Class 68 Progress, what's the latest?

Peter Sarf · 28 May 2016

gimmea50anyday said:
Wonder how long it will take before one emerges in TPE colours.

Given the choice of names seems to reflect warship (and class 50) names wonder if we will see one of the future deliveries named Ark Royal.....

Er you mean class 42 and class 43 (D800s if you need to know)

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Sunbird24 · 28 May 2016

Peter Sarf said:
Er you mean class 42 and class 43 (D800s if you need to know)

...and D600s, I remember them at Bristol brand new when all else was steam except the odd railcar!
Pity Chiltern have not thought of naming theirs yet, nor adding a logo. I think they look a bit drab in plain 2-tone grey.
PS no more reports from the factory due to serious cardiac illness on my part but on the mend and hoping to get back there next month sometime.

gimmea50anyday · 28 May 2016

Peter Sarf said:
Er you mean class 42 and class 43 (D800s if you need to know)

Not old enough to have experienced the hydraulic era, class 43 to me will always have valenta engines.....

but true the western region always favoured warship themed loco makings, probably as a result of the Plymouth connection

childwallblues · 28 May 2016

gimmea50anyday said:
That is actually a brilliant idea! Love it!!! Will put it to the brass bods. Naturally will pass on the credit..

There's just one tiny flaw, Jean-Luc Picard is French! So in order to maintain the Huddersfield connection the name would have to be the far more english sounding Patrick Stewart!

Newcastle could be john Dobson, or (Geoffrey) Grainger (bobby Robson having already been pinched by VTEC) Liverpool one of the fab 4 would be too obvious, but husskison links in the heritage and the route well,

William Huskisson is already on 156441. Ark Royal would however be suitable as one was built at Birkenhead.

Harbornite · 28 May 2016

Sunbird24 said:
Pity Chiltern have not thought of naming theirs yet, nor adding a logo. I think they look a bit drab in plain 2-tone grey.

I saw a pic online of one of the Chiltern 68's at Kidderminster (68012 I think) and it has had smallish "Chiltern Railways branding applied. It's rather basic, it's just those words in blue without any other branding.

I also add my wishes for your recovery.

coppercapped · 28 May 2016

Sunbird24 said:
...and D600s, I remember them at Bristol brand new when all else was steam except the odd railcar!
Pity Chiltern have not thought of naming theirs yet, nor adding a logo. I think they look a bit drab in plain 2-tone grey.
PS no more reports from the factory due to serious cardiac illness on my part but on the mend and hoping to get back there next month sometime.

I wish you a full and speedy recovery. Thanks for the informative posts from Sunny Spain!

PS: Re the 600's...I remember them too, and the futuristic looking ex-GWR diesel railcars at Reading on the Newbury run.

CosherB · 28 May 2016

Sunbird24 said:
PS no more reports from the factory due to serious cardiac illness on my part but on the mend and hoping to get back there next month sometime.

I, and I'm sure many others on here, wish you all the best for a swift recovery. Get well soon!

59CosG95 · 28 May 2016

CosherB said:
I, and I'm sure many others on here, wish you all the best for a swift recovery. Get well soon!

PHILIPE · 28 May 2016

59CosG95 said:
Or should that be a "Rapid" one?

All seriousness though, sunbird24, get well soon.

Hoping for good and speedy recovery for you

t_star2001uk · 28 May 2016

Harbornite said:
I saw a pic online of one of the Chiltern 68's at Kidderminster (68012 I think) and it has had smallish "Chiltern Railways branding applied. It's rather basic, it's just those words in blue without any other branding.

I also add my wishes for your recovery.

The loco in question is 68015. This had Chiltern branding applied for its visit to the Severn Valley gala.

themiller · 28 May 2016

Speedy recovery Sunbird, I look forward to your news.

ac6000cw · 29 May 2016

Sunbird24 said:
PS no more reports from the factory due to serious cardiac illness on my part but on the mend and hoping to get back there next month sometime.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery - thanks for all the reports from the factory, looking forward to the next one

saracen43 · 12 Jun 2016

With more 68,s is the plan to create more loco hauled Chiltern services in the near future, and is the 14.22 Leam to M,bone service booked as a 68 or is it a unit.

Aws87024 · 12 Jun 2016

saracen43 said:
and is the 14.22 Leam to M,bone service booked as a 68 or is it a unit.

On a Saturday its loco hauled, the rest of the time its worked by a unit.

Sunbird24 · 12 Jun 2016

saracen43 said:
With more 68,s is the plan to create more loco hauled Chiltern services in the near future, and is the 14.22 Leam to M,bone service booked as a 68 or is it a unit.

