GBRf Class 99 - 30 locomotives now ordered

[Rail Quest]

more from Velim:

Was a fantastic video, that. The departure shot at 2:05 sounded different from the previous Stadler UK products. It sounded quite loud when passing, and thats in electric!

 

[anthony263]

Was a fantastic video, that. The departure shot at 2:05 sounded different from the previous Stadler UK products. It sounded quite loud when passing, and thats in electric!

Sounds like a jet passing you . Still be good to see them.in service

 

[Sun Chariot]

The departure shot at 2:05 sounded different from the previous Stadler UK products.

That really is an unusual sound - especially to my ears which were brought up on the sound of BR AC "Roarers" classes 81 and 85.

 

[Pete_uk]

Name just sprung to mind was:

'Whistlers'

 

[norbitonflyer]

Was a fantastic video, that. The departure shot at 2:05 sounded different from the previous Stadler UK products.

Reminiscent of the "do-re-mi-lok" (Siemens Eurosprinter) on OBB

Although Stadler have gone for an arpeggio - second inversion triad in B major, I think (F#, B, D#) - rather than a scale. (first three notes of "La Cucaracha")

Do-fa-la (or fa-do-mi depending on what key you are in)

 

[D365]

Reminiscent of the "do-re-mi-lok" (Siemens Eurosprinter) on OBB

Although Stadler have gone for an arpeggio - second inversion triad in B major, I think (F#, B, D#) - rather than a scale.

Do-fa-la (or fa-do-mi depending on what key you are in)

I was expecting to see a music analysis before long, and you have kindly obliged!

 

[Class15]

Name just sprung to mind was:

'Whistlers'

How original

 

[ac6000cw]

Although Stadler have gone for an arpeggio - second inversion triad in B major, I think (F#, B, D#) - rather than a scale.

Measured from the video using a software spectrum analyser, the fundamental of the lowest tone is around 730 Hz, the middle tone around 1000 Hz and the high tone around 1300 Hz, so a pretty good match with your musical analysis (F# => 739.99 Hz, B => 987.77 Hz and D# => 1244.51 Hz). Those will be the 'chopping' frequencies of the traction inverters, used to synthesize the variable frequency 3-phase AC for the motors.

 

[superkev]

I wonder if the new Stradler 93 and 99's are quieter in diesel than the very noisy 68's
K

Measured from the video using a software spectrum analyser, the fundamental of the lowest tone is around 730 Hz, the middle tone around 1000 Hz and the high tone around 1300 Hz, so a pretty good match with your musical analysis (F# => 739.99 Hz, B => 987.77 Hz and D# => 1244.51 Hz). Those will be the 'chopping' frequencies of the traction inverters, used to synthesize the variable frequency 3-phase AC for the motors.

 

[xotGD]

I wonder if the new Stradler 93 and 99's are quieter in diesel than the very noisy 68's
K

Let's hope not!

 

[The_Train]

Let's hope not!

I second this

 

[66701GBRF]

Reminiscent of the "do-re-mi-lok" (Siemens Eurosprinter) on OBB

Although Stadler have gone for an arpeggio - second inversion triad in B major, I think (F#, B, D#) - rather than a scale.

Do-fa-la (or fa-do-mi depending on what key you are in)

Was expecting the Columbia Pictures logo to appear after that.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Let's hope not!

I think the 68s will be the benchmark for cranks vs public arguments .

In that video 99001 gets a bit piercing noise wise BUT that might just be the gain on the microphone.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

In the pacing shot 2/3 of the way through, there is obviously a yellow test cable out of the cab window and down the side. Any ideas what for, it seems to go down to the sandpipe?

 

[Wyrleybart]

In the pacing shot 2/3 of the way through, there is obviously a yellow test cable out of the cab window and down the side. Any ideas what for, it seems to go down to the sandpipe?

I think those kind of questions can only be answered by manufacturer and testers. They are usually wired up with loads of testing kit for the duration of the tests.

 

[ac6000cw]

In the pacing shot 2/3 of the way through, there is obviously a yellow test cable out of the cab window and down the side. Any ideas what for, it seems to go down to the sandpipe?

