Alex Coomber
A Class 58 No. 58027 Co Co Diesel Electric 3300 hp. This was a low cost easily Maintained freight locomotive for the predicted growing freight market of the 1980s. They were also designed for the export market and differed In construction and subsequent maintenance by being totally modular. 50 Locomotives were introduced into service from 1982 to 1987. The final locomotive entered service in 1987 and was the last Diesel Locomotive to be built at the Doncaster Plant. Performance and availability was disappointing. Export orders did not materialise and the miners strike reduced many of their coal hauling duties. Supplanted by the new and more reliable Class 66. Most are now stored or operational on European construction projects. No. 58027 brings a loaded MGR Coal Train eastbound through Nottingham Midland in August 1988. No. 58027 had entered service in March 1985 and was withdrawn in September 1999 being exported to Europe in October 2004.