The 68s are going to TPE along with new stock currently being built by CAF.
From this months Railway Magazine:
STOP PRESS
CAF has confirmed it is to build 65 new carriages for TransPennine Express, which will be hauled by DRS Class 68 locos between Liverpool and Newcastle from 2018.
More on this next month.
https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/news/2016/05/more-new-trains-for-the-north-and-scotland/
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/HS2/tpe-completes-new-fleet-procurement-with-25-caf-trains
With 13 5-car loco-hauled sets, each with a driving trailer, no doubt 13 locomotives will be required. These will be class 68 initially but with the prospect of electrification of the route and upgrading to 125mph the class 88s could find work here also.
What is the timeline for electrification of Newcastle - Liverpool? Found it, by 2022. So 68s for four years then 88s would be my guess.

saracen43 · 12 Jun 2016

Aws87024 said:
On a Saturday its loco hauled, the rest of the time its worked by a unit.

Thanks for that, Might make a leap for it on saturday to London.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sunbird24 said:
The 68s are going to TPE along with new stock currently being built by CAF.
From this months Railway Magazine:
STOP PRESS
CAF has confirmed it is to build 65 new carriages for TransPennine Express, which will be hauled by DRS Class 68 locos between Liverpool and Newcastle from 2018.
More on this next month.
https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/news/2016/05/more-new-trains-for-the-north-and-scotland/
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/HS2/tpe-completes-new-fleet-procurement-with-25-caf-trains
With 13 5-car loco-hauled sets, each with a driving trailer, no doubt 13 locomotives will be required. These will be class 68 initially but with the prospect of electrification of the route and upgrading to 125mph the class 88s could find work here also.
What is the timeline for electrification of Newcastle - Liverpool? Found it, by 2022. So 68s for four years then 88s would be my guess.

Thanks for the gen, been out of the loop for a while. Good hear to that there will be some more loco hauled services in the future.

Class 33 · 13 Jun 2016

I had a journey onboard a Class 68 back in September. I did a Bristol-London-Birmingham-Bristol trip especially just to get a ride on a Class 68 from London-Birmingham. Loved the journey, very nice trains with a lovely engine sound, and comfortable seating too.

So far my only journey onboard one though. Will have to book another journey before too long. A shame I have to go out of my way to get a ride on them though. Wish they had these running through my region(Bristol). They'd be perfect and much better for use on Arriva Cross Country services instead of those silly Voyagers! But fat chance of that actually becoming a reality I expect! If I want to travel between Bristol and the North East or Scotland instead of travelling direct(no change of train) on a Voyager with Arriva Cross Country, I instead travel via London with GWR and Virgin Trains East Coast instead on far more comfortable trains! But if Class 68's were operating between Bristol and the North East/Scotland, I'd be happy to travel direct. But as I said, fat chance of that ever happening!

dubscottie · 14 Jun 2016

I hope the LHCS is better than what they built for IE.. Most of which is now dumped in Inchichore Works.

Harbornite · 14 Jun 2016

Class 33 said:
I had a journey onboard a Class 68 back in September. I did a Bristol-London-Birmingham-Bristol trip especially just to get a ride on a Class 68 from London-Birmingham. Loved the journey, very nice trains with a lovely engine sound, and comfortable seating too.

So far my only journey onboard one though. Will have to book another journey before too long. A shame I have to go out of my way to get a ride on them though. Wish they had these running through my region(Bristol). They'd be perfect and much better for use on Arriva Cross Country services instead of those silly Voyagers! But fat chance of that actually becoming a reality I expect! If I want to travel between Bristol and the North East or Scotland instead of travelling direct(no change of train) on a Voyager with Arriva Cross Country, I instead travel via London with GWR and Virgin Trains East Coast instead on far more comfortable trains! But if Class 68's were operating between Bristol and the North East/Scotland, I'd be happy to travel direct. But as I said, fat chance of that ever happening!

That would be good, then I'd see them passing through my local station on a regular basis. They'd look fetching in XC livery!

saracen43 · 14 Jun 2016

Class 33 said:
I had a journey onboard a Class 68 back in September. I did a Bristol-London-Birmingham-Bristol trip especially just to get a ride on a Class 68 from London-Birmingham. Loved the journey, very nice trains with a lovely engine sound, and comfortable seating too.

So far my only journey onboard one though. Will have to book another journey before too long. A shame I have to go out of my way to get a ride on them though. Wish they had these running through my region(Bristol). They'd be perfect and much better for use on Arriva Cross Country services instead of those silly Voyagers! But fat chance of that actually becoming a reality I expect! If I want to travel between Bristol and the North East or Scotland instead of travelling direct(no change of train) on a Voyager with Arriva Cross Country, I instead travel via London with GWR and Virgin Trains East Coast instead on far more comfortable trains! But if Class 68's were operating between Bristol and the North East/Scotland, I'd be happy to travel direct. But as I said, fat chance of that ever happening!

