Vossloh UKLIGHT Class 68

[159220]

Vossloh have updated their websites in relation to Innotrans 2012 with information about the UK version of the Eurolight for DRS as announced back in Janurary.

I hope GBRf order some! Cracking looking train...Peoples thoughts?

I like how DRS have updated their branding, to work with the futuristic design of the UKLight

http://www.vossloh-innotrans.com/en/product_highlights_2/light_family_2/light_family_1.html

Direct link to the PDF fact sheet:

http://www.vossloh-innotrans.com/media/downloads/pdfs/vrv/Vossloh_UKLIGHT_us.pdf

 

[D365]

Reminds me of the 92 in a way... Can't beat a charcoal 70, though it looks better overall!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Direct link to the PDF fact sheet:
http://www.vossloh-innotrans.com/media/downloads/pdfs/vrv/Vossloh_UKLIGHT_us.pdf

Welcome to the "Platypus" class then.

 

[EM2]

Didn't Virgin mention Vossloh locos for their proposed North Wales drags?

 

[HSTEd]

Oh dear lord the front end looks almost as ugly as the Class 70s....

 

[D365]

No it doesn't!

 

[jopsuk]

so, almost as heavy as a 67 and Bo'Bo', yet proposed for an optional 125mph? Surely the ~5ton weight saving isn't going to be enough to make this advantageous over a 67 (other than being available!)?

 

[Aictos]

Looks quite nice, it's like a souped up Class 67 in terms of styling.

 

[PFX]

Did they get Ssangyong to do the cab styling? Not sure I get why cabs are now styled in the same manner as cars, giving them what car manufacturers would refer to as 'aggressive' looks. It's just not needed on a loco though otherwise it looks good. Both the Asia and Euro light both seem to have avoided such over-styling.

 

[whhistle]

Didn't Virgin mention Vossloh locos for their proposed North Wales drags?

Yes, that is correct.

Nice looking train. Will wait until I see it in the flesh to pass full judgement. For those that can't be bothered to look:

 

[Monty]

I think they look rather handsome, looking forward to seeing the first one hitting our shores.

 

[lyndhurst25]

For those who still think in old money, and according to Google, 2800KW is about 3750 horsepower.

 

[60163]

I'm always up for new blood. I wonder if some preservation groups will suddenly have a lot of spare parts in a few years...?

 

[Phil6219]

Did they get Ssangyong to do the cab styling?

Bingo! That was exactly what this reminds me of but I couldn't put the name to it.

Actually I think it looks quite nice. The DRS livery on that looks very nice too but I cant say it will look good on anything else, that said I don't think they will get away with that little amount of yellow on the front though.

Phil

 

[gordonthemoron]

looks better than the last VOSSLOH loco I saw

 

[mbonwick]

So basically this seems to sit somewhere between a 66 and a 67 in terms of haulage capability...

 

[Pen Mill]

Nice looking train. Will wait until I see it in the flesh to pass full judgement.

Agree !
Now bring it on !

 

[D365]

So basically this seems to sit somewhere between a 66 and a 67 in terms of haulage capability...

I should think so, though quite why we need yet another loco type is unknown to me. Hopefully it hasn't taken inspiration from the BBQ Class/70.

 

[60163]

I should think so, though quite why we need yet another loco type is unknown to me. Hopefully it hasn't taken inspiration from the BBQ Class/70.

Isn't it more powerful than a 70...? Or has more tractive effort, or something.

 

[Yew]

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

 

[ainsworth74]

I should think so, though quite why we need yet another loco type is unknown to me.

No one builds 66s or 67s anymore and 70s don't offer quite the same things as the 68s. 70s have a higher starting tractive effort (good for very heavy trains), lower top speed (75mph) and don't offer ETS whilst the 68 has a lower starting tractive effort (good enough for passenger or lighter freight work), high top speed (100mph) and does have ETS. The 68 looks to me to be built to fill a similar role to that of the 67.

 

[Yew]

No one builds 66s or 67s anymore and 70s don't offer quite the same things as the 68s. 70s have a higher starting tractive effort (good for very heavy trains), lower top speed (75mph) and don't offer ETS whilst the 68 has a lower starting tractive effort (good enough for passenger or lighter freight work), high top speed (100mph) and does have ETS. The 68 looks to me to be built to fill a similar role to that of the 67.

Its a shame its not CO-CO though, the reduced axle weights and more powered axles could have gone a long way towards making locos attractive for passanger service again

 

[D365]

Isn't it more powerful than a 70...? Or has more tractive effort, or something.

The 68 is ever so slightly more powerful! If it works out well, anybody up for sponsoring an extra 30 to replace the 70s?

EDIT: It has a lower starting tractive effort but higher speed and more power, as has been said before me. Not as suitable for longer, heavier freight trains. I thought the 68s were going to have pantos as the artist's impressions reminded me of the 92!

 

[ainsworth74]

The 68 is ever so slightly more powerful! If it works out well, anybody up for sponsoring an extra 30 to replace the 70s?

EDIT: It has a lower starting tractive effort but higher speedand more power, as has been said before me.

You don't want speed on a freight seeing as you're probably limited to around 75mph (if not less) anyway on most freight services. If you want to haul a very heavy coal or inter-modal train then it's a 70 that you want (well apart from the BBQ part anyway) or even a 66 (more tractive effort than a 68). It ain't all about the power and the speed because one's useless if your wheels are slipping around all over the place and the others useless on everything but passenger services.

 

[mbonwick]

Won't help the 66s staggering up over Shap and Beattock at walking pace then....I suppose really we need more electric locos to sort that.

 

[biglunn]

Its a shame its not CO-CO though, the reduced axle weights and more powered axles could have gone a long way towards making locos attractive for passanger service again

Funny you mention that... on the website there is a version called Asia light- same engine and looks, and slightly heavier, but with a co-co arrangement and a 16 ton axle-load! That could work better here in the Uk

 

[IanXC]

Won't help the 66s staggering up over Shap and Beattock at walking pace then....I suppose really we need more electric locos to sort that.

Or at least we need to use the electric locos we've got already!

 

[kjhskj75]

Funny you mention that... on the website there is a version called Asia light- same engine and looks, and slightly heavier, but with a co-co arrangement and a 16 ton axle-load! That could work better here in the Uk

It's metre or 3'6" gauge.

 

[159220]

so, almost as heavy as a 67 and Bo'Bo', yet proposed for an optional 125mph? Surely the ~5ton weight saving isn't going to be enough to make this advantageous over a 67 (other than being available!)?

It is surprising as you would of thought DRS would want a "go anywhere" loco for passenger work. Being only 5 tons lighter than a Class 67 seems to not be such a "Light" loco. Though i am sure DRS have been heavily involved in the design and thus happy with it. Will a 21.4 ton axle load be RA7?

I think they look rather handsome, looking forward to seeing the first one hitting our shores.

Was it June 2013 it is due here?

Its a shame its not CO-CO though, the reduced axle weights and more powered axles could have gone a long way towards making locos attractive for passanger service again

Funny you mention that... on the website there is a version called Asia light- same engine and looks, and slightly heavier, but with a co-co arrangement and a 16 ton axle-load! That could work better here in the Uk

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!

 

[Peter Sarf]

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.