British Rail Class 67
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| British Rail Class 67 | |
 67017 'Arrow' at Plymouth |
|
| Also called: | Skip JT42 HW-HS |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Alstom, Spain for General Motors EMD |
| Years built: | 1999-2000 |
| TOPS numbers: | 67001-67030 |
| Number built: | 30 |
| Replaced: | British Rail Class 37 British Rail Class 47 British Rail Class 86 |
| Engine: | GM-EMD 12N-710G3B-EC |
| Transmission: | Diesel Electric |
| Wheel layout: | Bo-Bo |
| Wheel diameter: | 38 in (970 mm) |
| Brakes: | Air |
| Brake force: | 765 kN |
| Length: | 19.71 m |
| Width: | 2.71 m |
| Height: | 3.93 m |
| Weight: | 90 tonnes |
| Maximum speed: | 125 mph (200 km/h) except 67007 which has cast iron brakes limited to 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Engine power: | 2,980 bhp (2,220 kW) |
| Rail power: | 1,860 kW |
| Maximum TE: | 31,750 lbf (141.2 kN) |
| Continuous TE: | 20,200 lbf (89.85 kN) |
| Heating type: | Electric: index 66 |
| Multiple working: | Classes 59, 66 & 67 |
| Fuel capacity: | 5,460 litres |
| Route availability: | RA 8 |
| Operators: | EWS |
The Class 67 locomotives were built from 1999 to 2000 by Alstom in Valencia, Spain under sub-contract from General Motors Diesel in Canada.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The thirty locomotives of this class were built for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) for use on high-speed mail trains. EWS had acquired the parcels business Rail Express Systems in 1996. EWS inherited elderly Class 47 diesel and Class 86 electric locomotives, and newer Class 90 electric locomotives and Class 325 parcels EMUs. EWS decided to purchase new high-speed 125 mph diesel locomotives to replace most of the older locomotives on mail trains.
The first locomotive, no. 67003, was delivered in 1999 and underwent a period of extensive testing. Due to their high axle loading many peripheral routes were unable to take their weight, resulting in poor route availability. They were initially restricted to the core main lines. As well as use on mail trains and Travelling Post Office (TPO) services, the class also saw use on charter trains, again replacing the older Class 47 locomotives. Several of the class received mail-related names, such as 67001 "Night Mail" and 67004 "Poste Haste". The fleet was allocated to Cardiff Canton, then to Toton and Bristol Barton Hill.
By mid-2000, the class had replaced the Class 47s on most mail trains. Class 47s however, still saw use on charter services, especially on lines where the Class 67s were barred, and also acted as "Thunderbird" locomotives for GNER to rescue failed trains.
It was partially down to this replacement of the popular 47, and partially to the perceived 'plastic look' of the locomotives that when initially introduced, the Class 67s were unpopular with many rail enthusiasts, who nicknamed them 'Skips', mainly due to the shape of the body. They are also tagged with several other derogatory nicknames, "Bucket" (similar to "Skips") and "Cyclops", due to the single large window and cantrail marker light.
In mid-2003, EWS lost the mail contract. There was a gradual phasing out of mail trains, with TPO services ending on 9 January 2004, and normal mail services a few months later. Therefore, the Class 67s largely became redundant, despite being only five years old. They then quickly replaced the Class 47s on GNER "Thunderbird" duties, and following the loss of passenger traffic the last were withdrawn in mid-2004. The Class 67s also started to see increased use on freight trains, often in pairs. They are often used on charter services. The winter months saw their use as top-and-tailing rail treatment trains, removing leaves and ice from the tracks. During the summer of 2004, several were hired to Virgin Trains for weekend relief services between the North East and the South Coast.
Two locomotives, nos. 67005 and 67006 were repainted in the Royal Claret colour scheme for hauling the prestigious Royal Train, replacing the two previous Class 47 locomotives. In 2004, 67029 was repainted in 'Executive Silver' livery for hauling the EWS Company Train. These locos are not exclusively dedicated to such duties; they are also seen on more routine freight duties.
The downturn in traffic however, has meant that several locomotives have been stored pending an increase in traffic.
