Colas Class 70s - deliveries now underway

[Katada]

What were they thinking with that livery. Damn.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Downfall: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163/

A bit more background info here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8617454.stm


MARK

Thank you.

I now await the forum's own version, presumably about HS1 ticket validity!

 

[Beveridges]

Give me a Grid any day but at least the Colas livery does look better on the Class 70s than the Freightliner one.

It must be said those 70s really can pull anything, a lot more than a 59 or even a 60.

 

[swt_passenger]

What were they thinking with that livery. Damn.

I expect they were thinking of using the Colas house colours, same as on all the other stuff they run. I guess having a corporate identity that might have looked ok on their first few pieces of on track plant overrides common sense.

 

[Will.C]

Are they still sat on the docks or have they moved and where to?

 

[83G/84D]

Are they still sat on the docks or have they moved and where to?

wnxx site states that they are still in the Docks awaiting some "paperwork issues" to be resolved. They do not appear to be moving anytime today according to TOPS.

 

[Beveridges]

Whats the big rush to see them, they are going to be in service for the next 40-50 years!

I'll get stick to getting the 37, 56s & 60s now - once they are gone they will be gone forever!

 

[Freightmaster]

Whats the big rush to see them, they are going to be in service for the next 40-50 years!

I'd love to know myself! hock:

But presumably its the same reason some people have always clamoured to
get the latest iphone/Harry Potter novel/Grand Theft Auto/etc. at one minute
past midnight on the day of release...?


MARK

 

[callum112233]

That's possibly the best 'Hitler Rant' I've seen in about 3 years!

Not better than this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMkGD5YzOg0&list=FLW-TJcqitPSbIh6pZuGmNAQ&index=2

 

[8A Rail]

I'd love to know myself! hock:
But presumably its the same reason some people have always clamoured to
get the latest iphone/Harry Potter novel/Grand Theft Auto/etc. at one minute
past midnight on the day of release...? MARK

Me too! I just don't get it either!

Anyway, the situation with the two 70's, they should be lifted onto rails on Monday 13th and assuming import / customs papers are cleared then movement south should take place afterwards, i.e. poss Tuesday or later. (no definite info as yet).

70804 will be loaded on to "Atlantic Conveyor" also on Monday 13th and eventually / estimated arrival at Liverpool Docks on Sat, 25th January.

All above info is posted in good faith and could change. My thanks to PP and SD.

 

[ainsworth74]

70804 will be loaded on to "Atlantic Conveyor" also on Monday 13th and eventually / estimated arrival at Liverpool Docks on Sat, 25th January.

One hopes that 70804 will not suffer a similar fate to much equipment that was loaded onto a previous Atlantic Conveyor!

 

[WestCountry]

What were they thinking with that livery. Damn.

It's a much better look than Freightliner's attempt - not just that straight lines are better than FL's stupid curves on such an angular loco, but they've clearly put some effort into making the angles right so that the livery 'fits':

- The top of the orange lines up with the top of the warning panel, and both fit neatly below the cab windows. Not making the cab look like a giant yellow box, or having a green line wibbling about and colliding with the light clusters, or having a thin element at the bottom that's cut off in places by the cab floor and lights.

- The straight border goes around the oddly-shaped cab/indent and onto the side quite tidily. Same really can't be said for FL's multiple curved ones, which cut across the steps and handrail and go out of alignment when seen from anywhere but directly to the side.

- The border is also kept off the larger grills and those protruding angled bits. Freightliner of course ended their squiggles in the middle of them. :roll:

All in all, the Colas livery appears to have been tweaked to align with the weird shape of the locos as much as possible, whereas our only other CL70 reference clashes with just about every feature of them.

 

[8A Rail]

Me too! I just don't get it either!
Anyway, the situation with the two 70's, they should be lifted onto rails on Monday 13th and assuming import / customs papers are cleared then movement south should take place afterwards, i.e. poss Tuesday or later. (no definite info as yet).
70804 will be loaded on to "Atlantic Conveyor" also on Monday 13th and eventually / estimated arrival at Liverpool Docks on Sat, 25th January.
All above info is posted in good faith and could change. My thanks to PP and SD.

Lift now due to take place Tues 14th but not going soon anywhere afterwards though, no reason given for the delay.

 

[Beveridges]

While I'm not looking forwards to these kicking the 56s off the logs, I have to say Colas have done a good job on that livery.

I know people say these are for new work, and the 56s will be retained, but there's no guarantees. If the new work does not take off as predicted theres no way they are going to leave these expensive leased locos on idle, which will mean using them on the logs.

 

[fgwrich]

While I'm not looking forwards to these kicking the 56s off the logs, I have to say Colas have done a good job on that livery.

I know people say these are for new work, and the 56s will be retained, but there's no guarantees. If the new work does not take off as predicted theres no way they are going to leave these expensive leased locos on idle, which will mean using them on the logs.

Don't forget that with the recent well published wrangling's and twists and turns of fate in DB land Colas along with GBRF and DRS have picked up a large chunk of Network Rail NDS Work though. Whilst it's not fully guaranteed that they will all retain these contracts it does look likely that most of them will be staying as they are now, even leading to Colas's purchase of several in pres class 37s and GBRFs noticeable motivepower shortage - now including the use of 57306 at the moment as well.

 

[8A Rail]

Lift now due to take place Tues 14th but not going soon anywhere afterwards though, no reason given for the delay.

