British Rail Class 66: Difference between revisions
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The Class 66 design has also been introduced to Continental Europe where it is currently certified for operations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, and Poland, with certification pending in the Czech Republic and Italy. They currently operate on routes between Sweden and Denmark and between Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Poland. As a result of its well-known British identity, EMD Europe markets the locomotive as "[[EMD Series 66|Series 66]]". |
The Class 66 design has also been introduced to Continental Europe where it is currently certified for operations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, and Poland, with certification pending in the Czech Republic and Italy. They currently operate on routes between Sweden and Denmark and between Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Poland. As a result of its well-known British identity, EMD Europe markets the locomotive as "[[EMD Series 66|Series 66]]". |
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Due to a combination of: a reduction in European freight volumes; an increase in UK train weights; and no new production of Class66 type locomotives; since mid-2012 a number of EMD Series 66 locomotives have been imported by UK rail frieght operators and converted to UK type specifications. These have included:<ref>{{cite journal|title=Import of EMD Series 66 increases due to lack of UK motive power|publisher=Railway Gazette|date=September 2013}}</ref> |
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*GBRF bought 3 ex-Dutch locos in 2012, to be registered as 66747-66749 |
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*Freightliner bought two ex-German "Rush Rail" locomotives in 2013, to be numbered 66750-66751 |
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==Current operators== |
==Current operators== |
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Revision as of 20:48, 26 December 2013
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The Class 66 is a type of six axle diesel electric freight locomotive developed in part from the British Rail Class 59, for use on the railways of the UK. Since its introduction the class has been successful and has been sold to British and other European railway companies. In Continental Europe it is marketed as the EMD Series 66 (JT42CWR).
History
United Kingdom
On the privatisation of British Rail's freight operations in 1996, EWS bought most of British Rail's freight operations. Many of the locomotives that EWS inherited were either at the end of their useful life or of doubtful reliability. EWS approached General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD), who offered their JT42CWR model which had the same bodyshell as the EMD built Class 59; this gave the advantage of having a locomotive of known loading gauge. The engine and traction motors were different models from those in the Class 59. Additionally, the Class 66s incorporated General Motors' version of a "self-steering bogie" ("radial truck", in American usage) - designed to reduce track wear and increase adhesion on curves.
The initial classification was as Class 61, then they were subsequently given the Class 66 designation in the British classification system (TOPS). 250 were ordered and built in London, Ontario, Canada.[1]
In 1998 Freightliner placed an order for locomotives. They were followed by GB Railfreight, and then Direct Rail Services.
Although sometimes unpopular with many rail enthusiasts, due to their ubiquity and having caused the displacement of several older types of (mostly) British built locomotives, their high reliability has helped rail freight to remain competitive. Rail enthusiasts call them "sheds".
Continental Europe
The Class 66 design has also been introduced to Continental Europe where it is currently certified for operations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, and Poland, with certification pending in the Czech Republic and Italy. They currently operate on routes between Sweden and Denmark and between Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Poland. As a result of its well-known British identity, EMD Europe markets the locomotive as "Series 66".
Due to a combination of: a reduction in European freight volumes; an increase in UK train weights; and no new production of Class66 type locomotives; since mid-2012 a number of EMD Series 66 locomotives have been imported by UK rail frieght operators and converted to UK type specifications. These have included:[2]
- GBRF bought 3 ex-Dutch locos in 2012, to be registered as 66747-66749
- Freightliner bought two ex-German "Rush Rail" locomotives in 2013, to be numbered 66750-66751
Current operators
DB Schenker
DB Schenker was the first to order Class 66 locomotives, with the first of the 250 locomotives shipped to Britain in mid-1998. The final locomotive entered traffic just two years later, in mid-2000. The DBS fleet includes five locomotives capable of banking heavy trains over the Lickey Incline—on these specific locomotives, the knuckle coupler has been modified to allow remote releasing from inside the cab, whilst in motion.[3] It also includes fifteen locomotives fitted with RETB signalling equipment, for working in northern Scotland and RETB-fitted branchlines.[3]
A few DB Schenker Class 66s are now working in Europe as part of the Euro Cargo Rail contract.
Six Class 66s are in the owner DB Schenker red livery, 66001, 66097, 66101, 66118, 66152 and 66185 are operating in the UK. Some Class 66s exported to Poland are also in DB Schenker, these are 66163, 66178, 66189, 66220, 66227 and 66248.
