British Rail Class 66/5

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66573 at Ipswich on 31 January 2004. When pictured, this Freightliner locomotive was only a few weeks old.

66522 East London Express at Rugby on 12 December 2004. This locomotive is in half-lime green livery of customer Shanks Group.

The Class 66/5 subclass of the British Rail Class 66 Co-Co diesel locomotives consists of Freightliner. The number range 66501-81.

Freightliner had initially re-engined Class 47 locomotives of Class 57/0. However the EMD Class 66 design had proven itself successful with rival EWS's Class 66/0. After an initial order for five locomotives, Freightliner continued with small numbers of locomotives.

Nos. 66501-37 are equipped with old style light clusters like the 66/0s whereas Nos. 66538-81 have the revised Group Standard light clusters.

No. 66521 was written off in the Great Heck rail crash on 28 February 2001, and its driver killed. No. 66526 was named Driver Steve Dunn (George) in his honour.

No. 66522 East London Express has been given a special livery with half of the locomotive in lime green Shanks Group livery and the rest in conventional Freighliner dark green.

Freightliner subsequently acquired Class 66/6 re-geared for more powerful but lower speeds and Class 66/9 low emissions variants.