Class 68 Progress, what's the latest?

[HSTEd]

However if the train is long enough it will always be competitive in terms of fuel consumption. Even more so if the train is hauled by an electric loco.

775m is not long enough and never will be.

And electric freight?

That is a minor thing and always will be.

 

[RichmondCommu]

775m is not long enough and never will be.

Well it doesn't appear to be a problem in Germany from what I can see

And electric freight?

That is a minor thing and always will be.

What about the electric spine? Not only that but you are constantly advocating the need for 100% (or near enough) electrification. Unless you believe that it is unlikely to happen.. The procurement of more electric locos is only going to help matters.

 

[HSTEd]

Well it doesn't appear to be a problem in Germany from what I can see

I don't have any information about how much money Germany spends subsidising its railway industry, but figures from Switzerland... are not encouraging.

German figures are likely inflated by the massive collection of heavy industries they have compared to the rather deindustrialised british economy.

(Steel coils are far more likely to be transported by rail than.... the empty cardboard boxes I made in my last summer job).

What about the electric spine? Not only that but you are constantly advocating the need for 100% (or near enough) electrification. Unless you believe that it is unlikely to happen..

I doubt it would ever happen although I believe that it would be a very good idea to do so.
Liquid fuels being as precious as they are.

The procurement of more electric locos is only going to help matters.

There have been.... 10 electric locomotives ordered since privatisation by my reckoning.... how many hundreds of diesel locomotives have been ordered?

I think it is rather more than ten.

 

[Beveridges]

EWS/DB Schenker don't help things when they decided to get rid of the "Enterprise" trains because they weren't making enough profit. Some of those used to be heavily loaded, 30 plus wagons.
It all just ended up going by road!

 

[RichmondCommu]

I don't have any information about how much money Germany spends subsidising its railway industry, but figures from Switzerland... are not encouraging.

German figures are likely inflated by the massive collection of heavy industries they have compared to the rather deindustrialised british economy.

(Steel coils are far more likely to be transported by rail than.... the empty cardboard boxes I made in my last summer job).

What has any of that got to do with 775m trains, which was my original question?

I doubt it would ever happen although I believe that it would be a very good idea to do so.
Liquid fuels being as precious as they are.

But you do accept that the Electric Spine will be built, which has clearly been designed to help rail freight.

There have been.... 10 electric locomotives ordered since privatisation by my reckoning.... how many hundreds of diesel locomotives have been ordered?

I think it is rather more than ten.

Freightliner and DBS are currently of the opinion that they have enough operational electric locos to operate their services on the GEML and the WCML. No doubt this will change with the Electric Spine and electrification of other routes.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Freight companies may not have a choice in future years, with the operational benefits of electrification being the only way to get their trains onto the major trunk routes such as WCML North.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Freight companies may not have a choice in future years, with the operational benefits of electrification being the only way to get their trains onto the major trunk routes such as WCML North.

The problem is what happens when the wires end? It's much cheaper for a FOC to use a single loco for an entire journey, even if a crew change is required. Obviously as more routes become electrified this will become less of an issue.

 

[HSTEd]

What has any of that got to do with 775m trains, which was my original question?

It demonstrates that the only way you can get such short trains as 775m to run is to throw public money at them, as the railways in Switzerland being such enormous subsidy hogs demonstrates.
Double stack Container trains are regularily run in North America at lengths above 3000m, and Taconite trains over 15000t or more are common, those are the lengths you need to be profitable.

The average weight of a North American freight train (according to the AAR) now tops 4000t.

But you do accept that the Electric Spine will be built, which has clearly been designed to help rail freight.

I think the Electric Spine has primarily been proposed as a political device to suggest rail improvements that don't directly benefit London services, countering this idea that everywhere that isn't london gets no money.

You will note that the freight operators are not exactly jumping for joy over news of the scheme.

Freightliner and DBS are currently of the opinion that they have enough operational electric locos to operate their services on the GEML and the WCML. No doubt this will change with the Electric Spine and electrification of other routes.

They don't just have enough, they clearly have too many since numerous locomotives are still being left to rot or being sold abroad.
The minor increase in electric freight we can expect to see from the 'Electric Spine' will not change this.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Freight companies may not have a choice in future years, with the operational benefits of electrification being the only way to get their trains onto the major trunk routes such as WCML North.

Surely they could just divert via the Settle and Carlise and the Glasgow South Western if necessary?
The only part of the WCML North they would have to use would be a few miles in Southern Scotland/Northern Cumbria.

 

[159220]

Dare I say and bring this topic back onto track?

What is the progress with the Class 68s? I understand 68001 was completed over a month ago, has anyone found photos of it outside the factory?

