Class 66 Profile and Models

Class 66

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.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

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 No image available 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 No image available 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 No image available 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 No image available 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 No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled DCC Ready. 6-pin socket ND144c
View
Class 66 Diesel 66512 Freightliner Livery (dummy) Freightliner PLC
N Gauge Dapol No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled DCC Ready. 6-pin socket ND144d
View
Class 66 Diesel 66524 Freightliner Livery (dummy) Freightliner PLC
N Gauge Dapol No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled DCC Ready. 6-pin socket ND201B
View
Class 66 diesel 66956 Freightliner (powered) Freightliner PLC
N Gauge Kato No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set K10821
View
Class 66 66195 in Euro Cargo Rail livery Awaiting Categorisation