Class 68 Progress, what's the latest?

[ilkestonian]

When could we expect to see the 68's running under there own power ?

Today?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdan14025/14288954752

(Not my pics)

 

[Harbon 1]

Made quite a racket through Tamworth earlier

 

[Boothby97]

When could we expect to see the 68's running under there own power ?

Did you not read my post, the one before yours?

 

[Neilo09]

Did you not read my post, the one before yours?

No need to be rude, it doesn't say 68004 is running under its own power, i was under the assumption it was part of a trial working.

 

[ac6000cw]

Made quite a racket through Tamworth earlier

So it looks like they have finally 'fledged' (it is late spring after all ) - and they are as noisy as in the video of the test run at Vossloh - good

 

[The Snap]

Did you not read my post, the one before yours?

No need to be rude, it doesn't say 68004 is running under its own power, i was under the assumption it was part of a trial working.

It was definitely under its own power when it roared past Stafford Salop earlier!

 

[nowinaminute]

There's a few vids on youtube now, certainly seems to get off the line pretty sharpish!

I like the deep note of the engine too, almost reminds me of a Deltic in terms of bass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sh1ZoivS6s

 

[brick60000]

Does anyone know if this will be running later this week?

 

[Photohunter71]

That sounds great! I'll check out the vids later today!

 

[Beveridges]

These could be the best sounding traction to enter the UK since the Class 60.

 

[Sunbird24]

I suspect that since their arrival they have been receiving modifications/updates deemed necessary following the results of the test running at Velim by 68001. If this is the case that would account for the delay in getting them into service. 68006 Daring, 68007 Valiant and 68008 Avenger were all outside on Monday and may well be nearly ready to ship. Perhaps they are waiting for 68001...or whichever one it was that was half painted last week.

 

[brick60000]

I have just been looking on Real Time Trains. Is there any chance that this train could be the 68 tomorrow? It is from Crewe Basford Hall to Willesden Euroterminal, and is also a STP schedule. This is a complete guess, and wondered if someone would be able to confirm either way?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R91834/2014/05/30/advanced

Thanks in advance, and apologies if I have no clue what I am on about

 

[Boothby97]

I have just been looking on Real Time Trains. Is there any chance that this train could be the 68 tomorrow? It is from Crewe Basford Hall to Willesden Euroterminal, and is also a STP schedule. This is a complete guess, and wondered if someone would be able to confirm either way?



http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R91834/2014/05/30/advanced



Thanks in advance, and apologies if I have no clue what I am on about

Maybe? That is (as far as I'm aware) the same working (headcode 5Z76) that ran on Wednesday with 68004. Could it run with a 68 tomorrow, but this time the 68 get removed in the Rugby/Daventry area to end up working a train North to Scotland?????

 

[fgwrich]

They certainly seem to have a deep rumble to that engine! I wonder if that's either the start of some turbo or rad fan noise during it's acceleration as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvU82kyOqkI

 

[Photohunter71]

68 006 "Daring" I thought one of the fleet would be named "Daring"! Looking good so far! Wonder if there's a chance of one taking a trip to Edinburgh?

 

[Boothby97]

This morning, 68004 worked light engine (yes on its own) 0Z68 Crewe Gresty Bridge to Daventry.
Is expected to go on to work 4S44 to Coatbridge as far as Crewe http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H31611/2014/05/30/advanced

 

[brick60000]

This morning, 68004 worked light engine (yes on its own) 0Z68 Crewe Gresty Bridge to Daventry.
Is expected to go on to work 4S44 to Coatbridge as far as Crewe http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H31611/2014/05/30/advanced

Thanks so much for this! Any chance that it will be working this service as well, being as it is only going as far as Crewe, which appears similar to yesterdays working?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R91834/2014/05/30/advanced

 

[trubla]

Can confirm 68 004 worked north on the 12 13 Daventry to Coatbridge with a 66 behind it

 

[ac6000cw]

Can confirm 68 004 worked north on the 12 13 Daventry to Coatbridge with a 66 behind it

...Just waiting for the next crop of videos, this time with a loaded train

(The 68 sound has a nice 'I'm coming through and I'm taking no prisoners' hustling edge to it - great! )

 

[fgwrich]

68004 fresh out with 66433 dit on 4S44.

 

[deltic08]

I think FOCs should be prohibited or surcharged for operating diesels on services entirely under the wires.

 

[brick60000]

Here's a brief video of it passing through Stafford. I didn't get as much video as I would have liked, as I was too busy trying to take a photo!

http://youtu.be/3cCIdHowUhM

 

[ExRes]

I think FOCs should be prohibited or surcharged for operating diesels on services entirely under the wires.

Where would the electric locos come from ?, there's hardly a glut of them sitting around unused and the cost of any new orders would be prohibitive unless a large batch were split amongst numerous FOCs

 

[Loki]

Where would the electric locos come from ?

Same places new diesels come from?

 

[ExRes]

Same places new diesels come from?

If you're going to quote someone then please put the entire quote, not just part of it

The beginning of my quote was quite clearly about existing spare capacity

 

[Loki]

If you're going to quote someone then please put the entire quote, not just part of it

The beginning of my quote was quite clearly about existing spare capacity

And the rest of it mentioned prohibitive costs which is clearly not the case. The part I quoted appears to refer both to existing locos and new locos.

 

[Sunbird24]

Where would the electric locos come from ?, there's hardly a glut of them sitting around unused and the cost of any new orders would be prohibitive unless a large batch were split amongst numerous FOCs

Class 88 perhaps, already on order for DRS.

 

[ac6000cw]

I think FOCs should be prohibited or surcharged for operating diesels on services entirely under the wires.

That's a commercial decision for the FOC's - the use of electric haulage is possibly a saleable 'green' benefit to some customers, as well as a possible fuel cost advantage (depending on how much NR charges for energy) - it should be market forces that drive the decision (maybe with a bit of government nudging via taxation etc.), not diktat.

 

[ExRes]

And the rest of it mentioned prohibitive costs which is clearly not the case. The part I quoted appears to refer both to existing locos and new locos.

Where are the smaller FOCs to get their electric locos from then ?, are there used locos available in this country that smaller companies could use instead of refurbishing the likes of 57s, 56s, 60s ?

If you are expecting FOCs to order 88s or the like then who can afford the cost of them ?, only the large companies which means the 'independents' will be pushed out of existence, bringing no benefits to the railfreight industry as a whole

Do you recommend that as a way forward just so that diesels aren't seen running under wires ?

 

[Loki]

Where are the smaller FOCs to get their electric locos from then ?, are there used locos available in this country that smaller companies could use instead of refurbishing the likes of 57s, 56s, 60s ?

If you are expecting FOCs to order 88s or the like then who can afford the cost of them ?, only the large companies which means the 'independents' will be pushed out of existence, bringing no benefits to the railfreight industry as a whole

Do you recommend that as a way forward just so that diesels aren't seen running under wires ?

If a company cannot afford to buy new electrics or even lease some then they should still pay higher taxes for running diesels under wires. If they can't afford this either then maybe the are not competitive enough for the market?