British Rail Class 66

British Rail Class 66

66598 hauling a freight train near Chesterfield.

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Electro-Motive Diesel Model JT42CWR or Series 66 Build date 1998–2015 Total produced 455

Specifications Configuration Co-Co UIC class Co'Co' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge Bogies HTCR radial Wheel diameter 1,066 mm (42.0 in) Minimum curve 4 chains (80 m) Wheelbase 17.29 m (56 ft 9 in) (between bogies) 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (bogies) Length 21.4 m (70 ft 3 in) Width 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) Height 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in) Loco weight 129.6 tonnes (127.6 long tons; 142.9 short tons) Fuel capacity 6,400 litres (1,410 imp gal; 1,690 US gal) Prime mover EMD 12N-710G3B-EC Class 66/9: EMD 12N-710G3B-T2 Alternator GM-EMD AR8 Traction motors 6 of GM-EMD D43-TR MU working AAR system (Classes 59, 66 & 67) Train heating None Train brakes Westinghouse PBL Air

Performance figures Maximum speed Class 66/6: 65 mph (105 km/h) Balance of fleet: 75 mph (121 km/h) Power output Engine: 3,300 bhp (2,460 kW) at rail: 3,000 bhp (2,240 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 409 kN (91,900 lbf) at starting Continuous: 260 kN (58,500 lbf) at 15.9 mph (25.6 km/h) Loco brakeforce 68 tonnes (67 long tons; 75 short tons)

Career Operators Colas Rail DB Cargo UK Direct Rail Services Freightliner GB Railfreight Numbers 66001–66250 66301–66305 66411-66434 66501-66599 66601–66625 66701–66779 66846-66850 66951–66957 Nicknames 'Shed' 'Ying-Ying' 'Monsters' Axle load class Route availability 7

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 Series 66 (JT42CWR).

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.

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 to be built at the EMD plant in London, Ontario, Canada. The EMD 710 12-cylinder diesel engine is a development of one used 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.