DB HTE Class 66s

[Rail Quest]

This has been discussed on the DB Class 60 withdrawal thread recently but DB have confirmed they are converting several of their Class 66 locos to have a higher tractive effort, allowing them to fully replace the Class 60s. With the tugs already seemingly withdrawn, DB have confirmed via a post on Facebook that the conversion work has started:

5.3K views · 149 reactions | Our colleagues at Toton have started work regearing ten Class 66 locomotives to give them a higher tractive effort. This will ensure they can pull some... | By DB Cargo UK | Facebook

Our colleagues at Toton have started work regearing ten Class 66 locomotives to give them a higher tractive effort. This will ensure they can pull some...

www.facebook.com

[link redirects to Facebook post by DB Cargo UK that refers to the work on regearing class 66s has begun in Toton]

I thought I'd create a new thread for this to track the locomotives being regeared and entered into service, as well as hopefully getting some technical info about the new tractive effort of these locomotives (IE if the locos are literally just gonna be same spec as Freightliner Class 66/6s which looks likely given the new numbers and 66/6 being written on the side of traction equipment in the DB Cargo UK video linked above).

The locomotives to be converted are (according to a previous post in the DB Class 60 withdrawal fleet):

149/156/161/167/171/174/181/183/194 & 221 which are to be re-numbered 66651 to 66660

This table hopefully can be used to track the conversions though of course loco numbers can be swapped out if locos earmarked for the conversion are changed.

Locomotive	Converted from	Status
66651	66221	Converted, In service
66652	66164	Converted, In service
66653	66194	Converted, In service
66654	66149	Converted, In service
66655	66167	Converted, In service
66656	66156	Converted, In service
66657	66183	Converted, In service
66658	66147	Converted, In service
66659	66171	Converted, In service
66660	66161	Converted, In service
66661
66662
66663
66664
66665

 

[Western 52]

Do we know which services these will be for yet? I'm guessing Peak District stone and the Robeston oils?

 

[Tony2]

Very useful thread for keeping track of these conversions, thanks for starting this.

 

[Rail Quest]

Do we know which services these will be for yet? I'm guessing Peak District stone and the Robeston oils?

A couple seem to be highly likely such as the Tunstead to Lostock Works aggregates moves which were exclusively ran by tugs whilst they were in service and are currently running with reduced capacity thanks to the current traction.

Robeston flows was another one that was mentioned in the 60 withdrawal thread. Aside from this - perhaps Scunthorpe Iron Ore flows may see some HTE sheds as I remember hearing those flows were more successful running with tugs

 

[D6975]

Are the Kingsbury oils still DBS? If they are then they're a good bet.

 

[Spaceship323]

Are the Kingsbury oils still DBS? If they are then they're a good bet.

It's been a Colas class 70 recently

 

[Pkh72]

It's been a Colas class 70 recently

Only the tanks from Lindsey have been Colas, the Humber is still DB and been a single 66, occasionally a pair.

 

[wickham]

Well, it is good that DB are to recognise their re-geared locos as Class 66/6, as Freightliner always have. But regretfully, GBRf do not so recognise theirs - as far as I know, I beleive that 66793/4/5/6 are really 66/6s, but is seems quite likely that some or all of the 77s recently imported (to be numbered in the 66306-14 range) might also be so geared too.

 

[Rail Quest]

I beleive that 66793/4/5/6 are really 66/6s

I've heard something similar but one step further that those locos are actually restricted to 60mph rather than 65mph but I haven't verified it and only first heard of that a short while back.

And yes thats what I've heard about those 77s as well - lets hope so! Would add another slightly more interesting sub-variant of sheds to the GBRf fleet

 

[wickham]

The point is, of course, that the numbering of the GBRf locomotives does not tell us that there is a difference - surely the numbering should so tell. How do the opperating staff know there is a difference - it will be on the data panel, the max speed will be displayed in the cab and it will be shown on TOPS, but if you don't have immediate access to any of these sources, you just won't know.

 

[43096]

The point is, of course, that the numbering of the GBRf locomotives does not tell us that there is a difference - surely the numbering should so tell. How do the opperating staff know there is a difference - it will be on the data panel, the max speed will be displayed in the cab and it will be shown on TOPS, but if you don't have immediate access to any of these sources, you just won't know.

They have a separate pool code (GBHH) that identifies them.

 

[ExRes]

The point is, of course, that the numbering of the GBRf locomotives does not tell us that there is a difference - surely the numbering should so tell. How do the opperating staff know there is a difference - it will be on the data panel, the max speed will be displayed in the cab and it will be shown on TOPS, but if you don't have immediate access to any of these sources, you just won't know.

Which operating staff need to know though? The loco will be rostered to a job by a computer that is aware of the schedules parameters, it won't roster a 60mph loco to a 75mph job if the higher speed is required for that particular job, in some ways it's like the old days with extended range 47s and more recently extended range 60s, it's all down to rostering

 

[43096]

Which operating staff need to know though? The loco will be rostered to a job by a computer that is aware of the schedules parameters, it won't roster a 60mph loco to a 75mph job if the higher speed is required for that particular job, in some ways it's like the old days with extended range 47s and more recently extended range 60s, it's all down to rostering

Or going further back, say Class 37s... One number series in which you had various combination of vacuum only/dual brake and steam heat/no heat.

