Freightliner 70s

[Topgun333]

I've not heard any stories about fires recently so maybe they are now settling down.

I've just seen 70007 leave Trafford Park on an intermodal and have to say she looked every bit the freight workhorse now covered in grime rather than gleaming paintwork.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Good Evening All, Just a quick question about Class 70s. Was in our garden about an hour back when a Freightliner Class 70 hauled container train went by. It seemed like a brake application was being made when suddenly a quite loud high pitched whirring sound kicked in. Trains frequently brake at this point but I have never noticed a sound like this before, did not think more of it until a couple of minutes later the air filled with a quite sickly hot oily sort of smell which hung around for quite a few minutes after, any thoughts?

 

[455driver]

I think the 70s are fitted with rheostatic braking so it could have been that kicking in.

 

[ANDYS]

I don't get to see that many but those I do see always seem to be producing a bit of clag.

Have a look at these two that I have seen:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/66737297@N06/14647840069/in/photolist-ojo1wH-oSZxmn

https://www.flickr.com/photos/66737297@N06/9622533005/in/set-72157635299461538

Andy S

 

[Warbonnet]

Good Evening All, Just a quick question about Class 70s. Was in our garden about an hour back when a Freightliner Class 70 hauled container train went by. It seemed like a brake application was being made when suddenly a quite loud high pitched whirring sound kicked in. Trains frequently brake at this point but I have never noticed a sound like this before, did not think more of it until a couple of minutes later the air filled with a quite sickly hot oily sort of smell which hung around for quite a few minutes after, any thoughts?

Its dynamic braking. Being abit of a north American railroad nut, its fairly familiar to me as more or less every kind of modern traction in America is fitted with dynamic brakes. The size of their freights make then a necessity rather than an option. The traction motors are turned into generators and the electricity produced is fed into big resistance grids. When this happens they get hot and noise you here is the roof mounted cooling fans kicking in when dynamic breaking is engaged.
They make a fair noise on the big stuff- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21o_JmU2PzA

 

[najaB]

Its dynamic braking...

AKA rheostatic braking.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Thanks everyone for the answers, quite a noise this one made too,but it was the hot oily smell that hung in the air for quite a while afterwards that made me wonder if something was amiss (Especially as it was a 70)

 

[Domh245]

A hot oily smell, a bit like burning? If so - that is pretty normal for a class 70

 

[Ash Bridge]

A hot oily smell, a bit like burning? If so - that is pretty normal for a class 70

Exactly, that's what alarmed me

 

[Warbonnet]

AKA rheostatic braking.

Yeah, absolutely correct ofcourse but I used the term Dynamic braking because that's what GE market it as and every locomotive so fitted in America aswel, but it is the same thing.
As an aside, I've been modelling American railroad practise for 10 years now and Ive never once heard it referred to as rheostatic brakes. Even with H0 scale models they are said to be 'dynamic brake equipped'. Some of the terminology used between the 2 country's can be very different when it comes to railway equipment and rolling stock.

 

[507 001]

Do freightliner have a colas 70 on loan at the moment?
Only ask as 7080x was seen leaving trafford park yesterday morning at around 10:30-11:30 on a liner?

 

[DarloRich]

Do freightliner have a colas 70 on loan at the moment?
Only ask as 7080x was seen leaving trafford park yesterday morning at around 10:30-11:30 on a liner?

Yes - i think that FL do have a Colas loco on loan

 

[Boothby97]

Yes - i think that FL do have a Colas loco on loan

Yes, it's 70803

 

[Tracked]

I've just seen 70007 leave Trafford Park on an intermodal and have to say she looked every bit the freight workhorse now covered in grime rather than gleaming paintwork.

ash, surely?

There was a Colas 70 in Doncaster the other week, parked north of the station for a few hours, for a livery involving yellow and orange it looked quite clean. Didn't get to see it leave so not sure how it was clag wise

 

[Topgun333]

Do freightliner have a colas 70 on loan at the moment?
Only ask as 7080x was seen leaving trafford park yesterday morning at around 10:30-11:30 on a liner?

It ran from Trafford Park a couple of times last week.

 

[Topgun333]

With the recent hire by FL of a Colas 70 I wonder if anybody has any knowledge of differing build and operational elements that might exist between the FL batch and Colas batch, not forgetting the Turkish built one-off accepted into the Colas fleet?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Here's a question I've been meaning to ask about the 70s, and having just watched one pass by our house in the dark. What is the purpose of the row of bright red lights or LEDs along the side of the locomotive? They are situated quite high up, not central along the body but more towards one of the cabs, Thanks.

 

[Photohunter71]

With FL getting a loan of a CRF 70,will FL pursue plans to buy more?

 

[class 9]

Doubtful, they had an option for a further 10 on top of the original order, but chose not to take it up.

 

[Pacerpilot]

Here's a question I've been meaning to ask about the 70s, and having just watched one pass by our house in the dark. What is the purpose of the row of bright red lights or LEDs along the side of the locomotive? They are situated quite high up, not central along the body but more towards one of the cabs, Thanks.

Nothing exciting. Just status lights for the inverters

 

[Ash Bridge]

Nothing exciting. Just status lights for the inverters

Many thanks for the explanation.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hasn't Freightliner just hired 56 081?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Hasn't Freightliner just hired 56 081?

Yes, I've just read that Peter, the one in Railfreight grey, is it for mainline use? the article didn't explain.

 

[GearJammer]

I believe the 56 is just for shunting.
The Colas 70 (70803) that was on hire was just to cover for Freightliner 70s while they went to Loughborough for mods.