, but the oncoming InterCity 125 struck the hopper wagons in its train immediately behind. One of the wagons was thrown upwards and became caught on a stanchion before falling onto the derailed high speed train.
 * On 12 September 2000,while working the 6A20 Whatley to Acton stone train, 59103 and the first ten hopper wagons derailed at 23:20 between Great Elm Tunnel and Bedlam Tunnel on the single track branch line to the Hanson Quarry at Whatley. The locomotive and the first two hoppers rolled and 59103 came to rest on the parapet of a small bridge on the driver's side (left by direction of travel) with the trailing bogie partially torn off by the following hopper wagon. The locomotive was pulled upright on 19 September 2000 and removed to Whatley Quarry where an initial assessment of the damage was made and repairs made to make the locomotive safe for removal by road. The locomotive was then moved by road to Derby on 2 November 2000 for further assessment before moving to Eastleigh for repairs.
 * On 20 March 2017, a locomotive of the class was hauling a freight train which was derailed at East Somerset Junction, Witham Friary.undefined