Freightliner
Freightliner followed EWS by initially ordering five new Class 66/5 locomotives, and have continued to order in small batches. As of summer 2010, the 66/5 fleet had reached 98 examples, numbered 66501-520/522-599. 66521 was withdrawn after the 2001 crash at Great Heck and later scrapped.
In 2000 a new Class 66/6 sub-class was built, with a lower gear ratio, enabling heavier trains to be hauled, albeit at slower speed. There are presently 25 examples of this class, numbered 66601-625. 66624 and 66625 have been exported by Freightliner Poland along with 66582-586, 66608-609 and 66611-612. 66623 is in Bardon Aggregates livery and is named Bill Bolsover.
During 2004 the company also took delivery of the most recent Class 66/9 sub-class of the locomotive, which are a low-emission variant. All new locomotives for all companies are now of the low-emission "T2" type. The original two such locomotives remain as 66951/52. By 2007, the fleet had been extended by the arrival of 66953/954/955/956 and 66957.
In 2011, Freightliner took on Direct Rail Services' 66411-420. Former Stobart Rail 66411, Malcolm Logistics 66412 and DRS Compass 66417 have been exported to Poland for Freightliner Poland. 66415 is used as a spot hire locomotive and 66413, Stobart Rail 66414, 66416, 66418, 66419 and 66420 are still running in Direct Rail Services livery.
GBRf Europorte
GB Railfreight leased seventeen Class 66/7 locomotives from HSBC Rail. GBRf's fleet increased to 32 locomotives.[when?] The locomotives are employed on infrastructure contracts with Network Rail and London Underground. GBRf also haul intermodal container trains from Felixstowe to the West Midlands and coal trains to Ratcliffe, Lynemouth and Drax power station.
During April 2006 five more locomotives (numbered 66718-722) were delivered. These are of the low-emission kind, similar to the 66/9s in service with Freightliner. Their livery differs slightly from the original seventeen, using a lighter blue and 'Metronet' branding on the sides. Their primary use was to work infrastructure trains for Metronet, but now for Metronet's successor Transport for London. A further order for five more locomotives (66723-727) was delivered in early 2007, and painted in a new livery of pink, white and blue, which is similar to First Group's corporate livery. In April 2008 First GBRf took delivery of another five locomotives (66728 - 732), again painted in the corporate First Group livery.
66733-746 are formed of Class 66s from Direct Rail Services, Freightliner and Colas Rail. 66733-737 from Direct Rail Services which used to be 66401-405. 66738-741 from Freightliner which used to be 66578-581 and 66742-746 used to be 66841-845 of Colas Rail.
In 2011 66720 was painted in a special "Rainbow" livery.[4]
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services (DRS), a subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) leased Class 66 locomotives from Porterbrook. Previously, they had relied on a fleet of ageing second-hand Class 20, Class 33, Class 37 and Class 47 locomotives. In 2002, DRS ordered ten Class 66/4 locomotives from EMD. These were delivered in 2003, numbered 66401–410, and are employed on new Anglo-Scottish traffic, some with Stobart Rail. They are painted in a variation of DRS's blue livery, with two locomotives, 66411 and 66414, in Stobart Rail livery. More locomotives have since been ordered, with ten (66411–420) again T2 style spec locos, delivered in 2006 and another ten (66421–430) delivered in late 2007. And in 2008, DRS had another four locomotives (66431–66434) from General Motors arriving in the UK.
Class 66401-410 are with GB Europorte as 66733-737 and 66742-746 with 66406-410 being as Colas Rail's 66841-845 before moving to their current operator. 66411-420 are with Freightliner and Freightliner Poland.
After the first twenty Class 66s operated by Direct Rail Services were transferred to Freightliner and GBRF leaving just 14 left with the operator, Direct Rail Services needed more 66s and luckily they got some. After Fastline Freight went bust, the five 66s were transferred to Direct Rail Services and painted in the DRS Compass livery. The company repainted former Fastline loco no.66434 into Malcolm Logistics livery in 2012 and the locos are mainly used on Intermodal services.
Colas Rail
Colas Rail took over the ex-Advenza Cemex Cement flow after the company went bust, utilising ex Advenza locomotives. During 2010 they took on 66843 and laterly 66844 which both had been on lease to GBRf, they also took on ex DRS 66410 which was renumbered 66845. They made a deal with GBRf and Colas acquired 5 ex-Freightliner Class 66s and were renumbered 66846 - 66850. The five class 66s that Colas had went to GBRf and were renumbered 66742 - 66746, all of which have now been repainted into Europorte livery at Eastleigh.
