Class 68 Progress, what's the latest?

[Peter Mugridge]

One 68 may have been dropped off at one of these ports

These aren't class 70s, you know... :roll:

 

[Jedipickles]

Surely their awaiting 5 now (68001/012-015). Now it was reported on WNXX that the ship bringing the 68s stopped off at three ports (Ijmuiden, Beverwijk and Antwerp West) between Spain and the UK. One 68 may have been dropped off at one of these ports to visit Berlin Innotrans event (which is at the end of next month).
So if 3 are now at Liverpool, then there will be 1 (or 2 if one hasn't gone to Berlin) still at Valencia?

I believe this is correct..

68001 + 68012-14 were onboard
68001 is going to Berlin via the Road through the country tonight
57007 + 68012-14 are hopefully moving in the 1656 path off Gladstone Docks to Carlisle

 

[fgwrich]

I believe this is correct..

68001 + 68012-14 were onboard
68001 is going to Berlin via the Road through the country tonight
57007 + 68012-14 are hopefully moving in the 1656 path off Gladstone Docks to Carlisle

Doesn't appear to be going tonight, but will no doubt be going soon.

WNXX 68001 was first off the boat at Liverpool today, on to a low loader for movement to Allely's pending transfer on to Berlin at a later date.

 

[Tirov]

All 4 have left Liverpool. 3 to Carlisle and 1 on a load loader to Germany!

 

[Boothby97]

All 4 have left Liverpool. 3 to Carlisle and 1 on a load loader to Germany!

68012/013/014 moved to Carlisle
68001 on low loader to Berlin (for Innotrans), although will probably have a weekend stopover

 

[fishquinn]

The lease on the 67s has been extended to May 2015, as the 68s probably won't be ready for December.

 

[Sunbird24]

The lease on the 67s has been extended to May 2015, as the 68s probably won't be ready for December.

If this is indeed the case I wonder if this is actually a "red-tape" issue, so much paperwork to be approved by so many bodies that it cannot be done in less than xx months.

 

[js47604]

If this is indeed the case I wonder if this is actually a "red-tape" issue, so much paperwork to be approved by so many bodies that it cannot be done in less than xx months.

Not a paperwork issue,just that 110 drivers need to be trained or have conversion courses on Class 68 and the engines aren't available for training until October.

 

[Sunbird24]

Not a paperwork issue,just that 110 drivers need to be trained or have conversion courses on Class 68 and the engines aren't available for training until October.

Exactly, training courses, written examinations, traction records, training records, etc., far more paperwork nowadays than used to be the case.
As I recall the timetable is much the same as when first announced with training starting in October and hopefully full service before the end of the year. There should be no requirement for all 110 drivers to be trained/converted before they start in use.
I suspect the real reason for retaining the 67s a while longer may be that there is an as yet unannounced plan for some additional loco-hauled services, perhaps allied to a plan to obtain some more 68s from the second batch, which has only officially been confirmed as an order last week and construction is only now starting.

 

[Class 170101]

http://www.globalrailnews.com/2014/09/11/drs-orders-10-more-class-68-locomotives/

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has confirmed a firm order for 10 additional Class 68 locomotives from Spanish train builder Vossloh.

The new locomotives will take the DRS Class 68 fleet to 25 locomotives.

Announcing the order, DRS said that during testing the Class 68 had “exceeded expectations” and given the operator the confidence to expand its fleet.

The order also further builds on the operator’s relationship with Vossloh. In September 2013, DRS also committed to 10 dual-mode Class 88 locomotives from Vossloh.

DRS managing director Neil McNicholas said: “DRS continues to compete in a vibrant and dynamic rail freight market place. Key to this is the company’s ability to bring state of the art equipment to customers ensuring they enjoy the best performance, commercially, operationally and environmentally.

“The further introduction of the class 68 ensures DRS is at the forefront of customer delivery.”

 

[83G/84D]

Only 68002/5/6 & 13 available for use today, rest are stopped. Most but not all stopped are for tests.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Exactly, training courses, written examinations, traction records, training records, etc., far more paperwork nowadays than used to be the case.
As I recall the timetable is much the same as when first announced with training starting in October and hopefully full service before the end of the year. There should be no requirement for all 110 drivers to be trained/converted before they start in use.
I suspect the real reason for retaining the 67s a while longer may be that there is an as yet unannounced plan for some additional loco-hauled services, perhaps allied to a plan to obtain some more 68s from the second batch, which has only officially been confirmed as an order last week and construction is only now starting.

They'd have to get some more coaches from somewhere for that to be a thing, surely?

 

[sprinterguy]

They'd have to get some more coaches from somewhere for that to be a thing, surely?

DB own plenty of spare mark 3s.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Not in the kind of condition ready to be used for service. My point isn't that there are none available it's that if there was an unannounced plan it would have leaked by now due to necessary preparations having had to been taken.

 

[Sunbird24]

The blue/grey set appears to be idle for most of the time.
Chiltern were supposed to be leasing 170s from 2015 but the current franchise they are leased to has been extended to 2016. Maybe some agreement has been reached and they now need something else short-term. Plenty of Mk 2s still around.
We may have to wait for some hard news other than just rumours and speculation.

 

[sd0733]

There would also be a servicable set of Mk3s coming free in a few weeks once the Virgin set comes off lease. I'm sure Chiltern could find a use for that if they so wished.
Altough realistically any slam door sets going into use aren't going to be at all popular unless as a last resort due to the very slow dwell time.

