British Rail Class 66/0

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66108 at Didcot on 23 August 2004. These locomotives operate the majority of EWS freight trains.

The Class 66/0 subclass of the British Rail Class 66 Co-Co diesel locomotive consists of 250 locomotives operated by EWS.

On privatisation, EWS inherited from British Rail an ageing and unreliable fleet mostly constructed in 1960s following the 1955 modernisation plan. They therefore ordered GM EMD locomotives from London, Ontario. The British Rail Class 59 body was reused, but with different internal layout.

The locomotives were delivered between 18 April 1998 and 21 June 2000. The introduction of the class saw the rapid withdrawal of most of EWS's class 31, 33 37, 47, 56 and 58.

There are slight detail variations between earlier and later members of the subclass.

EWS also operate Class 59/2 locomotives. Their 66s can be most easily distinguished due to their zigzag in their gold stripe, though there are other external detail differences too, e.g. grille layout, smaller silencer, headlight.

Nos. 66055-9 have been fitted to be capable of banking the Lickey Incline, though they are used elsewhere too. EWS is seeking the approval of the design to be used in France by its subsidiary Euro Cargo Rail.

The successs of the 66/0 led to Freightliner and others ordering Class 66 locomotives.