class 70s

[jamieintercity]

Any news on when the next batch of freightliner class 70s are due to arrive in the UK and whether 70012 will be repaired and return to the UK?

When is the Turkish class 70 due to arrive in the UK and where will it be based at and will it run on the network mainline?

 

[fadge]

I think the Turkish one is to replace the one that failed the bounce test at the docks

 

[D6975]

They were trying to straighten the frames on 70012, but last I heard was that they'd given up and written them off. 70099 is en route to the UK. 70021 up haven't even been started yet and may never be.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I seem to recall that 70099 is for another operator (GBRF ?). There was a picture on a German site recently of one but I dont know if it is/was 70099 but seems to be in Germany ?. LINK http://http://www.drehscheibe-foren.de/foren/read.php?4,6059501, apologies if I am treading on copyright - my German is nil.

As far as Freightliner goes 70021 upwards don't appear to be being built yet. Conjecture BUT if they are not required then I suspect a replacemment for 70012 is also not required. If more 70s for Freightliner are required then perhaps things will happen AFTER the inevitable teething problems with the first 19 are ironed out.

 

[dosxuk]

Wow hock:

If that is 70999, then it makes the other 70s look lovely. It really is hideous.

 

[ainsworth74]

I think I prefer that to the normal 70s. Then again I seem to be one of the few people that doesn't think that the current 70s are ugly.

 

[gazthomas]

Wow hock:

If that is 70999, then it makes the other 70s look lovely. It really is hideous.

I think it looks better!

 

[BananaRepublic]

There seems to be a mix up here.
The PowerHaul loco shown on that German web site is the Turkish built European profile version.

Shown here...... http://www.railcolor.net/images/basic/ge_29008_51.jpg

The Turkish built PowerHaul demonstrator being sent to the UK (reported to become 70099) is similar to the UK version, shown here.... Turkish built PowerHaul

 

[BestWestern]

There seems to be a mix up here.
The PowerHaul loco shown on that German web site is the Turkish built European profile version.

Shown here...... http://www.railcolor.net/images/basic/ge_29008_51.jpg

The Turkish built PowerHaul demonstrator being sent to the UK (reported to become 70099) is similar to the UK version, shown here.... Turkish built PowerHaul

I'm not sure whether this is better or worse than the UK version. It does at least look slightly sleeker and has a mildly purposeful look, whereas the UK version just looks plain ridiculous

 

[fgwrich]

I'm not sure whether this is better or worse than the UK version. It does at least look slightly sleeker and has a mildly purposeful look, whereas the UK version just looks plain ridiculous

I'll agree with that. If anything, the European version seems to have some hints of Vossloh's Eurolight & Maxima in it and actually looks more like a loco. Ours... Er... Looks a little like someone’s seen a 58 and used that as a base.

I wonder if it's got the same power set up as ours though. Hope The Feuerwehr are geared up to burning locos.... (Although i'll continue to knock there hideousness, i still think they don't half sound pretty beastly though! a point emphasised by standing next to 70017 leaving Eastleigh on Tuesday evening)

 

[BestWestern]

I wonder if it's got the same power set up as ours though. Hope The Feuerwehr are geared up to burning locos.... (Although i'll continue to knock there hideousness, i still think they don't half sound pretty beastly though! a point emphasised by standing next to 70017 leaving Eastleigh on Tuesday evening)

Have to say I've never actually heard one firing up, I'm assuming it's a little more impressive than a Class 66 with full hairdryer sound effects?!

 

[fgwrich]

In my books they certainly are. Almost rather VP185ish, but couple that with a slightly screamy turbo and some incredibly whiney traction motors that even give EE a run for their money...Strange, but impressive things!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5CbNE22x4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDTGdr0PcJU&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuG-47FH7zM&feature=related

I think the're even more impressive standing 5 feet from one whilst powering up from Idle - Heck, i even stopped listining to Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds at the time purely because i could hear the rumble from 17 more than 'If I Had A Gun'.

 

[DXMachina]

70099 on acceptance trials

 

[eastwestdivide]

One of the German comments linked above says it's got Hamsterbacken = hamster cheeks.

 

[DarloRich]

The word on the street is that it is off to GBRF to be evaluated for future orders. GBRF are after more locos after wining more contracts and are already short with one of theirs having parked itself in a loch. Further mutterings are that GBRF are looking at the class 68 concept but want a Co-Co wheel arrangement rather than a Bo-Bo arrangement.

The next Freightliner locos have not even been ordered let alone built! They are an option in the existing contract to be exercised when/if service levels require them. It also doesn’t look like they are minded to replace the bendy banana as yet.

 

[Peter Sarf]

There seems to be a mix up here.
The PowerHaul loco shown on that German web site is the Turkish built European profile version.

Shown here...... http://www.railcolor.net/images/basic/ge_29008_51.jpg

The Turkish built PowerHaul demonstrator being sent to the UK (reported to become 70099) is similar to the UK version, shown here.... Turkish built PowerHaul

I had wondered why the one in Germany looked so different along the sides. I now presume its because the European loading guage alows more room to walk INSIDE the loco so the outer skin is therefore covering the walkways ?.