70803 and 805 confrimed now on rails (or is it timber blocks?) and staying put. 70804 has not sailed on "Atlantic Conveyor" but likely to be loaded on to "Atlantic Compass" on Saturday 18th in Norfolk VA. With calls at New York and Hailfax NS, earliest arrival at Liverpool Docks is Tuesday 28th January. Thanks to PP. HTH.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

I know people say these are for new work, and the 56s will be retained, but there's no guarantees

While you're right that nothing is guaranteed, the fact that Colas have just acquired another 4 56s would suggest that they see a future for the class! Either that or they are going to set up a Class 56 Museum...

 

[dave4jackie]

70803 and 805 confrimed now on rails (or is it timber blocks?) and staying put. 70804 has not sailed on "Atlantic Conveyor" but likely to be loaded on to "Atlantic Compass" on Saturday 18th in Norfolk VA. With calls at New York and Hailfax NS, earliest arrival at Liverpool Docks is Tuesday 28th January. Thanks to PP. HTH.

staying put for how long??

 

[8A Rail]

staying put for how long??

That is $64000 dollar question! My hunch would suggest after the arrival of 70804. I dont think think anyone really knows at the moment.

 

[Wavertreelad]

That is $64000 dollar question! My hunch would suggest after the arrival of 70804. I dont think think anyone really knows at the moment.

One thing for certain is there is nothing to stop then being entered for customs clearance with HMRC, assuming Colas is the importer as their VAT number has been registered for the purpose, ie their EORI number is shown as valid, so it has to be something else. It could be the payment of EU customs duty 1.70% and VAT (20%) of the value of the goods landed at Liverpool. This has to be paid prior to release by customs which might be delayed due to transfer of ownership issues, especially if the banks are involved or there are contractual issues with either the delivery or the locomotives themselves, ie perhaps an inspection has revealed a fault? Other alternatives could be commercial, perhaps the owners (which may not be Colas at this time) do not have to deliver the locomotives till later in the month, so it is cheaper to hold the locos at Seaforth which is very secure, rather than elsewhere.

 

[8A Rail]

One thing for certain is there is nothing to stop then being entered for customs clearance with HMRC, assuming Colas is the importer as their VAT number has been registered for the purpose, ie their EORI number is shown as valid, so it has to be something else. It could be the payment of EU customs duty 1.70% and VAT (20%) of the value of the goods landed at Liverpool. This has to be paid prior to release by customs which might be delayed due to transfer of ownership issues, especially if the banks are involved or there are contractual issues with either the delivery or the locomotives themselves, ie perhaps an inspection has revealed a fault? Other alternatives could be commercial, perhaps the owners (which may not be Colas at this time) do not have to deliver the locomotives till later in the month, so it is cheaper to hold the locos at Seaforth which is very secure, rather than elsewhere.

The bottom line could be just a pure logicical reason, cheaper and more economical to collect 3 loco's all at once rather then two seperate trips - it makes more sense and what is stated above is of no consequence to enthusiasts such as ourselves. I will just stick to facts rather than any thoughts or speculation. Sorry.

Latest update on 70804. Now on board "Atlantic Compass" and arrival at New York tomorrow morning, Halifax NS two day later and expected at Liverpool Docks, Wed 29th subject to weather and tides. My thanks to PP.

 

[Michael.Y]

While I'm not looking forwards to these kicking the 56s off the logs, I have to say Colas have done a good job on that livery.

According to one Colas driver I know, they're keeping the 56s and also getting a couple of 37s to complement their new 70.

 

[Boothby97]

According to one Colas driver I know, they're keeping the 56s and also getting a couple of 37s to complement their new 70.

They're reported to be getting 4 Class 37s eventually. 37421 (which is now at Rugby), 37219 (which is now at Washwood Heath) and 37175 (which is still at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway). Also reported, but not yet confirmed, is that 37116 (which is at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway) has also been sold to Colas.

 

[Wavertreelad]

The bottom line could be just a pure logicical reason, cheaper and more economical to collect 3 loco's all at once rather then two seperate trips - it makes more sense and what is stated above is of no consequence to enthusiasts such as ourselves. I will just stick to facts rather than any thoughts or speculation. Sorry.

Latest update on 70804. Now on board "Atlantic Compass" and arrival at New York tomorrow morning, Halifax NS two day later and expected at Liverpool Docks, Wed 29th subject to weather and tides. My thanks to PP.

No problem, perfectly logical explanation hinted at in my commercial reasons for the apparent delay.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The devil in me suggests Colas just saw how quickly DRSs 68002 has arrived and have changed their mind about 70s :roll:. I was not serious but then it occurred to me that its happened before re 70s .

 

[8A Rail]

Just for interest, 70802 is still in Pennsylvania snow bound awaiting travel to Halifax, NS. No news on possible movement for the other three at Liverpool Docks - may be wait now until arrival of 802 when ever that may be. Thanks to PP.

 

[Photohunter71]

Will Freightliner ever take on the option at a later date to get their full quota of 30 or are they looking at other options perhaps a UK Voith Maxima?

 

[Beveridges]

Enthusasts must be in control at Colas with all this real traction on its way (37s and 56s!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Is there any reason FL did not take on their full quota of 70s?

 

[Michael.Y]

Enthusasts must be in control at Colas with all this real traction on its way (37s and 56s!)

They've already got the 56s, much to the Marches' chagrin.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

They've already got the 56s, much to the Marches' chagrin.

Please explain! Or have I missed a joke?!