Class 66 anyone?

One of them has been slightly more value for money since being outshopped from Newton-le-Willows!

 

Here all week again I see Tom!

 

Yes especially when both Bristol and Cardiff had allocations of Class 46 and Class 45 would work services from Birmingham; Not very common as noted but not so rare that regular appearances were noted on both freight and Cross-Country services.

 

very rarely but in any case I wasn't referring to D20.....

 

And don't forget the single-digit locos D1 - D9, but I suspect they never strayed to Reading General...

 

Older, rather than better value IMO. The 66s will see more use, if there is sufficient traffic. For their faults, they have done what was asked of them for twenty years and will be around for a while yet.

Patrick

 

Surely it won't be to long before a Facebook page pops up asking people to donate money towards saving one of these class 66 locos for preservation.

 

Since the class 66 has been used a while in the UK , it could be interesting to know which experience the railway-companies have with them, in general. Are they robust and reliable locomotives with few failures, or a frequent visitor at the workshop? And, are they popular locomotives by the crews?

regards

Knut

 

I don't think they're too popular with crews, somthing to do with cab vibration at certain speeds.

 

Gas Turbines?? 18000 and 18100??

 

before my time

 

When they were first introduced in the south they were welcomed with open arms as they replaced some absolutely knackered class 37s, 47s and the unreliable 58's. The early ones are now getting on for 20 years old and are pretty well worn out but are still working. They might be rough and worn but some Freightliner drivers prefer them to the 70's as they know they will get home!
DBS spent a considerable sum on upgrading the cab insulation on their locos which removed much of the rattling and vibration.
For the Freight Operating Companies ( and leasing companies ) they have done what was asked of them, reducing failures in traffic and reducing maintenance costs.

Cheers, Neil

 

Confirmed in the latest edition of Todays Railways that GBRf has purchased 66008, 016, 046, 058, 081, 132, 141, 184, 238 & 250 from DB Cargo. They are expected to be renumbered 66780-789.

It's unlikely that GBRf would buy class 60's, they would be a whole new set of maintenance procedures and drivers traction type knowledge.

Cheers, Neil

 

Presumably GBRf will be in the market for the DRS 66s which has been suggested elsewhere that DRS is looking to dispose of as they "are reliable, do the job asked of them but do not fit into our future plans"; this will be 19 locomotives that could be worth investing in once the leases become available.

 

Thanks. I have heard that they were criticize because of the noisy cabs ,too.

Thanks a lot for interesting information Neil!

regards

Knut

 

In a TV programme, one FL manager informed the viewers that the class 47 broke down every 4,500 miles. The 57s managed 9,500 miles between failures. The 66s however on average break down every 60,000 miles. That reliability figure is what led to them replacing so many existing locos.

 

I suspect that in a way the fact that many diesel enthusiasts have such a problem with 66's is actually similar to why steam enthusiasts have problems with diesels generally in that they were introduced en-mass and led to the rapid withdrawal and scrapping of a vast range of older classes of motive power which had been very popular and formed the backdrop to many enthusiasts childhood and thus interest.

They do nothing for me, but for the change and revolution they bought to rail freight in this country one should definitely be in the national collection (which will no doubt come the time provide another stick for SR to hit the NRM with )

 

I guess it will come a "class 66 preservation society" as well!