I must admit the ugliness of the two is similar but it looks less cobbled together than the 70 so it does look better. Its obvious to me that no effort was put into the looks of the 70s but then they are not meant to be a piece of artwork. Perhaps if the designers of the 70 had seen a Western or Hymek they might have made a little more effort - not a lot of progress for 5 decades !.

 

[BestWestern]

The word on the street is that it is off to GBRF to be evaluated for future orders. GBRF are after more locos after wining more contracts and are already short with one of theirs having parked itself in a loch. Further mutterings are that GBRF are looking at the class 68 concept but want a Co-Co wheel arrangement rather than a Bo-Bo arrangement.

The next Freightliner locos have not even been ordered let alone built! They are an option in the existing contract to be exercised when/if service levels require them. It also doesn’t look like they are minded to replace the bendy banana as yet.

Surely you'd have to be mad to order a batch of 70's 'off the peg' with their current flame-happy tendencies?! Such a drastic issue and the ensuing availability problems would cause havoc for a small outfit like GBRf.

 

[ian959]

70099 on acceptance trials

LOL Love it!

 

[DarloRich]

Surely you'd have to be mad to order a batch of 70's 'off the peg' with their current flame-happy tendencies?! Such a drastic issue and the ensuing availability problems would cause havoc for a small outfit like GBRf.

exactly - but i assume they would only buy IF the self BBQ option was removed!

 

[yummy125]

70 017 looking good at Reading West this morning:

 

[BestWestern]

70 017 looking good at Reading West this morning:

I think you'll find a bit of a contradiction in that sentence somewhere Unless by 'looking good' you simply mean 'not on fire'?!

 

[MCR247]

...not on fire YET

 

[DXMachina]

stack briquettes and a grill on top , wait half an hour and add sausages

 

[IanXC]

stack briquettes and a grill on top , wait half an hour and add sausages

Surely the answer is to put it on a Tesco working? Everything would be to hand then!

 

[Martin nx]

At a guess I would think that Gbrf will evaluate 70099 for their requirements and would not mind betting that they might take up the build option on 70021-30 if Freightliner decide they don't want/don't have the work for them. I would also guess that GE are working franticly to combat the spontaneous combustion problem as they are trying to gain a foothold in the European market with this design, good luck with that one boys!

 

[Peter Sarf]

I read somwhere (Modern Railways) that the main problem with the 70s is that they cost £0.5m more than a 66. However 66s are not in production anymore because EEC emissions rules are tightened up (even though a 66 must be cleaner than a load of road vehicles !). Ok, there is not much choice (a 68 is bit more expensive than a 70) but how will GBRF compete with Freightliner and DBS who have a surplus of 66s doing more lucrative work outside of the UK. Apparently it takes a 100+ order to bring the prices down. That of course would be why the 66 became so popular as EWS bought the first 250 and on the back of that everyone else got them cheap.

 

[Roylang]

The next Freightliner locos have not even been ordered let alone built! They are an option in the existing contract to be exercised when/if service levels require them. It also doesn’t look like they are minded to replace the bendy banana as yet.

Do Freightliner have a say in the replacement of 70012? My understanding was that there was a firm order for 20, only 19 of which have been delivered. I guess that perhaps a deal has been done between manufacturer and Freigthliner over it, but I am sure the costs of the bent loco were covered by insurance somwhere.

Roy

 

[Peter Sarf]

My guess is that they will only build a replacememnt for 70012 as part of a larger production run for 70021-70030 IF ordered/built. An arrangememnt will be made with Freightliner otherwise if Freightliner dont want/need 70021-70030 as then its unlikely they would miss just one 70.

 

[BestWestern]

I read somwhere (Modern Railways) that the main problem with the 70s is that they cost £0.5m more than a 66. However 66s are not in production anymore because EEC emissions rules are tightened up (even though a 66 must be cleaner than a load of road vehicles !). Ok, there is not much choice (a 68 is bit more expensive than a 70) but how will GBRF compete with Freightliner and DBS who have a surplus of 66s doing more lucrative work outside of the UK. Apparently it takes a 100+ order to bring the prices down. That of course would be why the 66 became so popular as EWS bought the first 250 and on the back of that everyone else got them cheap.

I suspect that if the surplus of DB/EWS's 66 fleet continues long term, they will simply squadron store more and more of them, once any overseas avenues have been exhausted. They are getting on a bit now and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see class members being stripped for parts beyond any reasonable recommissioning in the not too distant future, though of course they will simply be listed as 'stored' rather than any public admission of defeat. What is certain is that no matter how many surplus modern locomotives DB have in the UK, none will ever be offered for sale now that there is such strong competition. The recent throwing of toys out of the pram regarding the NRM's Royal 47 shows what a touchy subject this is, and no doubt the same could be said of the vast majority of the Class 60's, which have spent many years just lying around slowly rotting away.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The recent throwing of toys out of the pram regarding the NRM's Royal 47 shows what a touchy subject this is, and no doubt the same could be said of the vast majority of the Class 60's, which have spent many years just lying around slowly rotting away.

Wonder what it would have been like if the existing freight locos had been owned by a ROSCO(s) at privatisation ?. I expect the owners of the 60s might right now be making money out of Freightliner etc. Compulsory purchase anyone ? - or would that stifle innovation/competition ? !.