GB Railfreight in 'locomotive acquisition' talks

[Kneedown]

Deleted due to double post.

 

[433N]

Have the Colas 56s been re-engined ?

Because as I see it, GBRF acquiring the Colas 60s will probably mean that the Colas 56s get more of an outing - so there will be more 'originals' getting outings as well as these new GBRF chimera 56s roaming the tracks. A win-win for enthusiasts, I would have thought.

 

[ScottDarg]

60021, 026, 056 & 096 transferred to GBRf today. They worked 0Z60 from Toton to Doncaster: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O30430/2018/08/17/advanced

 

[RingingEars66]

Have the Colas 56s been re-engined ?

Because as I see it, GBRF acquiring the Colas 60s will probably mean that the Colas 56s get more of an outing - so there will be more 'originals' getting outings as well as these new GBRF chimera 56s roaming the tracks. A win-win for enthusiasts, I would have thought.

As I understand it, everything above the bogies is being ripped out and replaced by GM or Caterpillar parts, not sure which. They went to Longport, so I'm guessing GM (EMD). It's been said that they'll be Eurospec 66's in a 56 shell.

 

[ac6000cw]

As I understand it, everything above the bogies is being ripped out and replaced by GM or Caterpillar parts, not sure which. They went to Longport, so I'm guessing GM (EMD). It's been said that they'll be Eurospec 66's in a 56 shell.

For the record, GM sold EMD in 2005 to a group of investors, then in 2010 EMD was bought by Caterpillar via its Progress Rail subsidiary.

EMD only exists as a Caterpillar/Progress Rail brand name now - from 1st Sept 2016 what was 'Electro-Motive Diesel Inc' became 'Progress Rail Locomotive Inc'.

So EMD = Progress Rail = Caterpillar...

 

[DarloRich]

Did i see pictures of a foreign class 66 heading off to Llongport? Is that for UK use?

 

[Darandio]

Did i see pictures of a foreign class 66 heading off to Llongport? Is that for UK use?

Apparently just over here for repairs that cannot be done abroad, in TOPS as 66999.

 

[DarloRich]

Apparently just over here for repairs that cannot be done abroad, in TOPS as 66999.

fair enough - The shipping costs must be pretty steep! - Out of interest can Euro 66's work in the UK? The pictures of the loco don't look vastly different form the UK versions - no cab top air con units for instance.

 

[GB]

fair enough - The shipping costs must be pretty steep! - Out of interest can Euro 66's work in the UK? The pictures of the loco don't look vastly different form the UK versions - no cab top air con units for instance.

Would need safety systems installation/modification but I don't see why not....effectively what the 3 dutch 66s have done (with a few other mods).

 

[DarloRich]

Would need safety systems installation/modification but I don't see why not....effectively what the 3 dutch 66s have done (with a few other mods).

Cheers - make a cash offer while it is here

 

[Mag_seven]

Did i see pictures of a foreign class 66 heading off to Llongport? Is that for UK use?

this was that working:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R41213/2018/08/20/advanced

 

[BRX]

It was taken by ship then? You'd think bringing it through the tunnel would be easier.

 

[Spartacus]

Came into Hull docks last week. For me it seem a bit of a coincidence where it’s going and when, suspect there may be at least a little snoop at what they can do.

 

[Mag_seven]

It was taken by ship then? You'd think bringing it through the tunnel would be easier.

I get the impression there is far more "paperwork" required to get something through the tunnel than there is by bringing it in by boat!

 

[gsnedders]

fair enough - The shipping costs must be pretty steep! - Out of interest can Euro 66's work in the UK? The pictures of the loco don't look vastly different form the UK versions - no cab top air con units for instance.

IIRC, most of the extra stuff on top of some (most?) of the non-UK ones can be taken off relatively easily. Might not run with all of it taken off, but easy enough to make it possible to move around the UK by rail.

 

[CosherB]

Apparently, there are some Egyptian 66s going spare ......

 

[DarloRich]

It was taken by ship then? You'd think bringing it through the tunnel would be easier.

Nope! Easier by ship. Much easier.

 

[richieb1971]

And why is that easier? Couldn't you just put it on the back of another train? The water train from Europe goes through the tunnel everyday often hauled by a 66 from Dollands More. On the way to work last Friday I saw a GWR coach in green going south on the M1. Seems our railways are only for trains with special passes.

 

[BRX]

It does seem to be a beaurocracy thing with the tunnel.

 

[Mag_seven]

It does seem to be a beaurocracy thing with the tunnel.

It could be due to the fire risk given the number of fires in the tunnel over the years.

 

[richieb1971]

Do we know any ETA for the first loco to be sporting new colours and engine?

 

[BRX]

It could be due to the fire risk given the number of fires in the tunnel over the years.

Seeing as hundreds/thousands of petrol and diesel road vehicles are hauled through there every day is there some reason a locomotive would pose a particularly higher risk?

 

[Mag_seven]

Seeing as hundreds/thousands of petrol and diesel road vehicles are hauled through there every day is there some reason a locomotive would pose a particularly higher risk?

Aren't they in covered "le shuttle" vehicles though?

 

[BRX]

Aren't they in covered "le shuttle" vehicles though?

Yes I think so. Does that make a big difference though?

 

[gsnedders]

Aren't they in covered "le shuttle" vehicles though?

The truck carriers are basically open.

Yes I think so. Does that make a big difference though?

The enclosed car carriers have fire suppression systems in them; I don't know how that compares with the 66.

 

[jopsuk]

The newer Shuttle freight wagons are fully open, basically flat beds with low guard rails

 

[furnessvale]

The newer Shuttle freight wagons are fully open, basically flat beds with low guard rails

That had to be done to enable the shuttles to carry 44 tonnes gvw HGVs without exceeding rail axleload limits. (They had to save all extraneous weight on the rail wagons.)

Of course the shuttles are not as safe as they used to be but it would appear safety CAN be compromised to ensure more efficient use of HGVs.

 

[RingingEars66]

For the record, GM sold EMD in 2005 to a group of investors, then in 2010 EMD was bought by Caterpillar via its Progress Rail subsidiary.

EMD only exists as a Caterpillar/Progress Rail brand name now - from 1st Sept 2016 what was 'Electro-Motive Diesel Inc' became 'Progress Rail Locomotive Inc'.

So EMD = Progress Rail = Caterpillar...

Ah, so what I said that I heard about Cat engines could be correct then?

 

[RingingEars66]

The truck carriers are basically open.

The enclosed car carriers have fire suppression systems in them; I don't know how that compares with the 66.

66 doesn't have any fire suppression systems. That's not really the issue though, I know from Crossrail that it's a nightmare having 66's in enclosed spaces; there's a massive issue with fumes. Crossrail even had fans and ventilation shafts, as well as the stations themselves. There's none of that in the Channel Tunnel. You'd seriously gas the place out! It's not worth it.

 

[alexl92]

66 doesn't have any fire suppression systems. That's not really the issue though, I know from Crossrail that it's a nightmare having 66's in enclosed spaces; there's a massive issue with fumes. Crossrail even had fans and ventilation shafts, as well as the stations themselves. There's none of that in the Channel Tunnel. You'd seriously gas the place out! It's not worth it.

Couldn’t they haul one DIT?