 

[Beveridges]

I hear every FOC's obsessed with running all their trains with a single loco, then it begs the question as to why DRS ran a triple headed engineers train with 37+20+20 at the head earlier this year?

 

[cj_1985]

I hear every FOC's obsessed with running all their trains with a single loco, then it begs the question as to why DRS ran a triple headed engineers train with 37+20+20 at the head earlier this year?

Its not a single loco as you put it... basically the goal is for a train to be operated without a loco change. as a basic and random example... An intermodal train hauled by Class 66 from Felixstowe to rugby, then has a loco change to a class 86/92 for the rest of the way to Trafford Park or Coatbridge or wherever.

Your example of an infrastructure train with a 37 and a pair of 20s could be for any number of reasons ie required power/haulage capabilities, or to move locos rather than a light engine move, or redundancy incase the 37 or the 20s fail or any one of a hundred other reasons.

The point of "Single Loco" operation of a service is to save time associated with the loco change and brake test, to keep end to end time as low as possible, and to save the cost associated with use of a siding/yard and the cost of a shunter (person not loco) and an additional driver for the "second" loco and the associated light engine move of the original loco...

 

[Sunbird24]

I will be passing the plant tomorrow and will check to see if there has been any change in the last month, while I have been away. The only locomotives I have seen outside in recent months have been Euro 4000 for Europort and Israel plus a couple of leftovers from the Angel Trains order. Generally the outside area has been full of tram units.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Today in the yard at Vossloh there were only tram vehicles plus a Euro 3200 for Israel, number 1314, which appeared to be covered in grafiti one side! This actually turned out to be a reflection of another loco in white (undercoat?) which was hidden from view but standing next to it. I believe the class 68 will have a similar body to this Euro 3200. All the doors to the buildings were shut so nothing could be seen inside.

 

[killucan2]

Gone very quite on the 68 no pic's to be seen any where.

 

[Photohunter71]

Certainly has! I'd have thought we'd have heard something about testing by now!

 

[Sunbird24]

I have been past the factory 3 times in the last couple of weeks, the only change is a new building has been erected behind the 3 preserved locos and hiding much of the yard from public view. As far as I could see there was only one Euro 3/4000 almost complete but unpainted and a lot of tram vehicles. The new building could contain two tracks long enough for 3-4 locos each but has no windows and only an oblique view through the end doors. I plan to pass it at least once a week over the next few weeks and will report if I see anything.

 

[The Citadel]

On sound test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4z39G_BoIM

Pretty good.

 

[MK Tom]

Should it really clag that much when it moves off?

 

[60163]

With every bit of Class 68/88 news I feel a bit more desperate about photting DRS' older locos...

 

[Harbon 1]

That thing sounds amazing!

MTU+Valenta+60, not bad :P

 

[Monty]

On sound test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4z39G_BoIM

Pretty good.

That's certainly an interesting sound it makes! More whine than thrash. It does accelerate rather well too, will be interesting to see how good it as when it's got a substantial load behind it.

 

[The Citadel]

They'll go like the wind, with any luck. I wouldn't worry about old traction. 37's in the plan for a long time yet.

 

[Loki]

Looks great in white. Hopefully the yellow panel won't ruin it.

 

[simon.exd]

Should it really clag that much when it moves off?

Isn't clag something that occurs when an engine has been idle for a period of time? Not sure but I seem to remember reading that somewhere..

Does look smart...

 

[jopsuk]

I'm surprised, I'd have thought the emissions standards would require it to be cleaner than that even after idling/cold start.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
after all, emissions standards are very much not just about CO2.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The headlamp design makes that front end look like a very unhappy thing in Thomas the Tank Engine!

 

[Sunbird24]

I missed it that day, was busy elsewhere but went the following morning and saw no sign of it. It was on the test track at the back of the works heading back towards the works. From the shadows it was taken in the evening. I'll visit more frequently over the next few days if possible.

 

[route:oxford]

The headlamp design makes that front end look like a very unhappy thing in Thomas the Tank Engine!

It's got such a sad face...

 

[Sunbird24]

Just wondering if it's on accommodation bogies as AFAIK it's on a broad gauge only test track! I'll try to check the track there on my next visit, it's by a farm road.

 

[Photohunter71]

Fantastic sound! As someone put it a blend of a 60 and 52 and with an air raid siren in the mix! Very distinct sound from the 68,will know what that will be instantly when I hear it in the same way the class 70 has a distinct engine noise! Makes a change to hear a decent loco sound rather than the mincing wimpy "ying-ying" of the 66's!

 

[MK Tom]

Isn't clag something that occurs when an engine has been idle for a period of time? Not sure but I seem to remember reading that somewhere..

Does look smart...

Unburnt fuel or particulates in the exhaust. Something like that I believe.