British Rail Class 66

The Class 66 is a type of six-axle diesel-electric freight locomotive developed in part from the 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. In Continental Europe it is marketed as the EMD Class 66 (JT42CWR).
== History ==
=== Background ===
On the privatisation of British Rail's freight operations in 1996, Wisconsin Central Transportation Systems under the control of Ed Burkhardt bought a number of the newly privatised rail freight companies: Transrail; Mainline; Loadhaul; and later Railfreight Distribution and Rail Express Systems. Controlling 93% of UK rail freight, after a public relations exercise involving the input of the general public, the company was named English Welsh & Scottish.
EWS inherited a fleet of 1,600 mainly diesel locomotives, with an average age of over 30 years; 300 had been cannibalised for spares. Typical of the fleet, the 2580 hp Class 47s needed a major overhaul every seven years, costing £400,000; yet had an average daily availability of less than 65% with only 16 days between major failures. To enable it to offer its stated lower pricing to customers, EWS needed to reduce operating costs and raise availability.
=== Order and specification ===
After reviewing the existing privately commissioned Class 59, which was more powerful, highly reliable and with lower operating costs, EWS approached its builder Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), then a division of General Motors. EMD offered their JT42CWR model, which had the same loading gauge-passing bodyshell as the Class 59. The engine and traction motors were different models to enable higher speeds, and the Class 66s incorporated General Motors' version of a "self-steering bogie" ("radial truck", in American usage), designed to reduce track wear and increase adhesion on curves.
Placing what was termed as "the biggest British loco order since steam days", EWS placed an order for 250 units in May 1996 to be built at the EMD plant in London, Ontario, Canada at a cost of £375 million. Financed by Locomotion Capital (later Angel Trains), the first locomotives were ready in early 1998; the fastest delivery of an all-new locomotive type by GM. 
The EMD 710 12-cylinder diesel engine is a development of a two-stroke engine used for over 20 years, whilst the EM2000 control equipment is the same as that used on Irish Railways IE 201 Class. EWS reduced the locomotive's time into operation through specifying cab systems laid out like the Class 59, whilst increasing availability with a fuel tank of 8,180 litres (1,800 imp gal; 2,160 US gal) capacity, compared to 3,470 litres (760 imp gal; 920 US gal) on a standard Class 47.
=== United Kingdom ===
66125 in EWS livery at Eastleigh
The first locomotive shipped to the UK arrived at Immingham in June 1998, taken to Derby for testing. The second was taken to AAR's Pueblo Test Centre for endurance testing, before shipping to the UK. The locomotives then shipped at a rate of 11 per month into the UK via Newport Docks, until the order was completed in December 2001. After unloading, EWS engineers then simply took off the tarpaulin, unblocked the suspension, and finally as each was shipped with water and fuel, hooked up the batteries, before starting the engine and handing the locomotive into service. The ability to simply start up '66s' on the dockside and drive them under their own power to depots to enter service was nothing short of a revelation compared with many other BR locomotives, particularly the BR Class 60s
Each locomotive is specified and guaranteed to 95% availability, aiming for a minimum of 180 days mean time between failures. It is designed to cover 1·6million km between major rebuilds, equivalent to 18 years' service, with each major rebuild costed at £200,000.
The initial classification was as Class 61, then they were subsequently given the Class 66 designation in the British classification system (TOPS). In 1998 Freightliner placed an order for locomotives. They were followed by GB Railfreight, and then Direct Rail Services. The last of more than 500 built over an 18-year period was No 66779, Evening Star, delivered to GB Railfreight in spring 2016.
Although sometimes unpopular with many rail enthusiasts, due to their ubiquity and having caused the displacement of several older types of (mostly) British built locomotives, their high reliability has helped rail freight to remain competitive. Rail enthusiasts labelled the type "The Red Death" as they displaced many older types of locomotive whilst also acquiring the nicknames of "sheds" for the EWS (now DBS) locomotives (due to their upturned roof looking like a shed roof) with the Freightliner locomotives being called "Freds" as a portmanteau of Freightliner and Shed.
