Welcome

Welcome to the online home of 56101 Mutual Improvement. Recently purchased for preservation from EWS/DB by a small group of enthusiasts, the loco will soon be moving to Barrow Hill depot near Chesterfield for the start of it's restoration project.

The story began way back in 1973, when the then privatised BR issued a tender for a fleet of new-build heavy haul freight locos. The first '56s' arrived in England in 1978 and soon found themselves hauling some of the heaviest stone, coal and steel trains ever seen on the network. The class soon gathered a large following and it is many of these people who have made sure these locos survived past their withdrawel in the early 2000's. There are now five of the '56s' in preservation, aswell as another five running on the mainline with two more to follow soon.

This website not only aims to keep fans of the class updated on progress with 56101, but also provide a detailed pictorial and written record of the 'Grids' in their heyday. Use the links above to navigate through the site, and feel free to get in contact using the link at the bottom of each page.

Thanks for visiting!

In the picture...

Photo: 56101 powering up in Horbury cutting with an MGR coal train. 18th April 1990. © John Hooson - www.whitemasksnaps.fotopic.net