Just guesswork, but it might be a camera to record the behaviour of the wheel-rail interface and the sanding equipment, or possibly a pipe used to squirt something slippery onto the railhead for low-adhesion testing.

A close-up of the end of it, captured from the video:

 

[GRALISTAIR]

My UK home backs onto the WCML north of Preston. I can't wait to see these bad boys in revenue earning action by my house.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

Just guesswork, but it might be a camera to record the behaviour of the wheel-rail interface and the sanding equipment, or possibly a pipe used to squirt something slippery onto the railhead for low-adhesion testing.

A close-up of the end of it, captured from the video:

View attachment 176123

Thanks.
The image quality from video is amazing - I suppose that is what 4k gets you with the right kit. It does look rather like yellow garden hose, so putting something down to make the rail slippery seems quite plausible.

 

[800001]

99002 currently on route to Velim. To join 001 for testing.

Gbrf tweeted this afternoon:-

https://x.com/gbrailfreight/status/1900591005566398725?s=46&t=JLp3J2Up_Gl_m9cQz-au6w

99002 is officially on board!

Next stop, Velim!

Watch this space for exclusive videos and photos as it undergoes testing.

 

[dmncf]

I'm surprised that the locomotive's journey from Valencia in Spain to Velim in the Czech Republic has a leg that's by ship. I would have expected it to do the whole journey by road or the whole journey by rail. But fair enough.

 

[Trainman40083]

I'm surprised that the locomotive's journey from Valencia in Spain to Velim in the Czech Republic has a leg that's by ship. I would have expected it to do the whole journey by road or the whole journey by rail. But fair enough.

I wonder if a section of track in Spain is the same track gauge?

 

[Nym]

Just guesswork, but it might be a camera to record the behaviour of the wheel-rail interface and the sanding equipment, or possibly a pipe used to squirt something slippery onto the railhead for low-adhesion testing.

A close-up of the end of it, captured from the video:

View attachment 176123

That will very likely be a hose for applying liquid friction modifier to test the sanders and WSSP response

 

[cj_1985]

I wonder if a section of track in Spain is the same track gauge?

There are different track gauges between the factory and the French border where all track would be standard gauge

 

[Wavertreelad]

I'm surprised that the locomotive's journey from Valencia in Spain to Velim in the Czech Republic has a leg that's by ship. I would have expected it to do the whole journey by road or the whole journey by rail. But fair enough.

Wasn't 99002 at the Berlin show? Did it return to Valencia or did it stay in Berlin. Given that Velim is in the Czech Republic which is landlocked anyway why would you put the locomotive on a ship. Berlin to Prague is only about 400 kms.

 

[furnessvale]

Wasn't 99002 at the Berlin show? Did it return to Valencia or did it stay in Berlin. Given that Velim is in the Czech Republic which is landlocked anyway why would you put the locomotive on a ship. Berlin to Prague is only about 400 kms.

Canal?

 

[norbitonflyer]

There are different track gauges between the factory and the French border where all track would be standard gauge

According to Wikipedia, there is a standard gauge high speed link between Valencia and Madrid, and another between madrid and the French border, so it could be done that way. But there may be reasons why the high speed link can't be used for tghis purpiose. Valencia is on the Mediterranean coast, so shipping to soemwhere nearer Velim is certainly possible.

 

[Wavertreelad]

Canal?

Apparently it could have been barged along the River Elbe low water levels permitting to Cerhenice which is where the test track is. Other trains for the test centre move by the same route, the Saudi's had some moved by the same route.

 

[hwl]

I'm surprised that the locomotive's journey from Valencia in Spain to Velim in the Czech Republic has a leg that's by ship. I would have expected it to do the whole journey by road or the whole journey by rail. But fair enough.

Wasn't 99002 at the Berlin show? Did it return to Valencia or did it stay in Berlin. Given that Velim is in the Czech Republic which is landlocked anyway why would you put the locomotive on a ship. Berlin to Prague is only about 400 kms.

99002 wasn't complete when it was in Berlin, hence it had to go back to Spain to be finished.

