Performance of the class from the very start was excellent with their availability actually being over 99 percent. With steady business for Foster Yeoman requiring regular hiring in of a BR loco a fifth locomotive of class 59 was ordered in summer 1988, again constructed as a special order and was delivered in June 1989.

Meanwhile other dissatisfied customers of BR for block trains such as ARC and National Power were observing the negotiations and developments closely. ARC purchased four (class 59/1) and National Power six (class 59/2).

In 1993 the otherwise competitors ARC and Foster Yeoman founded Mendip Rail to amalgamate the rail operations of the two companies to realise economies of scale. The assets are still owned by the parent companies and the staff seconded. Subsequently Mendip Rail has obtained Train Operating Company status and can compete to operate freight traffic on the national rail network although the core of the operation is still the transport of stone and aggregates of its parent companies to various customers. ARC has become Hanson. Foster Yeoman expanded into aggregate operations in Germany and in 1997 59003 was after suitable modifications exported to mainland Europe for these services, where it is operated by DB under a lease contract.

In April 1998 the National Power rail operation was sold to EWS so EWS acquired six 59/2 locomotives.

Ultimately EMD's diligence and flexibility in designing and constructing what is for their mass production volumes a small number of locomotives paid off because the class 59 was the genesis for the much larger quantity of class 66 locomotives (which although externally similar are different) bought by EWS, Freightliner and GB Rail, plus a small number to operators in Europe.

Foster Yeoman and Mendip Rail's class 59s work services between various destinations which have changed over time according to demand and specific contracts. They have worked regularly over Southern metals, most notably to the Foster Yeoman terminals at Eastleigh and Botley and Channel Tunnel construction work. During the latter there was a regular haul from Foster Yeoman's Isle of Grain aggregate terminal to Ashford for the manufacture of tunnel lining segments.

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Jonathan Hall

ARC is now Hanson and 59103 is seen wearing the company's new livery at Old Oak Common on 6 August 2000. This locomotive was seriously damaged when it was involved in a derailment on the Whatley Quarry branch on 12 September 2000.

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Colin Duff