British Rail Class 68
| British Rail Class 68 | |
|---|---|
|
68008 Avenger at Crewe Gresty Bridge depot in July 2014 | |
| Type and origin | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | Vossloh |
| Model | Vossloh Eurolight |
| Build date | 2013–2014, 2015– |
| Total produced | 15 plus 10 on order |
| Specifications | |
| Configuration | Bo-Bo |
| UIC classification | Bo'Bo' |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Wheel diameter | 1,100 mm (3 ft 7.3 in) |
| Locomotive weight | approximately 85 tonnes[1] |
| Fuel type | diesel |
| Fuel capacity | 5,000 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,300 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Caterpillar C175-16 |
| Alternator | ABB WCqx560pb6 |
| Traction motors | Four ABB 4FRA6063 (600 kW) |
| Multiple working | Within class[2] |
| Performance figures | |
| Maximum speed | 160 km/h (99 mph) |
| Power output |
3,800 hp (2,800 kW) at 1,740 rpm |
| Tractive effort | 317 kN (71,000 lbf) |
| Train heating |
Electric, HEP inverter up to 500 kW |
| Locomotive brake | Blended: Rheostatic braking (2100kW); electropneumatic.[1] |
| Career | |
| Operator(s) | |
| Number(s) |
68001–015 (delivered) 68016–025 (ordered) |
| Official name | UKLight |
| Nicknames | Warskips, Cats, Turtles |
| Axle load class | RA 7[2] |
| Delivered | 2014 |
| First run | 2014 |
| Sources: Technical parameters.[3] (except where noted) | |
The Class 68 is a type of mainline mixed traffic diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by Vossloh for Direct Rail Services in the United Kingdom. The design is derived from the Vossloh Eurolight, and Vossloh's product name is UKLight. This loco has received the nickname of 'turtle' due to its resemblance to a turtle's shell.
A second batch of Class 68s for Direct Rail Services is due for delivery from October 2015 unwards, starting with 68016 Fearless.
Background
On 5 January 2012, Direct Rail Services announced it had placed an order for fifteen 160-kilometre-per-hour (100 mph) Vossloh Eurolight locomotives from Vossloh for intermodal and passenger work with a 2.8 MW (3,800 hp) C175-16 engine to be delivered from late 2013.[4][5] The value of the contract has been estimated at £45 million.[2] An option for ten further UKLights was confirmed to have been taken up in September 2014.[6]
The locomotives have been given TOPS class 68,[7] Vossloh's product name for the design is UKLight.[8]
The Class 68 complies with Stage III A of the European emission standards.[9]
Delivery
The first locomotive spent several months being tested at Velim Test Centre in the Czech Republic prior to being shipped to the UK. The second unit in the class, numbered 68002, was the first to arrive in England in January 2014.[10][11][12][13] All will be delivered by the end of 2014, as from 1 January 2015, the Caterpillar will not meet emission standards.[14]
Usage
The Class 68 is a mixed-traffic locomotive intended for use on both passenger and freight trains. DRS has a contract with VSOE to provide locomotives for its Northern Belle service. DRS has indicated that the locomotives will likely be used on container traffic, and on Network Rail trains for which it is contracted to operate, but that they will not be used on nuclear flask trains.[15]
The first passenger trains hauled by Class 68s were DRS special services for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.[16]
Chiltern Railways will sub-lease six Class 68s from December 2014, to replace Class 67s on its Chiltern Main Line services between London and Birmingham.[17][18][19] These will be painted in Chiltern livery and be fitted with push-pull equipment to allow them to operate with Mark 3 sets. Two DRS liveried locomotives (68008 and 68009) have also been fitted with push-pull equipment.[20]
Fleet
| Operator | Number built (year) | TOPS number range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Rail Services | 15 (2013-2014) | 68001-68005 68008-68009 |
|
| Abellio ScotRail | 68006-68007 | Sub-leased from DRS | |
| Chiltern Railways | 68010-68015 | Sub-leased from DRS | |
| Direct Rail Services | 10 (not yet built) | 68016-68025 | Option for 10 additional locomotives, taken up by DRS |
Before delivery each of the first nine locomotives was named:
- 68001 Evolution
- 68002 Intrepid
- 68003 Astute
- 68004 Rapid
- 68005 Defiant
- 68006 Daring
- 68007 Valiant
- 68008 Avenger
- 68009 Titan
The locomotives for Chiltern Railways were delivered without names.
The first few names for the second batch have been confirmed as:
- 68016 Fearless
- 68017 Reliance
- 68018 Vigilance
- 68019 Hornet
See also
- Vossloh Euro Dual, related electro-diesel design, ordered by DRS as class 88.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vossloh España unveils Direct Rail Services Class 68", www.railwaygazette.com, 16 Dec 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Johnson, Marc (1 April 2014), "Sleek lines", www.therailengineer.com
- ↑ UK LIGHT Diesel-Electric Locomotive, Vossloh Rail Vehicles, archived from the original on 29 Apr 2014
- ↑ Direct Rail Services orders 15 Vossloh EuroLight UK locomotives, Railway Gazette International, 5 January 2012
- ↑ Barrow, Keith (12 September 2013), "DRS confirms order for Vossloh electro-diesels", www.railjournal.com (International Railway Journal)
- ↑ Barrow, Keith (12 September 2014), "DRS orders more Vossloh locomotives", www.railjournal.com
- ↑ "Direct Rail Services reveals Class 68 design". Railway Gazette International. 1 February 2013.
- ↑ The diesel-electric EUROLIGHT picks up speed toward the UK and Asia, Vossloh, retrieved September 2012
- ↑ Rail Express (217), June 2014: 9, ISSN 1362-234X Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "Vossloh 2680". MainlineDiesels.net. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
- ↑ Gary Baldwin - Mercury Stone (10 December 2013). "Exclusive: Class 68 in new DRS livery". Direct Rail Services.
- ↑ "DRS unveils new Class 68 diesel in Crewe". Railnews. 12 March 2014.
- ↑ "BRL Home". Beaconrail.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
- ↑ "DRS unveils 68, but no firm plans for the trains it will haul" Rail issue 745 2 April 2014 page 26
- ↑ Pritchard, Robert (May 2014). "DRS showcases first Class 68". Today's Railways (Platform 5 Publishing) (149): 62–63.
- ↑ Direct Rail Services, Ryder Cup 2014
- ↑ "Chiltern to lease six Class 68 locomotives from DRS". Railway Herald. 10 April 2014.
- ↑ "Chiltern leases six Class 68 locos for Mainline services in £15m deal", www.railtechnologymagazine.com, 15 Apr 2014
- ↑ "[GB] Chiltern Railways chooses Class 68 in favour of Class 67", mainlinediesels.net, 10 Apr 2014
- ↑ 68s equipped with push-pull Rail issue 754 6 August 2014 page 33
External links
Media related to British Rail Class 68 at Wikimedia Commons
- DRS Class 68 Next Generation Diesel-Electric Locomotive (Brochure) (version 4), DRS
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