I definately agree with you about the more comfortable seating and better leg room which is nice seeing that i am over six feet tall, i hate being crammed in to those awful Voyagers. Whats happened to the Bristol to south west loco hauled services which were originally class 31,s.

Peter Mugridge · 14 Jun 2016

There has been a tweet this morning from someone who should know saying that the 37s on the Anglia short set are to be replaced by 68s.

37038 · 14 Jun 2016

2nd set tnt 68s, not replacement. Will work the following SX from w/c 27/06

2P06 06.52 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 07.24
2P07 07.32 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 08.04
2P10 08.09 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 08.40
2P11 08.45 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 09.16
2J70 10.05 Norwich to Lowestoft 10.49
2J73 10.57 Lowestoft to Norwich 11.32
2P26 15.36 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 16.08
2P27 16.17 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 16.49
2P30 17.06 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 17.40
2C31 17.47 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 18.22
2P38 19.33 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 20.05
2P39 20.17 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 20.49
2J92 21.05 Norwich to Lowestoft 21.49
5S36 22.00 Lowestoft to Norwich 22.39

AJM580 · 14 Jun 2016

Chatting to a mate about this, and he raised some questions re the Anglia turns. Hoping someone knows. Will they be DRS drivers, and will the 68s be fitted with DRA and put on the Anglia safety case as were the 37s?.

Peter Sarf · 23 Jun 2016

Currently 68023 is heading North from Euston to Bangor with stock, apparently, carrying people for the Three Peaks Challenge.

It might be coming off at Crewe but if not then here are the RTT paths i can figure for the rest of the trip back to Euston and back to depot/sidings.

Euston Thursday 15:50 23/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54545/2016/06/23/advanced

Bangor Thursday 20:46 23/06/2016 - Friday 04:37 24/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54545/2016/06/24/advanced

Ravenglass Friday 09:00-09:10 24/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54548/2016/06/24/advanced

Barrow (ECS) Friday 10:46 - 18:44 24/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54550/2016/06/24/advanced
via Ravenglass pick up 19:26-19:36 Friday 24/06/2016

Fort William Saturday 04:01 - 12:30 25/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54553/2016/06/25/advanced

Euston Sunday 00:22 - 14:08 26/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53788/2016/06/26/advanced

Burton (ECS) Sunday 18:01 - 18:40 26/06/2016

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53787/2016/06/26/advanced

Crewe Gresty (Light Engine) Sunday 20:50 26/06/2016

If it does not come off at Crewe on the way North then I figure there is scope at Carlisle both ways or Crewe when coming South.

childwallblues · 24 Jun 2016

68005 and 68023 have been operating 4S43 Tesco liner and its return from Daventry to Mossend this week.

Peter Sarf · 24 Jun 2016

Incorrect

childwallblues said:
68005 and 68023 have been operating 4S43 Tesco liner and its return from Daventry to Mossend this week.

The pair working Daventry/Mossend all week are 68005 & 68021.

Just to confirm 68023 seems to have come off the three peaks train at Crewe.

The 68s do seem to be getting out and about more towards the South East corner of the UK at last. Its going to be a couple of years (2018 iirc) before sixteen 68s are used on TPE.

childwallblues · 25 Jun 2016

childwallblues said:
68005 and 68023 have been operating 4S43 Tesco liner and its return from Daventry to Mossend this week.

Apologies to all and thanks to Peter Sarf it was 21 not 23. I was on Wigan NW when they went north.

Peter Sarf · 29 Jun 2016

HLE · 30 Jun 2016

37038 said:
2nd set tnt 68s, not replacement. Will work the following SX from w/c 27/06

2P06 06.52 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 07.24
2P07 07.32 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 08.04
2P10 08.09 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 08.40
2P11 08.45 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 09.16
2J70 10.05 Norwich to Lowestoft 10.49
2J73 10.57 Lowestoft to Norwich 11.32
2P26 15.36 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 16.08
2P27 16.17 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 16.49
2P30 17.06 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 17.40
2C31 17.47 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 18.22
2P38 19.33 Norwich to Great Yarmouth 20.05
2P39 20.17 Great Yarmouth to Norwich 20.49
2J92 21.05 Norwich to Lowestoft 21.49
5S36 22.00 Lowestoft to Norwich 22.39

Has this now started ?

Peter Mugridge · 30 Jun 2016

Starts on July 11th.

68 016
68 017
68 023

allocated.

Class 68 Progress, what's the latest?

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