A further seven of the 12 Class 58s at the Euro Cargo Rail depot in Alizay, Northern France, were scrapped during May, including first-built No. 58001. The other six were Nos. 58004/026/032/034/038/042. The loss of the class leader will come as a shock to many enthusiasts, especially considering its spectacular return to its original Railfreight livery at the Wabtec Doncaster open day in July 2003, courtesy of the Class 58 Loco Group.
The construction of No. 58001 was a protracted affair with parts shortages in particular pushing the completion date ever further forward. The frames were originally laid down at BREL Doncaster in July 1981, but the locomotive was not sent to the Derby Railway Technical Centre for testing until February 1983, having been handed over to British Rail the previous December. It was officially signed off for traffic in September 1984, six months after No. 58002.
Its UK career ended in October 1999 when it was stored at Knottingley depot. After its repaint in 2003, it was stored at Barrow Hill until April 2009. After repairs and a repaint at
