Class 56 diesel locomotive No.56097 with all its associated spares and support vehicles is being offered for sale from the Nottingham Heritage Railway (NHR).

The locomotive is currently stored in an operational condition at the Nottingham Heritage Railway site at Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6JS.

It was purchased in 2002 from EWS in a heavily stripped state. By 2008 it had been restored to an operational condition when it hauled its first trains in preservation.

During the course of restoration, the engine was professionally overhauled by North Lincs Engineering Ltd., whilst Brush Traction installed the overhauled power unit and carried out a bogie swap. The power unit was then tested and run-in on a hired load bank at Ruddington.

The power unit has run for less than 500 hours since overhaul and load banking. An engine pre-heater has been installed to improve starting and reduce wear and emissions, both cab floors have recently been replaced, and the fire suppression system has been upgraded to current specifications.

Passenger operations at NHR ceased in early 2020, since then, the locomotive has been stored in a serviceable condition. It has been started occasionally to ensure its systems remain operational, whilst the pumps have been run and the engine has been barred over periodically. The engine oil, oil filters, and fuel filters were changed just as NHR operations ceased.

Also for sale is a large collection of class 56 and Ruston engine spares that fill two support vehicles and a 40-foot shipping container. An incomplete spare power unit, a spare alternator set, and two spare bogies with large (64 mm-70 mm) tyres and five traction motors are also available.

Two support vehicles are also for sale:

• a Mk.3 SLEP that has been converted for use as a stores and workshop vehicle. It has a roller shutter door at one end and all except two sleeper berths have been removed to create an open-plan workshop. The vehicle is on B4 bogies, has had all unnecessary equipment removed, and is only suitable for use as a store or workshop.
• a Mk.1 ex RES “Super BG” that has been used as a stores vehicle. Some brake components and ETS cabling are missing.

All items are sold as and where they are lying with no warranties as to quality or fitness for purpose.

Bidders are free to bid for particular items only or to make a global offer for the loco plus some or all of the spares as a package.

Items will not necessarily be sold to the highest bidder. In some instances, preference may be given to genuine preservationists. The vendor may also retain some high-value items if their reserve price is not met.

On a date yet to be confirmed, prospective bidders will be offered the opportunity to view 56097 at Ruddington (static and shut down).

All communications about the sales should be sent to [email protected]. A spreadsheet of available spares can be obtained from the same address within the next few days.

The deadline for offers is 12 pm on 31st August 2022. Any unsold items will go for scrap on the basis that they will not be re-sold by the scrap dealer.

Successful bidders will be required to pay in full within 14 days of bid acceptance, and remove the items from site within 28 days of bid acceptance unless longer periods are agreed upon both by the vendor and NHR.