DBC has 10 Class 66s available for sale

[dp21]

Paint keeps rust from getting at the steel. Other than that, what is behind the loco earning money is far more important.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Strathclyder]

I must say that looks rather good; much better that I'd expect that livery to look on a 66! Top-class job by GBRf!

 

[goblinuser]

Paint keeps rust from getting at the steel. Other than that, what is behind the loco earning money is far more important.

Paint also promotes the brand of the operator drawing in more business, especially in the competitive UK freight market.

 

[furnessvale]

Paint also promotes the brand of the operator drawing in more business, especially in the competitive UK freight market.

Yes corporate branding helps with that, but I fail to see how painting one to look like the last steam loco built, or the last days of BR which did its best to get rid of freight achieves that.

On the other hand, painting one in honour of a customer that puts £millions your way is a different matter.

 

[goblinuser]

Yes corporate branding helps with that, but I fail to see how painting one to look like the last steam loco built, or the last days of BR which did its best to get rid of freight achieves that.

On the other hand, painting one in honour of a customer that puts £millions your way is a different matter.

It demonstrates respect, care and understanding of the industry they are in. It also generates social media activity, and will be featured in rail news publications, again generating publicity and promoting their brand and services to potential customers.

 

[Cowley]

It’s their locomotive and they can paint it however they fancy can’t they?
Going on the success story that GBRf seem to be I find it hard to see why anyone has an issue with it. They’ve got plenty of locos in their corporate colours and it still has their logo on it.

 

[Harbornite]

It demonstrates respect, care and understanding of the industry they are in. It also generates social media activity, and will be featured in rail news publications, again generating publicity and promoting their brand and services to potential customers.

Indeed. Furthermore, regarding Furnessvale's point about customers, GBRF have got about 3 locos I can think of in customer liveries (MSC, Maritime and Aggregate industries)

 

[43096]

Indeed. Furthermore, regarding Furnessvale's point about customers, GBRF have got about 3 locos I can think of in customer liveries (MSC, Maritime and Aggregate industries)

I can think of 15 more.... 73966-971, 86101/401, 87002 and 92010/014/018/023/033/038.

 

[E_Reeves]

I can think of 15 more.... 73966-971, 86101/401, 87002 and 92010/014/018/023/033/038.

Does 86101/401 and 87002 really count? I thought they were owned by the AC Locomotive group?

 

[43096]

Does 86101/401 and 87002 really count? I thought they were owned by the AC Locomotive group?

Many of the Class 66s aren't owned by GBRf, either. Do they not count?

 

[Harbornite]

I can think of 15 more.... 73966-971, 86101/401, 87002 and 92010/014/018/023/033/038.

I was just thinking of the 66s that they operate, so that's a good point.

 

[USRailFan]

Surprised it wasn't applied to a class 92, BR's final loco.

If privatisation hadn't happened, I doubt it would have been in any way politically acceptable for BR to order 250+ North American built diesel locos over an a UK built design from Brush or Alstom.

Weren't there plans for Class 60 variants for coal and liner duties? Class 62 and 65 I think?

 

[CosherB]

And we all know that the Class 60 should have been a facsimile of Class 59s anyway .....

 

[43096]

And we all know that the Class 60 should have been a facsimile of Class 59s anyway .....

The Class 60 is actually a more capable loco than the 59. And it's easier to keep the 59s reliable as they go back to the same depot and get plenty of TLC.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The Class 60 is actually a more capable loco than the 59. And it's easier to keep the 59s reliable as they go back to the same depot and get plenty of TLC.

Have to agree with that, CosherB always conveniently forgets the results of the Port of Liverpool coal train trails!

 

[43096]

Have to agree with that, CosherB always conveniently forgets the results of the Port of Liverpool coal train trails!

Exactly! In summary, the 59's creep control comes in at around 3mph, whereas the 60 has the equivalent capability from 0mph. The problem is if you can't get to 3mph! I've always thought it would be interesting to see a Class 70 tried out of Liverpool BHT as a comparison.