The test track in Velim is located about 1/2mile (closest point) to the River Elbe so a suitably sized vessel can enter the Elbe estuary near Hamburg and get very close. At a guess it will probably be unloaded in Kolin about 4 miles away or Melnik about 20 miles away where there are active rail connected Dockyards (for both containers (e.g. to/from Hamburg) and bulk).

 

[cj_1985]

According to Wikipedia, there is a standard gauge high speed link between Valencia and Madrid, and another between madrid and the French border, so it could be done that way. But there may be reasons why the high speed link can't be used for tghis purpiose. Valencia is on the Mediterranean coast, so shipping to soemwhere nearer Velim is certainly possible.

Yeah, and remember than the class 99s are only 75mph locos... not ideal for a HS line

 

[Wavertreelad]

99002 wasn't complete when it was in Berlin, hence it had to go back to Spain to be finished.

The test track in Velim is located about 1/2mile (closest point) to the River Elbe so a suitably sized vessel can enter the Elbe estuary near Hamburg and get very close. At a guess it will probably be unloaded in Kolin about 4 miles away or Melnik about 20 miles away where there are active rail connected Dockyards (for both containers (e.g. to/from Hamburg) and bulk).

Thanks for this, I was not aware the locomotive had returned to Spain to be finished which is why I was puzzled.

My working life was spent in the shipping industry so I was aware of the greater use of the inland waterways in Europe, but I hadn't come across these movements perhaps of the specialist nature. Having said that I did during the late 1970's early 1980's prevent an embarrassing mistake by one of our Swiss offices who had been charged with shipping a Speno rail grinder to Dublin and had seen on a British Rail map of the day a ferry service from Holyhead to Dublin and assumed the ferry could carry the rail grinder. After double checking I made the call to office and explained the situation and enquired the whereabouts of the rail grinder. A few hours later it was discovered in Harwich having arrived on the ferry and was booked to move to Holyhead although nobody had thought how it was going to get to Dublin. After numerous more phone calls with BR etc., we came up with up with a plan to transfer the rail grinder to a low loader at Allerton Depot and then road it to Fleetwood for catch the freight ferry to Dublin. On the day of the lift, everybody arrived on site and we started the lift only to find the mobile crane sinking into the earth under the weight. Plan B formed and that was to move rail grinder to Canada Dock Station where we could also use the rail mounted gantry cranes to perform the lift which at the time were usually deployed to transfer army vehicles going to Northern Ireland. A couple of days later everybody was assembled and the lift started, but soon stopped because the cables were too short and were about the crush the cab and the site had no longer cables available. I decided to try and borrow some cables, and went over the road to Harrison Lines office and spoke to a contact who then spoke to the team at Mersey Docks and Harbour Co that handled the heavy lifts for their Mammoth crane who offered to loan them in return for the images of the lift. Paperwork completed Harrisons provided their truck to deliver the cables the half mile or so to Canada Dock Station and later that day the rail grinder was transferred to low loader and heading for Fleetwood. About a month later when the job in Dublin was completed we repeated the exercise at Canada Dock Station in reverse. Somewhere I still have the pictures taken by the photographer that were distributed to parties concerned.

Exactly - we are talking about the equivalent of sailing a small containership 400miles upriver from Felixstowe / Southampton / London Gateway! Normal on the continent, alien concept here (the equivalent is using a coaster to Grangemouth via the North Sea).

The Elbe and transportation on it is part of the reason Czechia is much more industrialised than Slovakia (and one of our former prime minsters ended up waving a bit of paper at Croydon Airport 87 years ago)

The difference here is the volumes and time scales as Peel found out when trying a barge and later a small feeder on the Manchester Ship Canal just a few years ago. On the Continent there are sufficient volumes to justify the use of barges hundreds of miles inland and shippers/consignees as well as the shipping lines are geared up for the concept. In this country, we don't have the same volumes and our intermodal network generally allows for day one collection and day three delivery whether that be by road or rail which means the delivery can be effected within the standard free time allowed by the shipping company. If an importer has huge volumes they will also likely have additional free time built into the contracts so the usually five or six free days days allowed could easily be fourteen in which case the containers remain on the import terminal for a few extra days which the shipping lines would usually negotiate as free in their master contract anyway.