Class 66 vs 90

[ow3n]

Hi, just genuinely out of curiosity, drivers who have driven both a 66 and a 90 which did you prefer to drive? Which has better acceleration? Etc

 

[Numbskull100]

90s (a pair of) every day. Powerful, quiet, reliable.

Less leg room, but that's a sacrifice worth making.

 

[Nippy]

As a signaller I much prefer the trains with 90s on as well.

 

[Sun Chariot]

90s (a pair of) every day. Powerful, quiet, reliable.

When the class 90 fleet was first introduced, I'd sometimes see one scuttling off light engine from Euston's bufferstops, bound for Willesden Depot. The acceleration from stand, at the platform-end signal, astonished me.

 

[ExRes]

90s were a delight to drive, 66s were a punishment

 

[edwin_m]

When the class 90 fleet was first introduced, I'd sometimes see one scuttling off light engine from Euston's bufferstops, bound for Willesden Depot. The acceleration from stand, at the platform-end signal, astonished me.

The huge acceleration of a Class 90 running light was a cause of this derailment at Bletchley: https://www.gov.uk/raib-reports/derailment-at-bletchley-junction-bletchley

At 02:27 hrs on 3 February 2012, an electric locomotive that was being driven from Crewe to Wembley, on the West Coast Main Line, derailed as it negotiated the diverging route at Bletchley Junction. The locomotive was travelling at a speed of 65.5 mph (105.4 km/h) when it derailed: the speed limit for the diverging route was 15 mph (24 km/h). The driver received minor injuries and significant damage was caused to the underside of the locomotive, the track and the overhead electrification equipment.

The driver of the locomotive correctly reduced its speed on the approach to the red signal before the junction but when this changed to green, with an ‘F’ indication meaning that the locomotive was to take the diverging route, the driver applied full power in the belief that he was going straight on. It is likely that the driver only realised that he was to take the diverging route around the time he was passing the signal, by which time it was too late to prevent the derailment.

At low speeds the 66 might have slightly better acceleration, as its more modern creep control equipment may achieve more friction with the rails. But the 90 has more power so will accelerate better at higher speeds.

 

[Dumpton Park]

Someone posted on another forum once that a light 90 or 87 could accelerate much like a Hornby 00 one if it was allowed. Possibly an exaggeration. Possibly not.

DP

 

[FrontSideBus]

I imagine a light loco, even if it weighs 80 odd tonnes would be no slouch with 5000hp on tap!

 

[Wyrleybart]

The answer to the question is probably whether you want your dental fillings shaken out, along with a really rigorous body massage, or whether you want a smooth locomotive sealed from being able to see out the sides of.

Just before I left EWS in 2001 I got the chance of a very brief drive of a light 66 up to 35mph, that convinced not to apply for a FOC drivers job - should I ever want to. And I doubt that in the intervening 25 years they have improved.