EMD Class 66

The Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) Class 66 (or JT42CWR) are Co-Co diesel locomotives built by EMD for the European heavy freight market. Designed for use in Great Britain as the Class 66, a development of the Class 59, they have been adapted and certified for use in other European countries.^[3] Outside Europe, 40 locomotives have been sold to Egyptian Railways for passenger operation.^[4]

A number of locomotives built for Euro Cargo Rail in France with roof-mounted air conditioning are classed Class 77. In Germany ECR units operated for DB Schenker were numbered as class 247, re-classified as class 266 by the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt to match other Class 66 locomotives operating in Germany.^[5]

History

United Kingdom

The class was designed by General Motors-Electro Motive Division^[6] for use in the UK, and 250 were sold to EWS, with orders from Freightliner (UK) and other railway operators.

Mainland Europe

With the locomotives proving successful in the UK, interest came from railway operators in Europe. General Motors locomotives in mainland Europe had historically been produced under license by local manufacturers. The high haulage capacity and reliability of the Class 59 (JT26-CW-SS) had led to its use by the German company Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln (HGK). The first mainland Europe order also came from HGK, for two locomotives, followed by TGOJ Trafik (Trafikaktiebolaget Grängesberg-Oxelösunds Järnvägar) in Sweden. Subsequently many European railway operators bought locomotives.^[7]

Class 77

With a high number of orders, EMD modified the locomotive for European ECR operations, including:^[8]

• Powered by a 12-cylinder 710 engine that meets EU Stage IIIA emissions regulations, via latest EM2000 control system
• DC traction motors, rated at 3,300 horsepower (2,500 kW)
• Enhanced gear case, which increases tractive effort to 450 kN (100,000 lb_f), making the locomotive suitable for heavier European trains
• ECR Train Protection System allowing for immediate certification for operation in France, Germany and Belgium, but meaning that they cannot operate in Great Britain
• Additional driver facilities, including cab air conditioning; a microwave and fridge in one cab; additional noise cancelling insulation; a modified seat

Designated JT42CWRM-100 by EMD and registered in France as Class 77,^[8] over 100 locomotives have been purchased including 60 by DB Schenker subsidiary Euro Cargo Rail.

Class 66EU

In 2008 EMD announced plans to develop a new variant 'Class 66EU' designed for continental European operations, built within the UIC 505-1 loading gauge as opposed to the restrictive UK loading gauge. A range of European safety systems would be supported including ERTMS, and locomotives would be fitted with a dynamic brake and previous issues with driver comfort were to be addressed.^[9] The project was confirmed to be cancelled in 2011.^[10]

Technical

The locomotive uses standard EMD components - an EMD 710 prime mover, D43 traction motors, radial^[11] (self-steering) bogies of patented design, which reduce wheel surface and flange wear^[12] and is said to improve adhesion^[13] and reduce track load.^[14]

The class has undergone updates; other than the lower-geared class 66/6 produced for Freightliner, most of the updates have been in relation to conforming to specifications for exhaust particulate emissions.

CD66 of CargoNet
The air conditioning unit is visible above the cab.

Despite being popular with rail operators, especially due to its high reliability, the class has not been universally successful: one recurring problem has been driver comfort. In particular, noise levels (including noise from the cab horn), vibration, and excessive cab-temperatures in hot weather have brought serious complaints. The cab is not isolated from the main frame, causing engine noise to be the dominant background noise;^[15] notwithstanding the implications for safety (audibility of warning signals etc.), and the potential for hearing damage in the long term, the conditions drivers face led to threats of industrial action in the UK in 2007,^[16] and an agreement for increased pay for drivers using this type of locomotive^[17] (in Norway). By modifying using noise absorbing materials EMD succeeded in meeting TSI Noise Certification standards in 2008.^[18] Tests on retrofitted cooling systems and improved seating have been carried out on some UK locomotives.^[19][20]

ETCS Equipment

A number of locomotives operating in the Netherlands and Germany have been equipped with ETCS, principally to allow them to work on the equipped Betuweroute, comprising the ETCS Level 1 "Havenspoorlijn" in the Rotterdam harbour area and the ETCS Level 2 "A15" route linking Rotterdam to the German border.^{[note 1]}

Idle reduction

As a fuel-saving and wear-reduction measure operator DB Schenker Rail UK is to fit ninety of its fleet with automatic engine stop start technology by the end of 2015. The modification is provided by ZTR Control Systems of London, Ontario and is expected to reduce engine running hours by about one-third.^[21]

Operators

Freightliner PL EMD JT42CWRM #66001 at the station in Ruhland Germany (May 2008)

Europe

Certification (homologation) is needed for each country of operation. The locos were initially given a temporary certificate for use in France,^[22] and full certification came in 2009^[23] (they had previously operated in France on some routes), Romanian certification came in 2007^[24] The class is certified for operation in Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Poland and Denmark. As of 1 January 2009, certification for use in the Czech Republic and Slovakia was pending.

Middle East

They are operated in Egypt by the Egyptian National Railways.

List of operators

See also

• Voith Maxima, GE PowerHaul and Vossloh Euro 4000, competitors.
• IE 201 Class, GM 710 engined locomotive for Irish railways

Notes

References

Literature

• Rodney Polacek; Bozidar Simonovic, "Nothing stops a Class 66", RAIL (492), archived from the original on 10 October 2007 
• R. Polacek; B. Simonovic (2004), "Class 66 - Locomotive Without Borders", Railvolution (1) 
• Локомотив для Европы без границ, Железные дороги мира (in Russian) (8), 2004 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Class 66 (locomotive).

• JT42CWRM, information at EM Diesels
• Dutch railfan page on Class 66 (in English)

Classes of German diesel locomotives Deutsche Bundesbahn (pre-1994) see also DB locomotives 201 202 210 211–214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 230 232 236 240 245 V50 251 252 259 260, 261 265 270 279 280 V88 288 290, 291 299 331, 332, 333, 335 Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR) (pre-1994) see also DR locomotives 100.0 100.1–9 101 102.0 102.1 103 105 106 107 108–115 118 119 120 130, 131 132 142 199.0 Kö 199.0–1 199.3 199.8 V 36 K Deutsche Bahn AG (post-1994) see also DBAG locomotives 201–204 210.4 211–214 215 216 217 218 219 220 223 225 226 228 229 232–234 240 241 242 245 and 246 247 (EMD 66) 247 (Vectron) 250 253 259 260 and 261 264 266 275 285 290, 291, 294–296 298 333, 335 360 361 362 363 364 365 760