British Rail Class 67
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Sources:[3][4] except where noted |
The Class 67 locomotives are a class of Bo-Bo diesel electric mainline locomotives which were built for the English Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) between 1999 to 2000 by Alstom at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components (engine and transmission) from General Motors' Electro Motive Diesel division.
EMD's designation for this locomotive type is JT42HW-HS.[5]
History
Design, testing and introduction
Thirty locomotives were ordered in a £45million contract split between Alstom and Electro Motive Diesel.[6] For use by the EWS as Class 47 replacements for use on high-speed Royal Mail trains and passenger trains.[7] The locomotives were obtained on a 15-year lease from Angel Trains.[7]
The bodyshell is a monocoque load bearing Alstom design,[7][8] the bogies are an "H" frame Alstom design,[7] The engine, traction motors and control electronics are GM-EMD products, and the same as used in the British Rail Class 66. Unlike the Class 66, the traction motors are frame mounted rather than axle hung to reduce unsprung mass and the gear ratio is increased allowing higher speeds.[7] The cab design has a central driving position.[8]
The locomotives are able to supply electric head end power for passenger train heating and air-conditioning, and are equipped for buffer and screw coupling and also coupling via a buckeye coupler attached on a swing arm mount.[8]
High speed running tests were undertaken with 67002 starting at Alstom's facility at La Sagra (Toledo, Spain) and running on the standard gauge Madrid-Toledo high-speed rail line,[8] a top speed of 143 miles per hour (230 km/h) was obtained.[7]
The first locomotive to be delivered was 67003, which arrived in October 1999. Initially plans were for a rapid acceptance into service, but problems with the locomotives being slightly out of loading gauge[7] caused delays. Acceptance trials began in December, and all 30 units had been delivered to the UK by early 2000.[8]
The high axle load of the locomotive caused an initial speed restriction to 110 mph (177 km/h) and modifications to the bogies were required; locomotive 67023 was passed for 125 mph (201 km/h) running in July 2001,[9] all 30 units had been modified by June 2003.[10] Rail enthusiasts have nicknamed the Class 67 "Skips" because of its design.[citation needed]
Operations
Initially the class were used primarily on mail trains.[11] In June 2003 EWS lost the Royal Mail mail train contract, with services diminishing to complete cessation in March 2004.[12][13]
The locomotives have since been used by First ScotRail on the Caledonian Sleeper on non electrified lines north of Edinburgh. In April 2015, GB Railfreight commenced a contract to haul the Caledonian Sleeper. In March 2015, 67004 was re-painted and renamed. This is to be used on the Serco Caledonian Sleeper. The current stand-alone Serco franchise uses traction provided by GB Railfreight. However, a fleet of six Class 73/9 electro-diesel locomotives to operate the non-electrified sections of the route to Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen from October 2015. Until then Class 67 locomotives continue to be used.
As Thunderbird rescue locomotives for failed trains on the East Coast Main Line, on some freight trains,and are hired for use on chartered tourist trains.[9][11] Two units were assigned to, and received special liveries for use with the Royal Train from 2003,[9][14] a third unit had a commemorative jubilee livery applied for use with the Royal Train during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012.[15]
Five locomotives were also dedicated to Wrexham & Shropshire's services until it ceased operating in January 2011.[16]
Chiltern Railways began using ex Wrexham & Shropshire Class 67 hauled passenger sets in December 2010,[17] in September 2011 after improvements to the Chiltern Main Line infrastructure, Chiltern began running a 100 mph (160 km/h) service from London to Birmingham branded Mainline using Class 67 powered sets.[18][19] Chiltern Railways will sub-lease six Class 68s from December 2014, to replace Class 67s on its Chiltern Main Line services.[20][21][22]
In March 2012 Arriva Trains Wales began the lease of three Class 67s from DB Schenker to replace its Class 57s on its North-South Wales Premier Service.[23]
Status table
Note: All Class 67's are owned by Angel Trains, leased to DB Schenker and then sub-leased to the operators listed below. Locomotives that do not currently carry their names are shown with the name in brackets.
