Class 66 Profile and Models
66206 at Barton in June 2016. ©Clagmaster
The Class 66 is a six-axle diesel-electric freight locomotive, somewhat based on the earlier Class 59 locomotives. The class has proved to be highly successful with a total production run of 480 in the UK (with additional locos imported from overseas following this) and alternative versions of the loco being marketed to Europe as the EMD Class 66. Upon privatisation, a number of newly-privatised rail freight companies; Transrail, Mainline, Loadhaul, Railfreight Distribution, and RES were bought out and became EWS. EWS inherited a fleet of 1,600 mostly diesel locomotives, including many Class 47s which had to be overhauled every 7 years at a cost of £400,000. In an effort to reduce their operating costs, EWS approached Electro-Motive Diesel to build new locomotives based on the Class 59 bodyshell but with a different engine and traction motors to enable higher speed running - leading to the commissioning of the Class 66. EWS ordered 250 Class 66 locos, in what was termed "the biggest British loco order since steam days". Further orders were placed by Freightliner, GB Railfreight, and Direct Rail Services in later years. 66779 was the last Class 66 to be built as the design could no longer meet the stringent stage 3b emissions regulations. The locomotives have proved to be extremely reliable and adaptable, being used for across a huge spectrum of UK freight operations. |
|
Type of Locomotive |
Diesel-Electric |
Builder |
Electro-Motive Diesel |
Build Dates |
1998 to 2008 2014 to 2015 |
Total Built |
480 |
Tractive Effort |
91,900 lbf |
Power Output |
3,300 hp |
Top Speed |
Class 66/6: 65mph Rest of fleet: 75mph |
Wheel Configuration |
Co-Co |
Operated By |
EWS Euro Cargo Rail DB Cargo GB Railfreight Direct Rail Services Colas Rail Freightliner |
Main Duties |
Freight |
In Service Until |
Present |
Surviving Examples |
477 |
Products awaiting categorisation
Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC compatible but no socket |
ND052NW-OLD View |
Class 66 diesel 66566 in Freightliner livery (Non Working) | Freightliner PLC | |
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC Ready. 6-pin socket |
ND077-OLD View |
Class 66 diesel 66549 "Spirit of Kyoto" in Freightliner livery (NOT PERFECT- see product description for info) | Freightliner PLC | |
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC Ready. 6-pin socket |
ND144a View |
Class 66 Diesel 66017 EWS livery (dummy) | EWS - English Welsh and Scottish | |
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC Ready. 6-pin socket |
ND144b View |
Class 66 diesel 66173 EWS Livery (dummy) | EWS - English Welsh and Scottish | |
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC Ready. 6-pin socket |
ND144c View |
Class 66 Diesel 66512 Freightliner Livery (dummy) | Freightliner PLC | |
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC Ready. 6-pin socket |
ND144d View |
Class 66 Diesel 66524 Freightliner Livery (dummy) | Freightliner PLC | |
N Gauge | Dapol | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | DCC Ready. 6-pin socket |
ND201B View |
Class 66 diesel 66956 Freightliner (powered) | Freightliner PLC | |
N Gauge | Kato | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
K10821 View |
Class 66 66195 in Euro Cargo Rail livery | Awaiting Categorisation |