Class 58 Profile and Models

58036 at Saltley in April 1987. ©Steve Jones

The British Rail Class 58 were a 50-strong class of Co-Co diesel locomotives, designed for use on heavy freight services. They featured a narrow body with cabs at each end, which led to them being referred to as "Bones" by enthusiasts. Their design represented a major departure from British construction conventions, and innovated the practice of modularisation. Despite expectations of a lengthy service life, all examples were withdrawn in the UK during 2002 after only 19 years of use. Subsequently, most of the class were hired out to Continental Europe for use in France, the Netherlands and Spain. Most of the 58s remain in store in Europe to this day, with a small number either scrapped or preserved in the UK.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive	Diesel-Electric
Builder	BREL Doncaster Works
Build Dates	1983 to 1987
Total Built	50
Tractive Effort	60,000 lbf
Power Output	3,300 hp
Top Speed	80 mph
Wheel Configuration	Co-Co
Operated By	British Rail ACTS (Netherlands) DB Cargo UK EWS Fertis, TSO & Seco Rail (France) GIF (Spain) Mainline Freight Transfesa (Spain)
Main Duties	Heavy Freight
In Service Until	2002 (Some active in Continental Europe until 2010s)
Surviving Examples	33