=== Continental Europe ===
Main article: EMD Series 66
The Class 66 design has also been introduced to Continental Europe where it is currently certified for operations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, and Poland, with certification pending in the Czech Republic and Italy. They currently operate on routes between Sweden and Denmark and between Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Poland. As a result of its well-known British identity, EMD Europe markets the locomotive as "Series 66".
=== UK importation ===
After an increase in UK rail traffic, post the 2008 Global Economic Crisis, by 2011 EMD were running low on key parts for the design, specifically castings. After the closure of the London, Ontario, plant that year, after an industrial dispute, and the introduction of new EU crash and emissions regulations, it was concluded by many that the last of the Class 66 locomotives had been produced.
Due to a reduction in European freight volumes, since mid-2012, a number of EMD Series 66 locomotives have been imported by UK rail freight operators and converted to UK type specifications. To date:
* GBRf bought three ex-Dutch locos, in 2012, which have been numbered 66747-749. The former identities of these were DE6316, DE6313 and DE6315 respectively.
* GBRf bought two ex-German "Rush Rail" locomotives, in 2013, which have been numbered 66750 & 66751. The former identities of these were DE6606 (also T664025) and DE6609 (also 2906) respectively
* GBRf bought three ex-Swedish locomotives, in 2019, which have been numbered 66790-792. The former identities of these were T66403, T66404 and T66405 respectively.
In September 2013 GB Railfreight announced a new order of a further 8 Class 66/7 locomotives from EMD, the first of the class to be built at EMD's Muncie, Indiana plant. On 2 February GBRf ordered a further 13 locomotives. These 21 locomotives are numbered 66752-772. Numbers 66752-756 were shipped from America and arrived at Newport Docks in July 2014. No. 66752 has been named The Hoosier State, a nickname for Indiana. A further seven locomotives (66773-779) were later added to the fleet, utilising six power units that had been in the UK, plus one recovered from the scrapped 66734. The presence of these power units in the UK circumvented European emission compliance regulations and permitted them to be exported to EMD Muncie for installation in further class 66 bodyshells.
=== Emission compliance ===
Numbers 66752-779 were the last Class 66s ordered for service in Great Britain because of increasingly stringent emission regulations. 66779 was the last Class 66 ever to be built. Although the Class 66s meet stage 3a of the regulations, they do not meet stage 3b. Stage 3b would have required additional exhaust treatment equipment that could not easily be accommodated within the UK loading gauge. The same restrictions apply to the Class 68 and Class 70. The restriction does not apply to second-hand locomotives, provided that they are imported from within the European Union. The purpose of the regulation was to put a cap on the total number of non-compliant locomotives in the EU.
== Current operators ==
=== Colas Rail ===
Colas Rail took over the ex-Advenza Cemex Cement flow after the company went bust, initially using the five former Advenza Freight and Direct Rail Services locomotives 66406-410 which had been renumbered 66841-845. Subsequently, as part of a deal with GB Railfreight, Colas Rail replaced them with five ex-Freightliner 66573-577 which were renumbered 66846–850. The five ex-Direct Rail Services class 66s were transferred to GB Railfreight and renumbered 66742–746.
=== DB Cargo UK ===
DB Cargo UK bought out EWS. Their Class 66 fleet includes four locomotives capable of banking heavy trains over the Lickey Incline. On these specific locomotives, the knuckle coupler has been modified to allow remote releasing from inside the cab, whilst in motion. It also includes fifteen locomotives fitted with RETB signalling equipment, for working in northern Scotland and RETB-fitted branchlines. A few DB Cargo UK Class 66s are now working in Europe as part of the Euro Cargo Rail and DB Cargo Polska.
=== Direct Rail Services ===
Direct Rail Services (DRS), which at the time was a subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), ordered ten Class 66/4 locomotives (66401–410) in 2002, employed on new Anglo-Scottish traffic, some with Stobart Rail. In 2006, ten more T2 specification units (66411–420) were delivered, a further ten (66421–430) in late 2007, and four more (66431–434) in 2008.
After the first twenty Class 66s operated by DRS were transferred to Freightliner and GB Railfreight, leaving just 14 in their fleet, DRS leased the five former Fastline Freight locomotives.
=== Freightliner ===
Freightliner followed EWS by initially ordering five new Class 66/5 locomotives, and have continued to order in small batches. As of 2020, the Class 66/5 fleet had reached 89 examples; 66521 was withdrawn after the 2001 crash at Great Heck and later scrapped.
