Vossloh UKLIGHT Class 68

[12CSVT]

They look like a cross betwen a 60 and a meridian.

And a class 380 unit

 

[captainbigun]

I have read that John Smith of GBRf has been quoated saying that the "Eurolight" would need to be Co-Co to be interested. How could you refuse a loco which is lighter and more economical than a Class 70, with more power and good enough tractive effort to haul coal and intermodals? 16 tons puts it into RA6 or less doesnt it? Seeing as Eurotunnel are good customers of Vossloh, should we be expecting a GBRf announcement soon on a Co-Co Uk(Asia style)Light? Or now as poor old GE are sending over an unwanted Turkish 70 to the UK, perhaps GBRf shall try out a free loco for a few months before ordering Vossloh?

The UKLight is a super looking loco i think, shame that a bus company had to win West Coast as it would of been awesome in Virgin livery!

Coal? You will not haul coal with this thing (as a Bo-Bo). The starting TE is nothing like comparable to a 70, let alone a 60. This really is a passenger machine that can do the odd freight turn. Intermodal work? 70 is the better machine, it'll haul longer trains. You could look at pairs, but, with diesel going up in cost, and the ever increasing green agenda, I can't see a queue of customers for that.

You can't compare fuel consumption like for like, you have to consider the length of train you can tow, if you use 20% more fuel but can haul 50% more then the 68 loses out.

The challenge with a Co-Co will be the cost of designing a bogie to UK gauge.

 

[sprinterguy]

I think it was said ages ago that us British favour two axle bogies over three axle bogies. Not sure why but that was why 89001 was not attractive iirc. It might explain why we are one of the few coutries with two axle coaches rather than four axle coaches !.

The dynamics between wheel and rail are quite different with a three axle bogie compared to a two axle one and, despite the lighter axle loading, three axle bogies have disbenefits in other ways as they tend to bash the track about more on curves.

 

[jopsuk]

I think it was said ages ago that us British favour two axle bogies over three axle bogies. Not sure why but that was why 89001 was not attractive iirc. It might explain why we are one of the few coutries with two axle coaches rather than four axle coaches !.

I think Chiltern might like the 68s for their MK3 coaches to Birmingham as I gather the supply of 67s is getting a bit stretched.

as I understand it, three axle bogies are difficult to get "right" for 100mph plus- the central axle ends up doing a lot of lateral damage to the track. It was one of the reasons class 89 didn't go anywhere. It is less of a problem at low speeds, which is why the big heavy freight locos continue to be Co'Co'.

As for two axle coaches, there's not been any of those in mainline passenger service for a very long time! There were also, in the very distant past, three axle coaches, and I believe a few "luxury" coaches running on british rails had six axle (two bogie) coaches?

 

[captainbigun]

There seems to be some misinformation on the CP6 fitted to the Class 89. The centre axles steers and has a pre-load damper which adds performance. It has excellent performance characteristics up to 125mph. The performance of the bogie had nothing to do with the selection process leading to the 91, that was purely political.

As for track forces, it's significantly better than a BP9 and only marginally worse than a 91 at 125mph (actually being better at lower speeds).

 

[sprinterguy]

As for two axle coaches, there's not been any of those in mainline passenger service for a very long time! There were also, in the very distant past, three axle coaches, and I believe a few "luxury" coaches running on british rails had six axle (two bogie) coaches?

Quite a lot of Pullman and restaurant vehicles ran on pairs of three-axle bogies in the first half of the twentieth century to give a smoother ride.

 

[trentside]

These are certainly good looking locomotives.

I just hope they are more reliable than other recent arrivals...

 

[159220]

I have come accross some photos of a mock up model of the UKLight.....looks....AWESOME!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pronold/8022579122/sizes/o/in/pool-1966497@N20/

 

[Class172]

These are certainly good looking locomotives.

There's something about the ends which I find odd, not necessarily ugly but just odd. I think it's down to the curved and slightly bumpy bits below the cab window. Maybe a well designed livery can improve the look further.