The Class 58s were introduced in 1983, and were a significant departure from normal build standards. The fifty members were built by BREL at Doncaster Works, and were built to a modular design: BR had one eye on the export market with this class of loco. They were fitted with a Ruston Paxman 12RK3ACT prime mover, which proved very suitable for their main use on merry-go-round coal traffic. The only problem the class encountered was with wheelslip. No. 58050 was to become the last locomotive to be built at Doncaster, as no export orders were received for the class. All fifty of the class passed to mainline, and a few members received the blue livery before passing to EWS. This was a class of loco that was withdrawn from service in the UK far too early, as the Canadian-built Class 66s replaced them. Only one member has been physically preserved, but in this book Andrew Cole pays tribute to the whole class with an array of period photographs and technically detailed captions.

Andrew Cole has been interested in railways for over thirty years, sharing the hobby with his brother and late father, who ignited his interest. He has been lucky enough to see many different classes of loco. He lives in Birmingham with his wife and daughter, and has been employed by the railways for more than fifteen years.