ECR 66s to return

[87electric]

Apparently 3 will return this Friday 11th June.

 

[ExRes]

Apparently 3 will return this Friday 11th June.

Returning for maintenance I assume rather than for UK use, even though DBC are currently scratching around for traction

 

[Peter Mugridge]

According to a post on se-gen, these three are:

66 010
66 028
66 190

...and more are coming over later. The poster implies they will not be returning to Europe.

 

[cj_1985]

i'd be surprised if this hadn't been on the cards for a while.
In europe, AIUI, the class 66s have been concentrated in france, and a number transferred to Poland (the only ex EWS/DB 66s in europe that have been repainted)...
Some of the ECR class 77/JTCWRM locos had been being used by MEG (a DB subsidiary), but some will have been displaced by Stadler Euroduals... allowing those 77s to filter back onto DB/ECR flows. The 77s (IIRC) are cleared to be used across most/all the countries served by (former) ECR routes, including France... which would allow the displaced 66s to return to the UK.

Can't remember where i read it, but i've seen it mentioned that the 77s are wired differently (Safety systems wise), so no chance of them, easily or cheaply, being drafted into UK use.
DB in europe is in a fortunate position that they have a much more readily available, numerous and compatible, locomotives/types. For them to willingly choose to retain UK loading guage locomotives when they can, financial case willing, use Stadler Euro/Siemens Vectron/Bombardier Traxx... hell, even some of the surplus turkish built euro GE/Wabtec Powerhaul locos.

Also a lot easier for them to order proper dual mode locos, than it is for our little island's operators

 

[childwallblues]

Rumoured to be for work moving stone to Calvert for HS2

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There's been a posting on se-gen saying the next three are coming home tomorrow morning:

66 032
66 073
66 205

 

[AndyDeltic19]

There's been a posting on se-gen saying the next three are coming home tomorrow morning:

66 032
66 073
66 205

Any info on their journey once here? I managed to see 010, 028, and 190 in Toton last Saturday as they were all identifiable from the bank. I did also see 028 from a passing train at the brief time they spent in Doncaster Yard and didn't realise it was a returnee until i read on here after!!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Any info on their journey once here? I managed to see 010, 028, and 190 in Toton last Saturday as they were all identifiable from the bank. I did also see 028 from a passing train at the brief time they spent in Doncaster Yard and didn't realise it was a returnee until i read on here after!!

The poster did state a likely onward movement but with a heavy disclaimer that the plan could, like with the first three, change so I decided not to quote it. Since you ask, 6E26 ( today Friday 9th ) is the movement to watch for IF it goes as planned.

 

[ExRes]

Reported on se-gen and RTT that 0809 6E26 departed Dollands Moor 81 late with 66092 leading 032/073/205

 

[AndyDeltic19]

The poster did state a likely onward movement but with a heavy disclaimer that the plan could, like with the first three, change so I decided not to quote it. Since you ask, 6E26 ( today Friday 9th ) is the movement to watch for IF it goes as planned.

Thanks for the help Peter, I followed their progress and managed to see them go through Willesden Junction around 1215, they'd lost a bit more time then but I got them

 

[themiller]

What’s the reason for their return. Is it for maintenance or ‘services no longer required’?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What’s the reason for their return. Is it for maintenance or ‘services no longer required’?

When the first three came over some weeks ago, the poster who first flagged it up on se-gen said that they "will not be returning to Europe", so it looks like there's more work for them over here.

I'm wondering about HS2 construction workings, since even at this early stage there's already a few contracts operating for movements relating to this.

 

[XAM2175]

What’s the reason for their return. Is it for maintenance or ‘services no longer required’?

As a general rule, 66s are being returned to the UK because there is effectively no design of new-build heavy-haul diesel locomotive that meets current emissions regulations and that fits into the UK loading gauge. This problem doesn't affect operators on the continent (who have a much larger gauge to work with), so as needs change or as newer locos displace them the 66s are being bought back by British operators because it's still permissible to import non-compliant locomotives that were built before the new regulations took effect.

This is also the impetus behind the 56-to-69 conversion project, using surplus EMD 710 engines (same as the 66s) that cannot be installed in new-build locomotives.

 

[Wyrleybart]

As a general rule, 66s are being returned to the UK because there is effectively no design of new-build heavy-haul diesel locomotive that meets current emissions regulations and that fits into the UK loading gauge. This problem doesn't affect operators on the continent (who have a much larger gauge to work with), so as needs change or as newer locos displace them the 66s are being bought back by British operators because it's still permissible to import non-compliant locomotives that were built before the new regulations took effect.

This is also the impetus behind the 56-to-69 conversion project, using surplus EMD 710 engines (same as the 66s) that cannot be installed in new-build locomotives.

So DBC have five class 66/0 on long term lease to DRS (a company that dispensed with 66401-66421 (four door 66s) years ago, Presumably a useful lease income.

 

[cj_1985]

So DBC have five class 66/0 on long term lease to DRS (a company that dispensed with 66401-66421 (four door 66s) years ago, Presumably a useful lease income.

66401-410 were 4 door 66/0 spec examples, with 411-420 being 66/9s with 5 doors

 

[LRV3004]

So DBC have five class 66/0 on long term lease to DRS (a company that dispensed with 66401-66421 (four door 66s) years ago, Presumably a useful lease income.

66421 remains with DRS, named “Gresty Bridge TMD”.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

66401-410 were 4 door 66/0 spec examples, with 411-420 being 66/9s with 5 doors

For the uninitiated, what's the deal with "4-door" and "5-door" descriptions? I've not encountered this with regard to 66s.

I assume it isn't that one is a saloon and the other a hatchback!

 

[4F89]

For the uninitiated, what's the deal with "4-door" and "5-door" descriptions? I've not encountered this with regard to 66s.

I assume it isn't that one is a saloon and the other a hatchback!

5 doors have an extra door on the nearside ( if looking with number 1 end to the left), about halfway down, in order to access the engine bay on that side. The updated mod for the newer engine model 66's required this, as the crawl space is too small for all but the most slender of folks to get through to access from the normal route via the radiator door.