History

Back in 1982 Foster Yeoman used BR to haul its trains - mainly using Class 56 power. The Yeoman management were dissatisfied with the Class 56 performance and reliability (being the Romanian build) when hauling its heavy stone trains, so in 1983 they ordered four locomotives from General Motors who guaranteed that the Class 59s would be more reliable than the Class 56s. The first locomotive was unveiled in 1985, and the rest of the locomotives followed soon after. Rival stone miners ARC (now Hanson) followed with an order for four locomotives in 1989. The third operator to invest in American technology was in 1993 when power station owner National Power ordered 1 locomotive (59201) to work limestone trains from Derbyshire to its Drax power plant in Yorkshire. A further 5 locomotives were ordered (59202-206) and enabled National Power to take over the running of their own coal trains in the North East. 

In the 1990s because of a downturn in sUK tone traffic, Yeoman sent 59003 to work in Germany in a partnership with Deutsche Bahn (now Die Bahn), but since then the locomotive has changed ownership - being sold to open access operator Heavy Haul Power. This has meant that the locomotive is very unlikely ever to return to Britain again. HHP have since opted for the similar GM Class 66 fleet and so, 59003 - which shares similar parts - is guaranteed a long life abroad.

In the late 1990s, National Power sold their fleet of locomotives and wagons to national freight operator EWS, who moved the locomotives down to the London area to take over the heavy stone trains from Class 66s which were sent to the North East to take over coal train workings - a direct swap for the Class 59s.

Current Duties

The remaining Class 59/0 and Class 59/1 fleets are all operated by Mendip Rail (MRL) with a common user policy - i.e. they can appear on a rival companies trains if needed - although this is avoided in most circumstances. They are maintained at Mendip Rail's Merehead depot. It was reported that when the EWS 59s moved south, then they would be placed in MRL's control, although this has not visibly happened, with the locomotives only seeing use on EWS trains in and around the South East.