Class 68 Progress, what's the latest?

[SprinterMan]

They could, but the secondary engine was just a thought I had. Excuse me.

Sorry if that sounded abrupt, I didn't mean it like that. It's a good idea, just seemed slightly redundant :P

 

[D365]

Sorry if that sounded abrupt, I didn't mean it like that. It's a good idea, just seemed slightly redundant :P

That's the point! (Or, that was my idea) Don't worry about it

 

[Photohunter71]

Has the first one rolled off the production line at all?

 

[Photohunter71]

Will there be any route testing for the class around the Edinburgh south sub loop?

 

[Freightmaster]

Will there be any route testing for the class around the Edinburgh south sub loop?

hock:hock:hock:

Seems a random/unlikely location for testing to take place??


MARK

 

[Loki]

Has the first one rolled off the production line at all?

Apparently it's delayed for some reason. It was supposed to be in Velim for test running by now according to railwaygazette.

 

[Photohunter71]

Ahhh,hope it gets out and about soon!
Reason I asked the Edinburgh sub loop question is down to DRS moving the Torness flasks,and will 68's be involved with testing around there.

 

[Freightmaster]

Ahhh,hope it gets out and about soon!
Reason I asked the Edinburgh sub loop question is down to DRS moving the Torness flasks,and will 68's be involved with testing around there.

I'm sure DRS won't be using these locos on flask trains except in an emergency,
but I suppose you may occasionally see then running via Edinburgh when
intermodal trains are diverted that way due to engineering work...

MARK

 

[Masbroughlad]

When do DRS expect to have 68s running?
Will they be used on charters?
Are the top speed 100mph?
Any other operators getting any?
Any other useful info appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Beveridges]

]When do DRS expect to have 68s running?

Early 2014

Will they be used on charters?

Yes and a lot of other things

Are the top speed 100mph?

Yes although they can probably do more

Any other operators getting any?

Current operators who hire 67s for passenger operations are interested

Any other useful info appreciated.

They are going to be mixed traffic, used on both passenger and Freight. It is expected that they will replace 66/4s from several Intermodal flows.

 

[rugbymidland]

Going by recent posts on wnxx it will be the former, as many predicted it will effectively be an electric version of the 68 DRS already have on order.

Chris

Bo-Bo I suspect (looked at various images on internet after googling)

 

[Beveridges]

Bo-Bo
Its all you need - those Intermodals aren't exactly that heavy. Except the Tesscos but they are now hiring in 92s as well.

 

[The Planner]

Depends what you call heavy I suppose. They are no 3000 tonne oil tanker but Intermodals need to get to 75mph and if they are at the 1600 tonne mark then they need some guts to get there in any decent distance.

 

[HSTEd]

Are the intermodals not continually getting longer and heavier?

 

[The Planner]

They won't go past 775m and much past 1800 tonnes.

 

[YorkshireBear]

They won't go past 775m and much past 1800 tonnes.

Yeah 775m for the foreseeable future is as much as we are going to be able to operate so that does limit any future weights some what.

 

[Beveridges]

The only Intermodals approaching 1800 tons are the Lessco's - DRS have hired 3x Co-Co 6780 horsepower 130 ton heavy weight Class 92's specifically for these flows.

The majority of the DRS Intermodal flows are lighter but require reasonable speed which is why Bo-Bo traction is still suitable.

Class 68 will be able to handle all of DRS's current flows with performance "at least matching the 66" but I wouldn't be surprised if it is greater given the higher engine horsepower rating and it will have better capability on passenger work with its ETH and 100mph top speed.

 

[captainbigun]

Where has assertion that the 68s will see regular use on Intermodals come from?

Bo-Bo plus wet/leafy/greasy fells is going to equal fail. The inverter drive has advantages over the legacy DC solutions, but no adhesion is no adhesion. A 66 will always do a better job due to the additional adhesion and more suitable gearing.

As stated, the tool for the heavy intermodal is the 92.

Intermodals are, pretty much without exception, 75mph.

 

[Beveridges]

Bo-Bo Class 90's regularly haul Intermodals, now 68's with far superior wheel slip control and more powerful on-board computers should if anything have less adhesion problems than a 90.

Acceleration up to 75mph will not be as quick as a 90 as that is where horsepower comes into it, a 90 has 5000 continuous or 7860hp max while a 68 has 3700hp which matches a class 70.

For a heavy Intermodals approaching 1800 tons, then it's a Class 92 without question, but on the other, lighter Intermodals, a class 68 should be able to do the job.

 

[captainbigun]

Of course, 68 will have far superior WSP, not just because it is more up to date (and don't assume it will have 'more powerful on-board computers'), but the inverter drive allows more finite control.

A 90 cannot always get up Brentwood bank, let alone Shap/Beattock.

The heavier trains are diagramed for pair of 86/6s, not many 90s go over the hills.

A 68 is geared for 100, a 70 75, there's no comparison, a 70 will walk all over a 68 on a liner.

 

[Monty]

I think the key thing to remember is that the Class 68s and 88s will be mixed traffic locomotives in almost every respect. Rather than have a class dedicated for one purpose DRS have opted for a design that should prove to be a versatile machine that should be suitable for a varity of tasks. The new Black 5 dare I say?

 

[Peter Sarf]

I think the key thing to remember is that the Class 68s and 88s will be mixed traffic locomotives in almost every respect. Rather than have a class dedicated for one purpose DRS have opted for a design that should prove to be a versatile machine that should be suitable for a varity of tasks. The new Black 5 dare I say?

I agree - given the size of potential fleets of locomotives they have to be capable of more than one task. Cannot afford to have small classes of bespoke locos. Back in the days when a single type of loco could run into half of one thousand examples then mixed traffic was not so necessary.

The class 47s numbered more than 500 (512 ?) - but then again even that was mixed traffic iirc ?.

 

[Beveridges]

The rats, crompos, 31s, hymeks, 37s, 40s, warships & westerns, peaks and 47s were all mixed traffic locomotives.
Today the 57s and 90s are mixed traffic and soon 68s and 88s.

 

[Loki]

 

[The Planner]

57 are mixed traffic today? apart from the beds, what else do they haul?

 

[D365]

57 are mixed traffic today? apart from the beds, what else do they haul?

'Thunderbird' and the infamous drag duties... Network Rail test trains... Charters... Freight as well... Need I go on?

 

[D365]

[Loki's posted 68 cab front picture] Refreshingly different and yet a familiar taste - though I'd like to see a working compass ;P

 

[Beveridges]

Looks like an uglier version of a class 67

 

[YorkshireBear]

Looks like an uglier version of a class 67

More Handsome you mean*

 

[Rhydgaled]

Looks like an uglier version of a class 67

More Handsome you mean*

Personally, I can't decide which is worse. The 68 looks more promising if I position my browser window so that it only shows the part above the top of the yellow warning panel in Loki's picture, so that I can't see any yellow. Beneath that line the 68 looks awful.