British Rail Class 67
Encyclopedia
The Class 67 locomotives are a class of Bo'Bo' diesel electric mainline locomotives which were built for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway between 1999 to 2000 by Alstom
at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components (engine and transmission) from General Motors Diesel
.
Rail enthusiasts have nicknamed the class 'skips
'.
and General Motors
. for use by the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) as British Rail Class 47
replacements for use on high-speed mail trains and passenger trains. The locomotives were obtained on a 15 year lease via Angel Trains
.
The bodyshell is a monocoque
load bearing Alstom design, the bogies are an "H" frame Alstom design, The engine, traction motors and control electronics are GM-EMD products, and the same as used in the British Rail Class 66
. Unlike the Class 66, the traction motors are frame mounted rather than axle hung to reduce unsprung mass and the gear ratio is increased allowing higher speeds. The cab design has a central driving position.
The locomotives are able to supply electric head end power
for passenger train heating and air-conditioning, and are equipped for buffer and screw coupling and also coupling via a buckeye coupler attached on a swing arm mount.
High speed running tests were undertaken with 67002 starting at Alstom's facility at La Sagra
(Toledo, Spain
) and running on the standard gauge Madrid-Toledo high-speed rail line, a top speed of 143 miles per hour (64 m/s) was obtained.
The first locomotive to be delivered was 67003, which arrived in October 1999. Initially plans were for a rapid acceptance into service, but problems with the locomotives being slightly out of loading gauge
caused delays. Acceptance trials began in December, and all 30 units had been delivered to the UK by early 2000.
The high axle load of the locomotive caused an initial speed restriction to 110 mph (49 m/s) and modifications to the bogies were required; locomotive 67023 was passed for 125 mph (56 m/s) running in July 2001, all 30 units had been modified for 125mph running by June 2003.
was terminated in 2003.
The locomotives have since been used for First ScotRail
on the Caledonian Sleeper
on non electrified beyond Edinburgh, as "Thunderbird" rescue locomotives for failed trains on the ECML, on some freight trains,and are hire for use on chartered tourist trains. Two units are also used for the Royal Train
.
Four locomotives were also used by the Wrexham and Shropshire railway company until it ceased operating in January 2011.
Locomotives are still being used by Chiltern Railways
.
; these were repainted in the Royal Claret colour, with one unit named Queen's Messenger officially unveiled in 2004. The other vehicle was named Royal Sovereign in February 2005.
Unit 67029 'Royal Diamond' was re-liveried in silver for the EWS Executve Train. In January 2010 unit 67018 was repainted in a one-off Canadian National Red livery with a special white maple leaf
(and DB Schenker logo) in honour of Canadian born former EWS and DB Schenker UK chairman Keith Heller
..
Other liveries carried include the "Wrexham & Shropshire" livery., and Arriva Trains Wales
livery.
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components (engine and transmission) from General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
.
Rail enthusiasts have nicknamed the class 'skips
Skip (container)
A rubbish skip is usually called merely a skip or waste bin. A skip is a large open-topped container designed for loading onto a special type of lorry. Differing from dumpster, instead of being emptied into a waste vehicle onsite, a skip is replaced by an empty skip and then tipped at a landfill...
'.
Design, testing and introduction
Thirty locomotives were ordered in a £45million contract split between AlstomAlstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
and General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. for use by the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) as British Rail Class 47
British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
replacements for use on high-speed mail trains and passenger trains. The locomotives were obtained on a 15 year lease via Angel Trains
Angel Trains
Angel Trains is an English Rolling Stock Operating Company created in 1994 as part of the privatisation of British Rail. It was one of three ROSCOs...
.
The bodyshell is a monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
load bearing Alstom design, the bogies are an "H" frame Alstom design, The engine, traction motors and control electronics are GM-EMD products, and the same as used in the British Rail Class 66
British Rail Class 66
The Class 66 is a six axle diesel electric freight locomotive developed in part from the British Rail Class 59, for use on the railways of the UK. Since its introduction the class has been successful and has been sold to British and other European railway companies...
. Unlike the Class 66, the traction motors are frame mounted rather than axle hung to reduce unsprung mass and the gear ratio is increased allowing higher speeds. The cab design has a central driving position.