Former operators
Advenza Freight
Advenza Freight, a Cotswold Rail subsidiary, operated class 66841-844. They were primarily used on Advenza's scrap and cement flows. The locomotives originated from the batch that DRS returned. Advenza Freight went bust in October 2009 and the class 66s returned to storage.
These locos were housed at Gloucester Carriage Sidings where Advenza Freight was based.
Fastline
Fastline Freight, part of Jarvis PLC, which operated intermodal services between Doncaster and Birmingham International Railfreight Terminal (BIFT), and Thamesport, in North Kent, using refurbished Class 56 locomotives, ordered five Class 66/3 locomotives to operate a coal flow from Hatfield Colliery. They were delivered in 2008.[5] Following the demise of Jarvis in 2010, and Fastline going into administration on 29 March 2010,[6] these locomotives were placed in store, being towed to DRS Carlisle Kingmoor or Crewe Gresty Bridge depot for storage.[7] During 2011, DRS repainted the five ex-Fastline locomotives and took them on in their own fleet keeping their original numbers
Sub-classes
Minor differences between different orders, and different operating companies have resulted in a number of subclasses being defined.[8]
| Subclass | Number built | TOPS number range | Operators | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66/0[1] | 250 | 66001-66047, 66049-66250 | DB Schenker | The original order of 250. The first loco arrived at Immingham in 1998.[1] 66048 written-off after a serious derailment at Corrbridge 60 EWS locomotives lent from EWS stock to EWSi subsidiary Euro Cargo Rail although some are back in the UK now.[when?] DBS are now sending locos to Poland.[when?] |
| 66/3 | 5 | 66301-66305 | Direct Rail Services | Originally ordered by Fastline Freight. Now in use with Direct Rail Services. |
| 66/4 | 9 | 66411-66420 | Freightliner | Acquired from DRS in 2011. Three exported for use in Poland (FPL), 66411, 66412 & 66417. |
| 66/4 | 15 | 66421-66434 | Direct Rail Services | Intended use is on intermodal traffic. Occasionally used on nuclear flask traffic - for which they are overpowered.[1] |
| 66/5 | 85 | 66501-66520, 66522-66572, 66585, 66587-66599 | Freightliner | Replaced Class 47s and Class 57s on Intermodal freight.[1] 66521 written-off after Selby rail crash. 66582, 66583, 66584 and 66586 have been exported to Poland, the operating subsidiary Freightliner PL. |
| 66/6 | 19 | 66601-66607, 66610, 66613-66623 | Freightliner | Top speed of 65 mph (105 km/h) - reduced gearing to cope with heavier oil, aggregates and cement trains.[1] 66608, 66609, 66611, 66612, 66624 and 66625 have been exported to Poland, the operating subsidiary Freightliner PL. |
| 66/7 | 37 | 66701-66733, 66735-66749 | GB Railfreight | Operates on coal, intermodal services and also engineering / departmental work for Metronet and Network Rail on London's underground and national rail lines.[1] (66733 to 66737 in Former Direct Rail Services (66401-66405) operations.) (66738 to 66741 in Former Freightliner (66578-66581) operations.) (66742 to 66746 of the Colas Rail (66841-66845) has been transferred.) ( 66747 to 66749 is a former Dutch fleet converted from the Midland Railway Centre.) 66734 has also been written-off after it was involved in a serious derailment at Loch Treig. |
| 66/8 | 5 | 66846-66850 | Colas Rail | Former operated by Freightliner 66573-66577. |
| 66/9 | 7 | 66951-66957 | Freightliner | A lower emission variant - fuel capacity reduced to compensate for the increased weight of other components.[1] |
Cab design problems
The British trade union ASLEF has complained that the locomotives are unfit and unsafe to work in, citing a lack of air conditioning, and poor seating and noise levels.