 

[wickham]

I think Signallers and Controllers need to know the max speed of a train for regulation purposes. The number 66601 tells you that straight away - it is clearly different from 66501. The Poole code does indeed tell you this, but if you don't have immediate access to TOPS this is of little help. Just my opinion as a former signalman !

 

[silexa]

Are the Kingsbury oils still DBS? If they are then they're a good bet.

Still DBS - however they seem to be doubling up quite often and when not doubled up always seem to run on the slower lines.

Lindsey - Kingsbury is operated by Colas Class 70

 

[43096]

Still DBS - however they seem to be doubling up quite often and when not doubled up always seem to run on the slower lines.

Lindsey - Kingsbury is operated by Colas Class 70

Except that DBS (presumably DB Schenker) has been DB Cargo for quite some time now. DB Schenker is a separate business.

 

[silexa]

Except that DBS (presumably DB Schenker) has been DB Cargo for quite some time now. DB Schenker is a separate business.

Apologies, mistyped!

 

[D6975]

66221 has been reported elsewhere as becoming 66651.

 

[Rail Quest]

66221 has been reported elsewhere as becoming 66651.

Many thanks! I'm assuming that means 221/651 is currently in the shed at Toton undergoing works?

 

[D6975]

Many thanks! I'm assuming that means 221/651 is currently in the shed at Toton undergoing works?

It is reported as fully repainted, so it may be completed mechanically too.

 

[Rail Quest]

I've just noticed that 66174, one of the locos earmarked for HTE work, was transported from Toton to Crewe TMD looking incredibly fresh with DB red livery, seemingly just repainted as I can only find pictures online of her in EWS colours. However, she's not been renumbered, and so I'm assuming not retractioned.

Are DB essentially repainting these locos and perhaps even returning them to service before taking them back out of service again to be tractioned?

Here's the video of her (timestamp 1:03 in the video):

 

[45076]

I've just noticed that 66174, one of the locos earmarked for HTE work, was transported from Toton to Crewe TMD looking incredibly fresh with DB red livery, seemingly just repainted as I can only find pictures online of her in EWS colours. However, she's not been renumbered, and so I'm assuming not retractioned.

Are DB essentially repainting these locos and perhaps even returning them to service before taking them back out of service again to be tractioned?

Here's the video of her (timestamp 1:03 in the video):

This loco has been reported as being pulled form the project both on here and on WNXX, 66164 has been reported as taking its place

 

[Rail Quest]

This loco has been reported as being pulled form the project both on here and on WNXX, 66164 has been reported as taking its place

Ahh cool thanks. D'you which thread that was reported on here? I can't see that mentioned on this thread. I'll remove 174 from the table and add 164. Wonder why it was swapped

 

[45076]

This was on WNXX on Friday 15th:"67029 hauling 66174 & 67005 through Hatton 14/03/24 as 0K54 from Toton TMD to Crewe EMD - newly repainted 66174 recently being swapped out of the DBC Class 66 re-gearing program

 

[SteveB000]

Hi,

The tractive effort for a Class 66/6 limited to 65mph is as follows:

 

[Rail Quest]

Photo of 66651 (ex 66221 according to previous posts) in DB Red at Toton taken five days ago: https://www.flickr.com/photos/37260/53644955254/in/feed-52162976-1712753238-1-72157721714609510

That's the first photo I've seen of a converted loco. Nothing special as expected, really - same DB Red livery, new BMACs as seen on most DB sheds nowadays. Will be cool to see this in action though!

 

[Rail Quest]

66651 now on the Arpley-Tunstead-Northwich flows as of today: https://www.flickr.com/photos/32865.../feed-32845230-1713605884-1-72157721715923334

Its unclear from the photo whether this move is now running back at full capacity (24 wagons is full isn't it?)

Had not realised someone spotted this loco on the Boston steel flows but was posted to a separate thread that's now closed: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/db-hte-class-66s.266247/

@alfw - do you wanna post your photo in this thread for the sake of completeness?

Seen her, myself now - here she is passing Lostock Gralam. 22 wagons in tow I believe. I wonder if they're holding off on giving her the full 24 for now

The second converted loco spotted - 66652 (ex 66164 according to a comment on the photo): https://www.flickr.com/photos/37260/53666803708/in/feed-52162976-1713633473-1-72157721715969754

 

[Rail Quest]

It appears DB have been assigning 66651 to anything that might benefit the extra power. I've just been informed she's working the Knowsley bins today, a flow that very rarely saw 60 haulage, if at all.

 

[jus363]

It appears DB have been assigning 66651 to anything that might benefit the extra power. I've just been informed she's working the Knowsley bins today, a flow that very rarely saw 60 haulage, if at all.

It's been on the bins for a few weeks now.

 

[Rail Quest]

Next one now out and about - 66652 spotted on Wolvs/Boston Steel. I can trace it as far back as yesterday where it seemed to leave Toton for the first time: https://www.flickr.com/photos/37260/53729417698/in/feed-52162976-1716035136-1-72157721719607744