British Rail Class 68

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British Rail Class 68
Marylebone - DRS 68010.JPG
68010 at London Marylebone in 2015
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Vossloh
Model Vossloh UKLight[1]
Build date 2013–2014, 2015–
Total produced 25 (plus 7 on order)
Specifications
Configuration Bo-Bo
UIC class Bo'Bo'
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Loco weight approximately 85 tonnes[2]
Fuel type diesel
Fuel capacity 5,000 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,300 US gal)
Prime mover Caterpillar C175-16[citation needed]
Alternator ABB WCqx560pb6
Traction motors Four ABB 4FRA6063 (600 kW)[citation needed]
MU working Within class[3]
Train heating Electric,
HEP inverter up to 500 kW
Loco brake Blended: Rheostatic braking (2100kW); electropneumatic.[2]
Performance figures
Maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph)
Power output 3,800 hp (2,800 kW)
at 1,740 rpm
Tractive effort 317 kN (71,000 lbf)
Career
Operators
Numbers 68001–025 (delivered)
68026–032 (on order)
Official name UKLight
Nicknames Warskips, Cats, Turtles, Diggers
Axle load class RA 7[3]
Delivered 2014
First run 2014
Current owner Beacon Rail
Sources: Technical parameters.[4] (except where noted)

The Class 68 is a type of mainline mixed traffic diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by Vossloh for Direct Rail Services in the United Kingdom. The design is derived from the Vossloh Eurolight, and Vossloh's product name is UKLight.

The second batch of Class 68s - also for Direct Rail Services - completed delivery in April 2016.[5]

Background

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Main article: Vossloh Eurolight

On 5 January 2012, Direct Rail Services announced it had placed an order for fifteen Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). Vossloh Eurolight locomotives from Vossloh for intermodal and passenger work with a 16-cylinder 2.8 MW (3,800 hp) C175-16 engine from Caterpillar Inc. to be delivered from late 2013.[6][7] The value of the contract has been estimated at £45 million.[3] An option for ten further UKLights was confirmed to have been taken up in September 2014.[8] Further to this, on 28 July 2015 Vossloh España announced an order for a further 7 locomotives from DRS.[9]

The locomotives have been given TOPS class 68,[10] Vossloh's product name for the design is UKLight.[11]

The Class 68 complies with Stage III A of the European emission standards.[12]

Delivery

The first locomotive spent several months being tested at Velim Test Centre in the Czech Republic prior to being shipped to the UK. The second unit in the class, numbered 68002, was the first to arrive in the UK in January 2014.[13][14][15][16] All will be delivered by the end of 2014, as from 1 January 2015, the Caterpillar will not meet emission standards.[17]

Usage

A Class 68 operating a Chiltern Railways passenger service

The Class 68 is a mixed-traffic locomotive intended for use on both passenger and freight trains. DRS has a contract with VSOE to provide locomotives for its Northern Belle service. DRS has indicated that the locomotives will likely be used on container traffic, and on Network Rail trains for which it is contracted to operate, but that they will not be used on nuclear flask trains.[18]

The first passenger trains hauled by Class 68s were DRS special services for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.[19]

Chiltern Railways have sub-leased six Class 68s from December 2014, which have replaced Class 67s on its Chiltern Main Line services between London and Birmingham.[20][21][22] These are painted in Chiltern mainline silver livery and are fitted with Association of American Railroads (AAR) push-pull equipment to allow them to operate with Mark 3 coaching stock sets. Two DRS-liveried locomotives (68008 and 68009) have also been fitted with AAR push-pull equipment.[23]

Future

First TransPennine Express will sub-lease class 68 locomotives from DRS for use on Liverpool - Scarborough and Manchester Airport - Middlesbrough services from 2019.[24]

Fleet

As of April 2016 there are 25 Class 68 locomotives in service with a further 7 on order.

Class Operator No. Built Year Built Loco nos.
Class 68 Direct Rail Services 7 2013–4 68001–68005
68008–68009
Abellio ScotRail
(Sub leased from Direct Rail Services)		 2 68006–68007
Chiltern Railways
(Sub leased from Direct Rail Services)		 6 68010–68015
Direct Rail Services 10 2015 68016–68025
TransPennine Express
(To be sub leased from Direct Rail Services)		 7 2016–2017 68026–68032 (on order)

Named locomotives

Before delivery each of the first nine locomotives was named. All of the other Class 68 locomotives (except 68010–68015) have also been named.

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  • 68001 - Evolution
  • 68002 - Intrepid
  • 68003 - Astute
  • 68004 - Rapid
  • 68005 - Defiant
  • 68006 - Daring
  • 68007 - Valiant
  • 68008 - Avenger
  • 68009 - Titan
  • 68016 - Fearless
  • 68017 - Hornet
  • 68018 - Vigilant
  • 68019 - Brutus
  • 68020 - Reliance
  • 68021 - Tireless
  • 68022 - Resolution
  • 68023 - Achilles
  • 68024 - Centaur
  • 68025 - Superb

Incidents

Number 68015 caught fire at High Wycombe on 23 October 2015.[25][26] Number 68011 caught fire near Saunderton on 8 January 2016.[27][28]

See also

  • Vossloh Euro Dual, the electro-diesel variant based on the Class 68 ordered by DRS as the Class 88.[29]

References

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External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  1. ↑ http://www.stadlerrail.es/en/company/references/references.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ http://www.mainlinediesels.net/index.php?nav=1000178&lang=en&id=8745&action=shownews#.VwajtyaVvQo
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ "DRS unveils 68, but no firm plans for the trains it will haul" Rail issue 745 2 April 2014 page 26
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Direct Rail Services, Ryder Cup 2014
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 68s equipped with push-pull Rail issue 754 6 August 2014 page 33
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/13892175.PICTURES__Delays_after_fire_breaks_out_on_train_at_High_Wycombe_Station/
  26. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/afc45014/22415237205/
  27. ↑ http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2016-01-08/train-fire-causes-severe-disruption/
  28. ↑ http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/train-fire-delays-chiltern-railways-services-1-7151713
  29. ↑ http://www.stadlerrail.es/en/company/references/references.html
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