In April 2007 ASLEF proposed a ban on their members driving the locomotives during the British summer 2007 period. Keith Norman, ASLEF's general secretary, described the cabs as "unhealthy, unsafe and unsatisfactory". Research showed that in July 2006, when the weather had been extremely hot, the number of times a driver had passed a red signal increased.[9] EWS entered into discussions and make amendments to a series of trial locomotives,[9] GB Railfreight and Freightliner also investigated cab improvements.[10] In June 2007 progress on the issue led ASLEF to withdraw its threat of industrial action.[11]
In Norway CargoNet related complaints about the noise levels in the CD66 variant of the Class 66 resulted in higher pay rates for drivers.[12]
Accidents
66 521 was involved in the 2001 Great Heck rail crash which resulted in 10 deaths including the driver Stephen Dunn.[13]
On 9 February 2006, a freight train, hauled by EWS 66 017, derailed at Brentingby Junction, near Melton Mowbray. Having passed a signal at danger the locomotive and the first three wagons were derailed at catch points at the end of the Up Goods Loop. There were no injuries.[14]
On 4 January 2010, a freight train hauled by DB Schenker 66 048 derailed at Carrbridge in snowy weather, blocking the Highland Main Line.[15] Having passed a signal at danger the train was derailed at trap points,[16] subsequently falling down an embankment into trees and injuring the two crew members. The locomotive was hauling container flats from Inverness to Mossend Yard on behalf of Stobart Rail.[17] The line was reopened on 12 January.[18]
On Monday 21 November 2011, 66 111 derailed between Exeter Central and Exeter St David's on working an engineering works service.[19]
On Thursday 28 June 2012, 66734 has also been written-off after it was involved in a serious derailment at Loch Treig while operating the 6S45 North Blyth to Fort William Alcan Tanks on Thursday 28 June 2012.[20][21]
EWS '66' 66055 derailed at the catch points on the loop line in Healey Mills while working a fuel train from Warrington to Doncaster on Wednesday 7 November 2012.
See also
References and sources
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h GM-EMD Class 66 Thejunction.org.uk
- ^ "Import of EMD Series 66 increases due to lack of UK motive power". Railway Gazette. September 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Fox, Hall & Pritchard 2008[page needed]
- ^ "News Journal" (PDF). Railway Herald. No. 274. 11 July 2011. p. 4. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Railway Herald Issue 137 June 30, 2008
- ^ http://fastline-group.com/index.php?id=81
- ^ - wnxx End of the Line: Withdrawn & Stored Locomotives UK. List: Class 66.
- ^ - Class 66 :: Electro-Motive Diesel JT42CWR
- ^ a b "Boycott threat over 'dirty' locos". BBC News. 30 April 2007.
- ^ "Positive moves from operators on 66s". Locomotive Journal. ASLEF: 7. April 2007.
- ^ "Progress on 66 cabs leads to normal working". News Archive. ASLEF. 14 June 2007.
- ^ "Enighet mellom NLF og CargoNet" (in Norwegian). 5 October 2004.
- ^ "Tragic results of driver fatigue". BBC News. 13 December 2001.
- ^ "Rail Accident Report: Derailment of a freight train at Brentingby Junction, near Melton Mowbray - 9 February 2006". Rail Accident Investigation Branch. January 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "Snow derailment problems continue". BBC News Online. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ "Investigation into an accident involving a freight train at Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, on 4 January 2010" (PDF). Rails Accidents Investigation Branch. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- ^ "Probes into SPADs in Devon and Scotland". RAIL Magazine (635). Bauer Media Group: 8–9. 2010-01-13.
- ^ "INVERNESS-PERTH ROUTE REOPENS AFTER A WEEK OF ENDEAVOUR". Network Rail. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GKmo5th-VM&feature=player_embedded - http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/VIDEO-Derailed-train-causes-services-cancelled/story-13940812-detail/story.html
- ^ "120628 : 66734 Loch Treig Derailment". WNXX. June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Man winched to safety in Scotland after floods derail train". The Daily Telegraph. 29 June 2012.
Sources
- Fox, Peter; Hall, Peter; Pritchard, Robert (2004). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2004. Sheffield: Platform 5. ISBN 1-902336-39-9.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Fox, Peter; Hall, Peter; Pritchard, Robert (2008). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2008. Sheffield: Platform 5. ISBN 978-1-902336-63-3.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. EMD: JT42CWRM.
External links
- "Nothing stops a Class 66". RAIL (492). Bauer Media Group. reprinted via pigeonsnest.co.uk
- "Class 66 :: Electro-Motive Diesel JT42CWR". class66.railfan.nl.
- "Special Report: The Class 66s" (PDF). Railway Herald (127): 19–25. 18 April 2008. ISSN 1751-8091.
