DBS Re-painting

[HawkeyeTheNoo]

Does anyone have any theories or actual knowledge as to why three years after the takeover DB Schenker locos are all (apart from 2 or 3) still kicking about in EWS livery. I would have thought corporate identity was quite important in today's marketplace. The three other major freight players aren't going about in previous owner livery!

 

[sprinterguy]

It's because of the quality of the two-pack paint systems used on locomotives today, which offer a good quality finish that is good for fifteen or twenty years, and is an absolute b*tch to remove. This is evident in the longevity of the BR Trainload freight grey colour scheme which was one of the first to utilise this painting technique.

The other Freight Operating Companies are experiencing exactly the same problems: Freightliner still has several 90s, and until recently a number of 86s, in the old Freightliner grey scheme that was prevalent between 1994 and 1997. Freightliners' new Powerhaul colour scheme which was launched when the first class 70s arrived on the scene is proving slow to spread, and note that it has initially only been applied to locos of classes 86 and 90 that were previously in the oldest Freightliner grey colour scheme: The new Powerhaul colour scheme has yet to spread to any 66s in just the same way and for the same reasons that DB Schenker livery has only been applied to one 66. It’s too much cost and additional hassle to relivery the locos when the paintwork still has at least another five years of life left in it.

 

[HawkeyeTheNoo]

Wow, as complete an answer as I'd have liked to get, thanks! It's a pity then that it'll be a while before widespread red is seen! I like it!

 

[cj_1985]

fair enough i can understand not going ahead with a fleetwide relivery...
but the oldest DBS class 66 is atleast 12 years old
the oldest class 92 (still in original livery) is atleast 17 years old
and the class 66s must be about the same or older...

if the paint jobs that the locos recieved has a guaranteed life of XX years... fair enough... but the DBS class 66s are extremely tatty external condition...
locos that have been badly vandalised still running about with spraypaint on the cab fronts, not to mention body sides.
locos running abotu where paint has been chipped away, or rotted from underneath... yellow warning pannels that have faded and have had small sections patched with brighter paint... making them look rather shabby.

infact the only locos that have been repainted since DB took over was the 59, the 67 (and its not even in proper livery), 1x 66 into DBS and 1x into stobart rail... , and atleast 4x class 60s.. oh and the 2x clapped out 37s that didnt last that long and with one them them now scrapped or awaiting scrapping.

so ultimatley in just under 4 years... DBS have repainted 10 locos (and half of them not even into DBS livery)...
compare that to GBRf that intends to repaint atleast 10 locos (or class 66s) this year, freightliner that have repainted atleast 5 locos in the last 12 months (could be more) and DRS who have been steadilly repainting its fleet from the older version to the compass style over the last few years.

so whats the justification for DBS to not have atleast repainted the worst examples of its fleet, or for that matter have removed the EWS stickers from the locos ???

 

[sprinterguy]

I have to say that I am surprised that only the Stobart class 92 has been through the paint shops since DB took over. Surely the 92s are due for a repaint by this point, even if the newer class 66 fleet can last a bit longer in most cases.

 

[cj_1985]

woops... i forgot about the stobart 92...

 

[Oswyntail]

But why should they? The machines are not painted in the livery of a rival, or even a company that has a bad reputation (ok, debate that!). Effectively EWS are still operative, just owned by DBS. Repainting the locos will cost money, which (in a proper business) will have to be justified on the bottom line. No justification, no repaint.

 

[cj_1985]

again i'll point out the loco or locos that have been and/or are still running around covered in grafiti on the cab front, and body sides...

correct me if im wrong but even if they manage to properly remove the grafiti... the chaemicals they use thins the remaining paint... making it more likely to suffer from rot/rust etc

 

[DarloRich]

I doubt DBS have the cash to repiant their entire fleet!

 

[142094]

correct me if im wrong but even if they manage to properly remove the grafiti... the chaemicals they use thins the remaining paint... making it more likely to suffer from rot/rust etc

Depends on what type of paint was used for the spray paint. Spray paint in a can is normally mixed with a lot more thinners to get it through the nozzle under pressure, so there are some chemicals which would be able to remove the spray paint but not have too much effect on the loco paint. Was watching a programme today which used some sort of environmentally-friendly chemical which attacks the spray paint, then after 20 minutes it can be removed with a high pressure water spray and leaves the paint underneath perfectly fine.