The locomotives are able to supply electric head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
for passenger train heating and air-conditioning, and are equipped for buffer and screw coupling and also coupling via a buckeye coupler attached on a swing arm mount.
High speed running tests were undertaken with 67002 starting at Alstom's facility at La Sagra
La Sagra
La Sagra is a Spanish comarca delineated by natural formations but not legally recognized. The comarca includes localities belonging to both the province of Madrid and the province of Toledo...
(Toledo, Spain
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
) and running on the standard gauge Madrid-Toledo high-speed rail line, a top speed of 143 miles per hour (64 m/s) was obtained.
The first locomotive to be delivered was 67003, which arrived in October 1999. Initially plans were for a rapid acceptance into service, but problems with the locomotives being slightly out of loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
caused delays. Acceptance trials began in December, and all 30 units had been delivered to the UK by early 2000.
The high axle load of the locomotive caused an initial speed restriction to 110 mph (49 m/s) and modifications to the bogies were required; locomotive 67023 was passed for 125 mph (56 m/s) running in July 2001, all 30 units had been modified for 125mph running by June 2003.
Operators
Initially the class were used primarily on mail trains. EWS's contract with Royal MailRoyal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
was terminated in 2003.
The locomotives have since been used for First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
on the Caledonian Sleeper
Caledonian Sleeper
The Caledonian Sleeper is a sleeper train service operated by First ScotRail and one of only two remaining sleeper services running on the railways of Great Britain, the other being the Night Riviera....
on non electrified beyond Edinburgh, as "Thunderbird" rescue locomotives for failed trains on the ECML, on some freight trains,and are hire for use on chartered tourist trains. Two units are also used for the Royal Train
British Royal Train
The Royal Train is a set of railway carriages dedicated for the use of the British Monarch, other members of the Royal Family, and their staff. The train enables members of the Royal Family to carry out busy schedules over an extended period, in a secure environment which minimises disruption and...
.
Four locomotives were also used by the Wrexham and Shropshire railway company until it ceased operating in January 2011.
Locomotives are still being used by Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
.
Liveries and naming
The locomotives were initially painted in EWS maroon livery. In 2003 two locomotives, 67005 and 67006 replaced the two previous Class 47 locomotives for hauling the prestigious Royal TrainBritish Royal Train
The Royal Train is a set of railway carriages dedicated for the use of the British Monarch, other members of the Royal Family, and their staff. The train enables members of the Royal Family to carry out busy schedules over an extended period, in a secure environment which minimises disruption and...
; these were repainted in the Royal Claret colour, with one unit named Queen's Messenger officially unveiled in 2004. The other vehicle was named Royal Sovereign in February 2005.
Unit 67029 'Royal Diamond' was re-liveried in silver for the EWS Executve Train. In January 2010 unit 67018 was repainted in a one-off Canadian National Red livery with a special white maple leaf
Maple leaf
The maple leaf is the characteristic leaf of the maple tree, and is the most widely recognized national symbol of Canada.-Use in Canada:At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the settlements of New France had attained a population of about 18,000...
(and DB Schenker logo) in honour of Canadian born former EWS and DB Schenker UK chairman Keith Heller
Keith Heller
Keith Heller is the former chairman of the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway , who retired in late January 2011. Heller began with Canadian National in 1966. Heller had a Class 67 locomotive unit named in his honour, with a giant white maple leaf on the side.-References:...
..
Other liveries carried include the "Wrexham & Shropshire" livery., and Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
livery.
See also
- The Israel RailwaysIsrael RailwaysIsrael Railways is the principal passenger railway operating company in Israel, and is responsible for all inter-city and suburban rail way passenger and freight traffic in the country. All its lines are standard gauge. The network is centered in Israel's densely populated coastal plain, from...
JT 42BW and RENFE Class 333.3RENFE Class 333The RENFE Series 333 are high power six-axle diesel-electric locomotives built in the 1970s; at the time of their introduction they were the most powerful non-electric locomotives in Spain....
are a similar design - Vossloh Euro 4000 - Related locomotives built at the same factory (former Alstom Valencia plant)