[Germany] Hunting down Class 66s

[lewis_trains]

Hey! Im soon taking a holiday to the Czech Republic, taking a day trip to Germany.

Im trying to find some of the Class 66's over there (I believe numbered 266's over there? correct me if im wrong)

How do I go about finding one? Does anybody know any routes near the east of germany where they operate or any schedules? Thanks!

 

[30907]

They are referred to by enthusiasts as "Class 66" at least as much as "(Baureihe) 266" so search online under both.

If you are staying in or near Prague, then the nearest heavy freight route (apart from the Elbe valley) is from Wegliniec in Poland via Horka to Ruhland and Elsterwerda which are on routes north from Dresden - as there are IIRC Polish 66s too that is promising, but it's 3 hours away from Prague by rail

The German site drehscheibe-online.de has a "live sightings" forum where I've searched under both titles and it did produce one on that route....

If you were to ask your question - in English, with a ? in the title - in their "Allgemeines Forum" - you would I am sure get several replies in good English. Registration is easy!

Sorry not to be more helpful, but it's not my specialism - is there a UK class 66 site?

 

[XAM2175]

You may also see them referred to as Class 77, BR/Class 247, or their EMD model number JT42CW, depending on what listings you see.

 

[jamesontheroad]

I found one, quite unexpectedly, in Lycksele, northern Sweden, last spring. Quite an odd sight, with a Bombardier Itino railcar next to it.

 

[lewis_trains]

You may also see them referred to as Class 77, BR/Class 247, or their EMD model number JT42CW, depending on what listings you see.

So many names! xD. Im just trying to find where they operate/how i can hunt one down the day i vist

They are referred to by enthusiasts as "Class 66" at least as much as "(Baureihe) 266" so search online under both.

If you are staying in or near Prague, then the nearest heavy freight route (apart from the Elbe valley) is from Wegliniec in Poland via Horka to Ruhland and Elsterwerda which are on routes north from Dresden - as there are IIRC Polish 66s too that is promising, but it's 3 hours away from Prague by rail

The German site drehscheibe-online.de has a "live sightings" forum where I've searched under both titles and it did produce one on that route....

If you were to ask your question - in English, with a ? in the title - in their "Allgemeines Forum" - you would I am sure get several replies in good English. Registration is easy!

Sorry not to be more helpful, but it's not my specialism - is there a UK class 66 site?

This helps alot!! Thank you. 3 hours is nothing for me ;p

Ill check out that website and maybe on the forums if I have no luck. Much appreciated!

 

[Scotrail314209]

I found one, quite unexpectedly, in Lycksele, northern Sweden, last spring. Quite an odd sight, with a Bombardier Itino railcar next to it.

I saw one trundling through Ghent after I had just arrived in Belgium on the Eurostar. It was my little taste of home away from home.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

I found one, quite unexpectedly, in Lycksele, northern Sweden, last spring. Quite an odd sight, with a Bombardier Itino railcar next to it.

Perhaps it will come over to the UK at some point, if it hasn't already.

GBRf acquire three Swedish '66s'

GBRf have acquired three former Swedish class 66 equivalents, which are being leased through Beacon Rail. The first arrived at Immingham docks yesterday, 03/06/19, and has proceeded to EMD Longport where it'll become 66790. Two further locos are to follow to become 66791 and 66792...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[DBNR]

They’re a daily sight here in Hürth in NRW - sadly not near Czechia! They seem to be being used by HGK on runs between Brühl and the chemical park at Knapsack

They seem to be in a mixture of green ‘freight liner’ reminiscent colours with yellow banding, or relivered into a silver “RheinCargo” livery

 

[duesselmartin]

you also find them in Oberhausen NRW or around Mühldorf in Bavaria,
basically whereever flexible power is needed for freight.

 

[Richard Scott]

Muehldorf in Bavaria is a good place to find them. Quite a few last time I was there. Oberhausen also had a number of them. Seen quite a few on the Rhein valley near Rudesheim and also around Hamburg (including a Polish Freightliner one on a couple of occasions). Hope that helps?

 

[Jamesrob637]

I remember back in 2007 hearing an almighty roar through Bonn-Beuel on a Sunday and it was a 66 hauling containers towards Köln.