In 2000 a new Class 66/6 sub-class was built, with a lower gear ratio, enabling heavier trains to be hauled, albeit at slower speed. There are presently 25 examples of this class, numbered 66601-625. Some of these locomotives have since been exported for use with Freightliner Poland.
During 2004 the company took delivery of the most recent Class 66/9 sub-class of the locomotive, which are a low-emission variant. All new locomotives for all companies are now of the low-emission "T2" type. The seven such locomotives as 66951-957.
In 2011, Freightliner took on Direct Rail Services' 66411-420.
=== GB Railfreight ===
GB Railfreight initially leased seventeen Class 66/7 locomotives, before increasing its fleet to 32. During April 2006 five more low-emission locomotives (numbered 66718-722) were delivered, liveried for use on the Metronet/Transport for London contracts. A further order for five more locomotives (66723-727) was delivered in early 2007, and another five locomotives (66728–732) in April 2008. 66733-746 are formed of Class 66s from Direct Rail Services, Freightliner and Colas Rail. In 2011 66720 was painted in a special "Rainbow" livery. In June 2012, 66734 derailed at Loch Treig whilst working 6S45 North Blyth–Fort William and was consequently cut up on site and scrapped.
The final seven class 66's to be built for the British market arrived on 12 February 2016 aboard the cargo ship Happy Dragon at Newport docks and consisted of numbers 66773–779. On 15 February they were towed by 66708 north to Doncaster Roberts Road depot where they were commissioned and then ultimately put to work.
66779 remained under a tarpaulin until 10 May 2016 when it was revealed at the NRM York with a special livery and nameplates to commemorate the fact it is the final class 66 ever built for the British market. The locomotive has been painted in BR Lined Green and named Evening Star, in reference to BR Standard Class 9F Locomotive No. 92220 Evening Star was the last BR Steam Locomotive built in Swindon in 1960. It was unveiled in a special ceremony inside the Great Hall at the National Railway Museum in York on 10 May 2016 before staying there opposite its namesake, No. 92220, for two weeks. At the same ceremony, the boss of GBRf, John Smith, handed the curator of the National Railway Museum a document offering 66779 to the national collection when it is retired in about 40 years time.
In addition to those locomotives sourced from domestic operators (Direct Rail Services, Freightliner, Colas Rail and DB Cargo UK), eight further locomotives have been obtained from European operators. A further five have been purchased from Heavy Haul Power International and will be transferred from Germany beginning in April 2021. The locos will go to Doncaster to be converted to UK specification.
== Former operators ==
=== Advenza Freight ===
Advenza Freight, a Cotswold Rail subsidiary, operated class 66841-844. They were primarily used on Advenza's scrap and cement flows. The locomotives originated from the batch that DRS returned. Advenza Freight ceased operations in October 2009 and the class 66s returned to storage.
These locos were housed at Gloucester Carriage Sidings where Advenza Freight was based.
=== Fastline ===
Fastline Freight, part of Jarvis PLC, which operated intermodal services between Doncaster and Birmingham International Railfreight Terminal (BIFT), and Thamesport, in North Kent, using refurbished Class 56 locomotives, ordered five Class 66/3 locomotives to operate a coal flow from Hatfield Colliery. They were delivered in 2008. Following the demise of Jarvis in 2010, and Fastline going into administration on 29 March 2010, these locomotives were placed in store, being towed to DRS Carlisle Kingmoor or Crewe Gresty Bridge depot for storage. During 2011, DRS repainted the five ex-Fastline locomotives and added them to their own fleet, keeping their original numbers.
== Subclasses ==
Subclass	Number built	TOPS number range	Operators 	Comments
66/0 	234 	66001-007
66009-015
66017-030
66032-045
66047
66049-057
66059-080
66082-090
66092-107
66109-121
66123-125
66127-131
66133-140
66142-183
66185-229
66231-237
66239-249	DB Cargo UK 	
* The original order of 250.