 

[route:oxford]

Not in the kind of condition ready to be used for service. My point isn't that there are none available it's that if there was an unannounced plan it would have leaked by now due to necessary preparations having had to been taken.

How many of them could be brought into a condition that is ready for service whilst the additional 68s are being built?

 

[Boothby97]

How many of them could be brought into a condition that is ready for service whilst the additional 68s are being built?

For one of my photos earlier in this thread, these are the 'stored' Loco-hauled Mark 3s.
Kitchen Buffet Firsts
Arriva owned: 10202/215/222/226/233/235/237/242/250/257
Porterbrook Leasing owned: 10206/217/241/253

Open Firsts
DRS owned: 11006/011
Arriva owned: 11013/027/044/089 (at Crewe LNWR, being converted to TSOs for ATW), 11028/033/079/097.
Porterbrook Leasing owned: 11021/026/074

Open Standards
Porterbrook owned: 12008/022/029/036/045/083/092/095/101/142/144/156/160/163
DRS owned: 12047/063/065/087/134
Arriva owned: 12058/104/165

The trouble is, most of these are ex-Virgin Trains (so have been stored since the early 2000s) and are stored in the open at Long Marston.

 

[Voyager 2093]

Just seen Chiltern Railways Liveried 68013 going past Harrow & Wealdstone going on the Up Slow.

 

[Sunbird24]

Just seen Chiltern Railways Liveried 68013 going past Harrow & Wealdstone going on the Up Slow.

This one? From realtimetrains
STP pass Norwich C.Pt. T.&R.S.M.D 5 034T ZZ Wolverton Centre Sidings 1100½ 1101½
But wouldn't that be going Down? Nothing else showing.

 

[Boothby97]

This one? From realtimetrains
STP pass Norwich C.Pt. T.&R.S.M.D 5 034T ZZ Wolverton Centre Sidings 1100½ 1101½
But wouldn't that be going Down? Nothing else showing.

Yes, it collected a pair of GA Mk3s from Wolverton. That would be the down slow (northbound)

 

[Sunbird24]

Yes, it collected a pair of GA Mk3s from Wolverton. That would be the down slow (northbound)

Thanks for the clarification.
BTW, no sign of 68015 at Albuixech this week so it could have left.
No sign of any new builds yet either, other than tram units. Just 2 South African Euro 4000HP's, one has paper ID No 1, the other is probably 2, along with a Marathon Euro 4000 in the yard, again with a load of tram units. An IR JT42 767 is inside for repair or overhaul perhaps.

 

[D6975]

I wonder if DRS have offered to supply coaches as well as engines.

 

[Sunbird24]

In the announcement of the order for 10 additional Class 68 locomotives 9 days ago DRS quoted "The fleet of Class 68 locomotives will be introduced to UK services throughout 2014/15 and will lay the way for the even more innovative DRS Class 88 dual power locomotives that will offer both Electric and Diesel-Electric operating modes."
It is quite probable that work is only now starting on the second order and the class 88s will follow afterwards.
I would expect delivery to UK to start next year and run until summer with the first 88 appearing early to mid-year. That one may have to go to Velim for test before the remainder can be finished. We will have to wait and see.
Link to the full DRS announcement: http://www.directrailservices.com/news-articles/2014/09/11/drs-expands-class-68-fleet/

 

[Sunbird24]

There is another update here http://www.mainlinediesels.net/index.php?nav=1000155&lang=en#.VChrUfmSxvD
It is interesting to note that 68015, which is now in the UK, does not have a number on the yellow warning panel at the #2 end. 68007 was delivered with a number missing on one cabside and several of the Chiltern batch, which were rushed out during the summer break, had incomplete numbering.
Two other items of interest are that the engines for the second batch will be delivered to Vossloh before the end of the year, so will be compliant even though some of the locomotives will not be complete. Also the IIIB compliant caterpillar engine will fit in the existing frame/body, thus further orders will be a possibility. If they become a reality perhaps they will become 68/1 series, who knows.

 

[t_star2001uk]

Just noticed 68010 on Wembley LMD....

 

[dubscottie]

68010 now sports what looks like a AAR multiple working socket on its front end..


http://railwayherald.com/imagingcentre/view/353916/TW

 

[ac6000cw]

There is another update here http://www.mainlinediesels.net/index.php?nav=1000155&lang=en#.VChrUfmSxvD Also the IIIB compliant caterpillar engine will fit in the existing frame/body, thus further orders will be a possibility. If they become a reality perhaps they will become 68/1 series, who knows.

That's good to know, especially as (reading between the lines of the recent announcements from EMD/Progress Rail) we've probably reached the end of the line for EMD's 2-stroke diesel engine in the US due to Tier-4 emissions regulations. Maybe the next competitor for the GE Powerhaul locos (class 70) will be Cat-powered and built in Valencia ?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

That's good to know, especially as (reading between the lines of the recent announcements from EMD/Progress Rail) we've probably reached the end of the line for EMD's 2-stroke diesel engine in the US due to Tier-4 emissions regulations. Maybe the next competitor for the GE Powerhaul locos (class 70) will be Cat-powered and built in Valencia ?

Sorry! but.....

If they are Cat powered, does that mean the engines purr?

 

[ac6000cw]

Sorry! but.....

If they are Cat powered, does that mean the engines purr?

From the enthusiast point-of-view, thankfully not - they roar ! (like a big Cat should - we're talking lions, not kittens)