 

[CosherB]

Have to agree with that, CosherB always conveniently forgets the results of the Port of Liverpool coal train trails!

I'm talking with the benefit of hindsight and rose tinted glasses, and pretending it's 1990.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I've always thought it would be interesting to see a Class 70 tried out of Liverpool BHT as a comparison.

Indeed! I'm not well up on the class 70 but in theory one would imagine they should offer a superior performance over both 59 & 60 but until they put one to the test we can of course only speculate. I assume they have a more refined creep control setup versus the 66, and at least the equal to the 60s Sepex technology?

 

[43096]

Indeed! I'm not well up on the class 70 but in theory one would imagine they should offer a superior performance over both 59 & 60 but until they put one to the test we can of course only speculate. I assume they have a more refined creep control setup versus the 66, and at least the equal to the 60s Sepex technology?

They have the advantage of AC traction motors, which are inherently better at low-speed running. US railroads replaced their DC motor locos with AC locos (SD70ACe and AC4400CW) on heavy coal trains using fewer locos and lower horsepower - slower speed but will keep slogging away at low speed with minimal risk of motor damage.

 

[Ash Bridge]

They have the advantage of AC traction motors, which are inherently better at low-speed running. US railroads replaced their DC motor locos with AC locos (SD70ACe and AC4400CW) on heavy coal trains using fewer locos and lower horsepower - slower speed but will keep slogging away at low speed with minimal risk of motor damage.

That's interesting to learn, many thanks for explaining!

 

[richieb1971]

These 66's have relieved capacity issues but not the versatility issue it seems.

I find it hard to imagine that the cl70 is the answer. There are relatively few of them and unless more are built will only produce constraints elsewhere. Most 70's are being used lazily as freightliner intermodal spear heads, so to make better use of them a straight swap for more 66's would seem the most simple solution. We can speculate a lot, but one thing is for sure the interest in the cl60 was not for freightliner activities.

I would be interested to see what the Colas cl60 availability has been like since those 10 were overhauled. I'd imagine its been quite impressive.

 

[Ash Bridge]

These 66's have relieved capacity issues but not the versatility issue it seems.

I find it hard to imagine that the cl70 is the answer. There are relatively few of them and unless more are built will only produce constraints elsewhere. Most 70's are being used lazily as freightliner intermodal spear heads, so to make better use of them a straight swap for more 66's would seem the most simple solution. We can speculate a lot, but one thing is for sure the interest in the cl60 was not for freightliner activities.

I would be interested to see what the Colas cl60 availability has been like since those 10 were overhauled. I'd imagine its been quite impressive.

Yes the 60 was purely the heavy hauler, the class 65 was intended for the liner services, I think I've got that the correct way around.

 

[Blaahh]

66789 available for spotting now at Eastleigh, if not for a decent photo.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128828453@N05/39699060135/in/datetaken/

 

[E_Reeves]

And a reskin has already been main for Train Sim!

 

[BRX]

66789 out and about in south london today!

 

[Mag_seven]

66789 out and about in south london today!

Great capture - glad to see its now out and about.

 

[goblinuser]

And a reskin has already been main for Train Sim!

I really hate that game with a passion. The graphics and interface haven't been updated since the first release, everything looks so grim and lifeless on it. As for the sounds, just compare it to the real video of 66789, very poor.

 

[E_Reeves]

I really hate that game with a passion. The graphics and interface haven't been updated since the first release, everything looks so grim and lifeless on it. As for the sounds, just compare it to the real video of 66789, very poor.

Have you tried Train Sim World? That's a much better experience.

 

[ac6000cw]

I was having my first ever ride on a class 800 yesterday, and low-and-behold 66789 was standing at the head of a train at West Drayton! (coming off the freight branch). Looked pretty good to me, I think the livery suits it quite well.

 

[RingingEars66]

Tonbridge get all the fun stuff...