* Euro Cargo Rail (65): 66010, 66022, 66026, 66028, 66029, 66032, 66033, 66036, 66038, 66042, 66045, 66049, 66052, 66062,66064, 66071-66073,66123, 66179, 66190-66191, 66193, 66195, 66201-66205, 66208-66220, 66222-66226, 66228-66229, 66231-66236, 66239-66247, 66249
* DB Cargo Polska (15): 66146, 66153, 66157, 66159, 66163, 66166, 66173, 66178, 66180, 66189, 66196, 66220, 66227, 66237, 66248
* 66048 is in storage at EMD Longport since the Carrbridge derailment.
* 66230 is in storage at Toton TMD following an accident at Dollands Moor.
* 65 locomotives were transferred to subsidiary Euro Cargo Rail during the English, Welsh & Scottish Railways era.
* Others make regular visits to the UK for attention at Toton depot.
* 15 locomotives have been sent to the Polish division of the DB Cargo group, DB Cargo Polska.
* In December 2017 the company sold ten of its domestic fleet Class 66s to GB Railfreight: 66008, 016, 046, 058, 081, 132, 141, 184, 238 and 250. It has been reclassified as Class 66/7 and has been newly numbered 66780-789.
66/0 	5 	66031
66091
66108
66122
66126	Direct Rail Services	On long-term lease from DB Cargo UK, 66091 in DRS livery.
66/3 	5 	66301-305 	Direct Rail Services	Originally ordered by Fastline Freight. Now in use with Direct Rail Services.
66/4 	10 	66411-420 	Freightliner 	Acquired from Direct Rail Services in 2011. 66411, 66412 & 66417 exported for use in Freightliner PL.
66/4 	14 	66421-434 	Direct Rail Services	Intended use is on intermodal traffic. Occasionally used on nuclear flask traffic – for which they are overpowered.
66/5 	89 	66501-520
66522-526
66528-529
66531-534
66536-572
66585
66587-594
66596-599	Freightliner 	
* Replaced Class 47s and Class 57s on Intermodal freight.
* 66521 written off after Great Heck rail crash.
* 66527, 66530, 66535, 66582, 66583, 66584, 66586 and 66595 have been exported to Poland, the operating subsidiary Freightliner PL.
* 66573-581 have been sold to Colas Rail and GB Railfreight and renumbered 66846-850 and 66738-741 respectively.
66/6 	19 	66601-607
66610
66613-623	Freightliner 	
* Top speed of 65 mph (105 km/h) – reduced gearing to cope with heavier oil, aggregates and cement trains.
* 66608, 66609, 66611, 66612, 66624 and 66625 have been exported to Poland, the operating subsidiary Freightliner PL.
66/7 	91 	66701-733
66735-792	GB Railfreight 	Operates on coal, intermodal services and also engineering / departmental work for Transport for London and Network Rail on London Underground and National Rail lines.
* 66734 was cut up on site after it was involved in a serious derailment at Loch Treig.
* 66733 to 66737 were formerly Direct Rail Services 66401-405.
* 66738 to 66741 were formerly Freightliner 66578-581.
* 66742 to 66746 were formerly Colas Rail 66841-845 and prior to that were numbered 66406-410 when with Direct Rail Services.
* 66747 to 66749 are a former Dutch fleet converted at the Midland Railway Centre.
* 66750 and 66751 are former Beacon Rail locos from mainland Europe. Converted at the EMD Longport.
* 66008, 016, 046, 058, 081, 132, 141, 184, 238 and 250 were formerly DB Cargo UK, these are 66780-66789.
* 66790 to 66792 are being imported by Beacon Rail from Sweden. Converted at the EMD Longport.
66/8 	5 	66846-850 	Colas Rail 	Formerly operated by Freightliner as 66573-577.
66/9 	7 	66951-957 	Freightliner 	A lower emission variant – fuel capacity reduced to compensate for the increased weight of other components.
== Gallery ==
File:1ad612b9e5beca60f3ad7cd7c73629e8.jpg
File:13393 tn gb-gbrf-class66-ship-hold-201602.jpg
File:66718 Coney Green.jpg|GBRF No 66718 "Gwyneth Dunwoody" passes Chesterfield working 6Z27 Shoeburyness - Rotherham (Booths), consisting of redundant Gatwick Express coaches for scrap
File:Freightliner Class 66-6 diesel locomotive 66603 01.jpg
File:EWS unit 66138.JPG
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