I should be passing there tomorrow morning some time, lets hope there's something visible. Not sure if that information came from Vossloh or from NEC but more likely the latter.
Initial use is expected to be on 'internal' Scottish workings to
Unfortunately, 68008 probably was a misread. I've updated the news item now it has been confirmed that it wasn't 68008, because 008 hasn't been painted yet.
Not sure why there is still so much speculation. DRS announced at the December launch of 68002 that the intention was to replace the class 47s as they were becoming unreliable and expensive to maintain. No mention was made regarding the 20s, 37s and 57s.
I can also confirm that it is not 68006 as that is in DRS livery.
I can add to that that 68007 will be or is blue as well. Chiltern livery is indeed foreseen for 68010-015.
As far as I know it has been at the factory for at least a year now: https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/angel4000/8654769840/
It's a possibility but I would not bet on it. Usually they spend 2-4 weeks on testing and finishing after coming out of the paint shop. It looks like 6, 7 and 8 will be the next batch, although it is possible that 9 and maybe 1 could be with them. Don't forget the Israeli order for Euro 3200 is ongoing for the last 4 locos and South African Euro 4000 are in production now, along with a lot of Tram units. Total output by unit is 150/year so about 75-80 locos per year. Also the works is closed for the whole of August so what is not finished by then gets delayed by a month. I believe Chiltern stated they should get their final locos in Autumn so they could have drivers trained and all locos in use before the end of the year. This may indicate the last batch will be delivered September/October rather than July but I could be wrong. Vossloh are still indicating the last 3200s will be delivered by July and the first South African 4000s by end of June. Again, it is possible that the last of the 25 68s may not be delivered until early next year. The time between receipt of order to delivery of the first loco is stated to be around 7 months which would make the first delivery in December if they started straight away. Everything has to be fabricated from scratch so realistically we are looking at March/April next year at the earliest unless they use parts already fabricated for the 88s which would then delay that program. Time will tell.
The recent Modern Railways suggested that the 68s will come in batches of 3 or 4 and the next batch is likely to include 68001. How long until 001, 006, 007 and 008 (the probable next batch, based on that information) arrive I wonder?
My guess is late May/early June. 68006 came out of the paint shop end of last week and 68007 early this week. I think 68008 went in this week, or it may have been 68009, we don't know yet. 68001 still needs a lot of work even if it is mechanically OK, it picked up a lot of dirt and probably oil and soot during its testing and will need a thorough clean and possibly some rubbing down in the preparation shop before it can go for painting. The others will probably need the 2-3 weeks of testing which usually happens both before and after painting. Nothing much happened in the last couple of weeks due to all the holidays, Easter, St. Vicent, May Day, Puente Day!