Number | Name | Livery | Operator | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
67001 | (Night Mail) | Arriva blue | Arriva Trains Wales | Operational |
67002 | (Special Delivery) | Arriva blue | Arriva Trains Wales | Operational |
67003 | Arriva blue | Arriva Trains Wales | Operational | |
67004 | Cairn Gorm (Post Haste) | Caledonian Sleeper blue | Serco | Operational |
67005 | Queen's Messenger | Royal claret | DB Schenker | Operational |
67006 | Royal Sovereign | Royal claret | DB Schenker | Operational |
67007 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67008 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67009 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67010 | (Unicorn) | Caledonian Sleeper blue | Serco | Operational |
67011 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67012 | A Shropshire Lad | Chiltern Mainline silver | DB Schenker | Operational |
67013 | [Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) | DB Schenker red | DB Schenker | Operational |
67014 | Thomas Telford | Chiltern Mainline silver | DB Schenker | Operational |
67015 | David J Lloyd | DB Schenker red | DB Schenker | Operational |
67016 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67017 | Arrow | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational |
67018 | Keith Heller | DB Schenker red with maple leaf | DB Schenker | Operational |
67019 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67020 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67021 | EWS Maroon & Gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67022 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67023 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67024 | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67025 | Western Star | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational |
67026 | Diamond Jubilee | Jubilee Silver | DB Schenker | Operational |
67027 | (Rising Star) | DB Schenker red | DB Schenker | Operational |
67028 | EWS Maroon & Gold | DB Schenker | Operational | |
67029 | Royal Diamond | DB Schenker silver | DB Schenker | Operational |
67030 | Schenker | EWS maroon & gold | DB Schenker | Operational |
Liveries and namings
The locomotives were initially painted in EWS's maroon and yellow livery.[8] In 2003, 67005 and 67006 replaced the two previous Class 47 locomotives hauling the Royal Train. These were repainted in the Royal Claret colour, and named Queen's Messenger and Royal Sovereign in December 2000 and February 2005, respectively.[14][24]
In October 2004, 67029 was repainted silver to haul the EWS Company Train.[25] On 12 October 2007, 67029 was named Royal Diamond at Rugeley Trent Valley railway station, in honour of the 60th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.[26]
In 2008, 67012–67015 were repainted in Wrexham & Shropshire's silver and grey livery.[27][28] In 2008, these were named A Shropshire Lad (3 July), Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte (9 July), Thomas Telford (14 July) and David J Lloyd (16 May), respectively.[29] These were joined by 67010 in March 2009.[30]
In January 2010, 67018 was repainted into DB Schenker red with a maple leaf and named Keith Heller at the National Rail Museum. in honour of the Canadian-born former EWS and DB Schenker UK chairman.[31]
In 2011, 67001–67003 were repainted blue, for use by Arriva Trains Wales.[32]
In March 2012, 67026 received a silver livery, union flag and Diamond Jubilee logo for use during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II celebrations, being named Diamond Jubilee by Queen Elizabeth II on 23 March at London Victoria station.[15]
In March 2015, 67004 received the Caledonian 'Midnight Teal' livery and named 'Cairn Gorm'. This is being used on the non-electrified parts of the Serco Caledonian Sleeper.[33]
Incidents
A serious crash occurred with 67002 at Lawrence Hill (Bristol) on 1 November 2000, when a Royal Mail train passed two red signals and ran into the back of a coal train at around 3:30am. The mail train, hauled by 67002 "Special Delivery" with 67012 at the rear, was travelling at 50 mph when the incident occurred. The locomotive climbed over the back of the coal train, coming to rest 40 yards (37 m) later on top of a coal wagon and against the A420 Church Road bridge. The driver of the mail train suffered a broken arm and cuts to the face and chest, but there were no other injuries.[34][35][36][37] The incident was initially suspected to be caused by faulty brakes, but was later found to be caused by misunderstanding and incorrect use of the locomotive's Brake Pipe Pressure Control Unit Isolating Cock by railway staff.[35][38]
See also
- The Israel Railways JT 42BW and RENFE Class 333.3 are a similar design
- Vossloh Euro 4000 - Related locomotives built at the same factory (former Alstom Valencia plant)
References and sources
References
- ^ "Class 67 Diesel Photo Gallery - Class Info". www.class67.co.uk. The Class 67 Diesel Photo Web Site / Colin Birch.
- ^ "67 - GM Diesel Electric Locomotive". www.angeltrains.co.uk. Angel Trains. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ "Diesel-Electric Locomotives Class 67" (PDF). www.vossloh-espana.com. Retrieved February 2009.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Technical". the67depot.webs.com. The 67 Depot.
- ^ Waller, Mike (December 2010), "Skips for Hire", p.14
- ^ The Railway magazine, Volume 150. IPC Business Press. 2004. p. 12.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Class 67". www.semgonline.com. Southern E-Group.
- ^ a b c d e f "Class 67". www.therailwaycentre.com. The RailwayCentre.Com Ltd.
- ^ a b c Gareth McMurray. "rolling stock : class 67". www.thejunction.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009.
- ^ "EWS completes 125mph locomotive upgrade programme". www.ews-railway.co.uk. EWS. 26 June 2003. Archived from the original on 23 February 2004.