 

[HawkeyeTheNoo]

I doubt DBS have the cash to repiant their entire fleet!

I'm sure they don't but they could do a few now and again. I know DB's original plan was to retain the EWS branding but then changed their minds and decided to operate as DBS.What was the point if 99.9% of the fleet still looks like EWS then. For branding purposes they could at least give 'em a wash and stick a DB sticker on the nose!

 

[sprinterguy]

Have the 66s passed through any heavy general overhauls during DBs’ tenure? I know that they rack up a fair mileage, and it is usually the case that locos and rolling stock will be repainted during an overhaul. Admittedly as HawkeyeTheNoo says DB don’t necessarily need to go to the extent of a full repaint for their entire fleet just yet, but at least peel the EWS “beastie” emblems off and put a DB sticker on the nose!

 

[MacCookie]

Does anyone have any theories or actual knowledge as to why three years after the takeover DB Schenker locos are all (apart from 2 or 3) still kicking about in EWS livery. I would have thought corporate identity was quite important in today's marketplace. The three other major freight players aren't going about in previous owner livery!

Not true.

DRS haven't repainted their Stobart 66s yet. They're also using several 66s that were previously Fastline's.

GBRf have several blue and now green 66s.

Ewan

 

[GearJammer]

Not true.

DRS haven't repainted their Stobart 66s yet. They're also using several 66s that were previously Fastline's.

GBRf have several blue and now green 66s.

Fair comment on the Eddie Stobart 66's but the rest are all recent additions to the individual operators fleets, (except 66434 in Fastline livery)....... Give them a chance!

 

[cj_1985]

Fair comment on the Eddie Stobart 66's but the rest are all recent additions to the individual operators fleets, (except 66434 in Fastline livery)....... Give them a chance!

as for GBRf the First Group blue locos have been getting repainted as a priority -but the traction shortage seems to have delayed more of them being repainted.
The DRS blue locos will be getting repaited as they are cycled through overhaul and being renumbered.. 66737 (ex 66405) apparently due out of BRUSH tomorrow...
the green class 66s are on a lease (for 1 year from what iv seen in a magazine) so may not be repainted or re-branded.
The ex COLAS class 66s when they transfer will probably be repainted as and when its possible...

and they have already had 1 of the class 92s repainted, so progress is being made

Edit: 20:46
seems that the green class 66s should in the fullness of time be recieving GBRf livery since according to www.wnxx.com 66579, 580 and 581 are being/have been purchased outright by GBRf with atleast 2 of the COLAS 66s to follow

 

[BestWestern]

Perhaps DBS just don't consider livery and branding as being a priority, I guess the majority of their customers probably really aren't fussed what colour the loco is as long as their container arrives where it should!

 

[DarloRich]

Perhaps DBS just don't consider livery and branding as being a priority, I guess the majority of their customers probably really aren't fussed what colour the loco is as long as their container arrives where it should!

Agreed - Also I imagine they will have done the old CBA and decided it simply isnt worth spending some of the little money they have repainting all thier locos. I assume they will look at the situation when a loco goes in for heavy maintenance. If the paint is in decent nick it will stay in EWS. If it is ropey I would imagine there will be a DBS red repaint. otherise nothing will happen

 

[gedj2]

To be honest I'm quite glad that they haven't repainted them yet as I quite like the EWS branding, not quite sure why, just do :roll:

 

[Smudger105e]

The DB class 66 fleet do not get F, G etc. exams like loco's used to get, so no routine paint jobs either.

Loco's will get repainted only when that is the cheapest method of tidying them up. DB is not a passenger outfit, after all, and the customers don't particularly care about what the loco pulling their train looks like. More effort is made to maintaining and improving the drivers' environment, and improving availability and reliability, than ensuring the loco's are pretty outside.

I have looked closely at some FL 66s recently, and some of theirs are looking rather tatty too, in fact one I saw was worse than any 'red engine'.