Given that there can be no more new Class 66 s in the U.K. and GBRF's voracious appetite for additional traction is there any possibility that they will follow their parent company Europorte on the path to Euro 4000s. If it could be modified to fit U.K. loading gauge ?
I ask here because of the level of knowledge shown on this thread.
Be lucky
David
There is no way the Euro4000 can be modified to fit the UK loading gauge without making it much longer to fit everything in. They already tried it with the AFRO 4000 series for South Africa and although only Cape gauge they still dwarf the 68s in height and probably width also, though that I'm not sure about that without checking all the data. Any wider and all station platforms would need trimming to accept them so that's a non-starter. Height only and they would be restricted to certain lines. Not sure if they are actively working on a redesigned 68 for the additional space required by stage 4 emission control and if so whether that might include modification for a more powerful engine and fitting of Co-Co bogies with the extra traction motors.
Standard Euro 4000 is UIC 505-1, height 4280mm, width 3150mm.
AFRO 4000 is height 4140mm. width 2850mm.
UK W6a is height 3965mm, width 2820mm above 1 metre, 2700mm below 1 metre.
So even the trimmed down AFRO 4000 is still too big for UK.
There is an AsiaLight concept for a metre gauge Co-Co design with up to 3,800HP 16 cyl CAT engine which might fit UK loading gauge.
Lengthening the bodies to accommodate everything brings another problem as the extra overhang would need to be tapered to keep within the gauge on curves.
BTW another new 68 appeared this morning, being moved from the production line to one of the finishing shops, no visible ID on the side I could see but it is probably at least the seventh that I have seen.