This Locomotive is a heavy freight locomotive built by British Rail Engineering Ltd (BREL) Doncaster in 1981. At the time of their introduction, they had the longest fuel range and were the most powerful locomotives in Britain.

The class was built to replace the need for double heading of older, less powerful and slower locomotives of increasingly heavy freight trains. This enabled BR to have fast fitted freight trains diagrammed to run on the main lines in between the express passenger timetable without the need for them to stop in passing loops. This made trains easier to signal, reduced the chance of accidents and delivered the goods faster. The main use for these powerful locomotives was on non-stop merry-go-round coal trains, petroleum and metal traffic, but were suitable for any freight movements, large or small. The locomotives were fitted with no train heating, so the only passenger use was on railtour duties or for clearing a mainline of failed trains.
56098 arrived at the Northampton & Lamport Railway from Immingham on the 1st November 2004.