4D-005-004 OO Gauge Class 59 59004 Late Foster Yeoman Paul A Hammond

The Class 59 is a Co-Co formation diesel locomotive and the first US produced, privately-owned locomotive to operate regularly in the UK. The ordering of the first Class 59 was a result of quarry company Foster Yeoman’s dissatisfaction with the performance of the BR Class 56. The first 4 locomotives built by GM’s Electromotive Division were delivered to Foster Yeoman during 1986 and 59005 in 1989. Proving very successful; one locomotive setting a new UK haulage record for a single locomotive of 4639 tonnes. Foster Yeoman’s rivals, Amey Roadstone Corp. (ARC) also ordered four modified Class 59s (59/1) as did National Power, who ordered six (59/2).

GM invested in this initial UK success by extensively modifying the class 59 internally to produce the Class 66, also hugely successful, within both the UK and continental Europe. Other than 59003 (which after return from loan to HHPI in Germany, is operated by GBRf), the Class 59 fleet is operated today by DB Schenker and Mendip Rail (an ARC and FY joint venture).

Features of the Class 59 include:

• Finely moulded body with many applied fine details
• Printed name plates (Etched plates supplied separately)
• DCC sound fitted (PLUX-22 Decoder Socket supplied)
• Cast wheels with fine relief and appropriate colouring
• Heavy diecast chassis with all wheel pick up
• NEM pockets as standard
• Optional diesel exhaust effect (smoke)*
• Operating, independently controlled headlight and cab lights (all lighting variations tooled)
• All class 59 versions tooled
* ‘Factory fitted’ Smoke Generator
* Includes the RealDrive feature