- ^ a b Charlie Hume. "North Wales Coast Railway: Class 67". www.nwrail.org.uk.
- ^ "Mail trains to be scrapped". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 6 June 2003.
- ^ Butcher, Louise (13 April 2010). "Railways: Royal Mail services, 2003-" (PDF). House of Commons Library.
- ^ a b Sources:
- Julian Holland (2007). Amazing and Extraordinary Railway Facts. David & Charles. p. 81.
- "New Royal Train locomotive unveiled". www.ews-railway.co.uk. EWS. 18 February 2004. Archived from the original on 1 October 2006.
- "HM The Queen names dedicated Royal Train locomotive at Bristol". www.ews.railway.co.uk. EWS. 25 February 2005. Archived from the original on 1 October 2006.
- ^ a b Sources:
- "DB Schenker Allocate a Third Locomotive for Diamond Jubilee Royal Train Use". Rail.co.uk. Atos IT Services UK Limited. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- "Royal Train starts its Diamond Jubilee tour with specially commissioned locomotive". www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk. DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd. 23 March 2012.
- ^ Chris Milner (26 January 2011). "Wrexham & Shropshire to cease operation". www.railwaymagazine.co.uk. The Railway Magazine.
- ^ Gareth Bayer (14 December 2010). "Chiltern commences Birmingham loco-hauled". www.railexpress.co.uk. Rail Express.
- ^ "Chiltern introduces its new 'Mainline' timetable" (PDF). Railway Herald (282): 4. 5 September 2011.
- ^ "Chiltern Railways Launch 'Mainline' Silver Service Between London, Banbury and Birmingham". www.rail.co.uk. 2011.
- ^ "Chiltern to lease six Class 68 locomotives from DRS". Railway Herald. 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Chiltern leases six Class 68 locos for Mainline services in £15m deal", www.railtechnologymagazine.com, 15 April 2014
- ^ "[GB] Chiltern Railways chooses Class 68 in favour of Class 67", mainlinediesels.net, 10 April 2014
- ^ Clark, Rhodri (May, 2012). "Class 67 haulage in Wales". Modern Railways, p. 84.
- ^ "Queen names 67005 Queen's Messenger" Rail issue 399 27 December 2000 page 13
- ^ Rail Magazine (499): 22. 27 October 2004.
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(help) - ^ Rail Magazine (577): 17. 24 October 2007.
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(help) - ^ News Archive March 2008 wnxx.com
- ^ News Archive April 2008 wnxx.com
- ^ Rail Magazine (597): 68. 30 July 2008.
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(help) - ^ News Archive March 2009 wnxx.com
- ^ "First DB-Schenker liveried Class 67 named Keith Heller" (PDF). Railway Herald (208): 4. January 2010.
- ^ Derek Porter. "Old Pictures of the Day - October 2011". www.therailwaycentre.com. Picture of the Day 6 October 2011.
- ^ http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/03/24/sturgeon-unveils-new-look-caledonian-sleeper-at-inverness
- ^ "Notes and News". Cardiff and Avonside Railway Society. January 2001. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
01/11 Disaster at Lawrence Hill! Services already affected by the weather were subject to further delays when the previous nights 5V17 23.48 Bristol Parkway-Barton Hill formed of 8 RES empty vans and top n' tailed by 67002 Special Delivery and 67012...
- ^ a b Marston, Paul; Savill, Richard (2 November 2000). "Runaway mail train hits coal wagons". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ Falconer, Adrian (1 November 2000). "67002". Flickr.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ "Driver escapes unhurt in Bristol train crash". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 1 November 2000. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ "Rail Accident Report: Locomotive runaway near East Didsbury, 27 August 2006" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. May 2007. p. 21.
The misunderstanding and incorrect use of the BPPCUIC cock on an EWS class 67 locomotive led to a serious accident at Lawrence Hill near Bristol (1 November 2000). This resulted in serious injury to a driver and significant damage to equipment.
Sources
- Fox, Peter; Hall, Peter; Pritchard, Robert (2004). British Railways Locomotives & coaching stock 2004. Sheffield: Platform 5. ISBN 1-902336-39-9.
- Waller, Mike (December 2010). "Skips for Hire" (PDF). The Marlow Donkey. Marlow & District Railway Society. pp. 13–16., some minor inaccuracies in article
Further reading
- Holley, Mel (19 November – 2 December 1997). "EWSR's 125mph Class 67 locomotive revealed!". RAIL. No. 318. EMAP Apex Publications. pp. 20–22. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
External links
Media related to British Rail Class 67 at Wikimedia Commons