The Mighty Class 56 – Britain’s Heavy Hauler! 💨 Introduced in the mid-1970s, the British Rail Class 56 was a true workhorse of the diesel era. Built for heavy freight duties, these 3,250-horsepower locomotives were affectionately known as “Grids” due to the distinctive grilles on their sides. The early examples were built in Romania by Electroputere, but quality issues meant later units were assembled at Doncaster and Crewe. Despite a rough start, once sorted, the Class 56 became a favourite am