EWS Class 67 locomotives are hired by First ScotRail to haul their Caledonian Sleeper services over non-electrified routes; the "Highland Sleeper" services to and from Aberdeen, Inverness and, since early 2006, Fort William. They replaced haulage by Class 37 locomotives, although the latter can still occasionally be seen on the Fort William service. Since the Class 67 has a higher axle loading than the Class 37, it is subject to stringent speed restrictions on parts of this route and journey times are increased, despite a higher top speed.
The driving cabs of the Class 67 have a much more spacious cab than the Class 66 locomotives[citation needed].
Since operations began on the West Highland line sleepers, the Class 67 has experienced severe brake problems, with replacements of the brake blocks needed after virtually every trip. Several theories abound for the reason for this, one suggestion being that the relative slow speeds and constant brake demands on the route means that grit and dirt picked up on the wheels cannot clear naturally and thus contaminates the brakes blocks, abrasively "scoring down" the material and causing overheating. To remedy this, EWS have fitted one Class 67—No. 67007, normally used on the Fort William sleeper—with cast iron brake blocks. This has meant a reduction in top speed to 80mph, although this does not affect top speed on any part of the route.
Since roll-out of Class 67 locomotives on the West Highland Line, five locomotives have been fitted with the necessary RETB equipment to enable them to operate on the line. These are sourced from EWS' WABK sets.
In 2007, the new open-access passenger operator Wrexham & Shropshire announced that it planned to run trains pulled by Class 67 locomotives. Train services began on the 28 April 2008 using Cargo D Mk3 coaching stock. It is eventually planned to run the trains with DVTs using refurbished Mk3s in W&SR silver livery, when these are available in summer 2008. In the meantime the trains have a Class 67 at each end ("top and tailed").[1]
On 12th October 2007, 67029 was dedicated 'Royal Diamond' at Rugeley Trent Valley for the Diamond Anniversary of the marriage of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
[edit] Fleet details
| Specification | Details | ||
| Currently owned by: | Angel Trains | ||
| Operated by: | EWS, Wrexham & Shropshire. | ||
| Built: | 1999-2000 by Alstom, Spain, as sub-contractors for General Motors | ||
| Model number: | EMD JT42 HW-HS | ||
| Engine: | EMD 12N-710G3B two stroke of 2385 kW (3200 hp) at 900 rpm | ||
| Main alternator: | EMD AR9/HE3/CA6B | ||
| Traction motors: | EMD D43FM | ||
| Maximum tractive effort: | 141 kN (31,750 lbf) until ?? mph | ||
| Continuous tractive effort: | 90 kN (20,200 lbf) | ||
| Power at rail: | 1860 kW | ||
| Wheel arrangement: | Bo-Bo | ||
| Train brakes: | Air brakes | ||
| Brake force: | 78 tonne | ||
| Dimensions: | 19.74 x 2.72 m | ||
| Mass: | 90 tonne | ||
| Wheel diameter: | 38 inch (965 mm) | ||
| Design speed: | 125 mph | ||
| Maximum speed: | 125 mph | ||
| Fuel capacity: | 1200 gallons (5,460 litres) | ||
| Route availability: | RA 8 | ||
| Electric train supply: | Electric: index 66 | ||
| Multiple working: | AAR System (compatible with Class 59,and Class 66 locomotives). | ||
[edit] Gallery
 Two Class 67's lead a freight train through Bristol Parkway |
 67006 Royal Sovereign at Evesham, Worcestershire. This is one of two locomotives painted in Royal Claret livery for hauling the Royal Train |
 67002 at Kings Cross |
 67019 at Doncaster |
 67029 with the EWS Company Train. This locomotive is painted in a special silver livery to haul the EWS Company Train |
 67019 on a RHTT through Lincoln on 23rd October 2007 |
 67023 on a RHTT through Lincoln on 23rd October 2007 |
 67026 on a RHTT through Lincoln on 26th October 2007 |
 67023 on a RHTT through Lincoln on 26th October 2007 |
 67003 stabled at Doncaster. |
 Some of the plates on 67005 Queens Messenger. |
 67001 at Kings Cross |
 67012 at Wrexham on the first Saturday of W&SR services 3/5/08. |
[edit] References and Sources
[edit] References
- ^ Trains and Livery. Wrexham and Shropshire. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
[edit] Sources
- Fox, Peter; Hall, Peter & Pritchard, Robert (2004). British Railways Locomotives & coaching stock 2004. Sheffield: Platform 5. ISBN 1 902336 39 9.
[edit] External links
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