new class 70s
 

Passed a class 70 working on Thurs 26 aug at about 12.30 at Kirkby stephen
any info on this working would be appreciated.

I'm yet to see one, but then I haven't been out so much lately. (Looking after my Ill Partner)

Saw one close up for the first time today passing through Bristol TM, they're awful ugly beasties! At least 66s and 67s are pretty unoffensive to the eye, seems F'liner have gone out of their way to create something 'eye catching'! Oh dear.....:(

Seen fer few round Crewe in the last few weeks!!

some of the class 70 are seen in crewe

Regulars on the great eastern one every day
they are impressive motors,train goes on for ever 30 freightliner bogies
pity they could not have put a fiberglass front on them to make them look better,I think
the sloped front on the gatwick express is a cover
I think the class 90 looks smart. mad thought they could make up a plastic class 52 front to fit over them

had "one off" look today inside the cab of freightliner class 70,thanks to a frend of frend...........lol...

Its amazing to think that they first arrived on 7th. November last year - where has all that time gone!!

Had my first sight of a 70 yesterday at Duffield with a single wagon in tow heading north towards Sheffield: 70005.

Didn't have time to get my camera out as I was helping to extend the headshunt in the EVR Platform.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Impressive load :D

A report on wnxx that the ship with the next batch on board 70008-70012, "Has at last set set sail".:rolleyes:

Regards, 62440.

Some reinforcements are on their way. Presently meandering through the St Lawrence Seaway after being loaded on the 'Beluga Endurance' at Erie for shipment to Newport, Wales. Hopefully they may be more reliable than the first arrivals which have a very poor record for snags and running-in problems! They are also far more complicated than the GM machines they will replace.

Sounds like you know a little more than you're letting on....Go on, dish the dirt. ;)

More are on the way, due to arrive early January, as per this press release from the manufacturers a few days ago:-

GE Transportation has shipped a second batch of five Class 70 PowerHaul locomotives to Freightliner in the UK. Part of a 30-unit order placed in 2007, they join the seven that went into service in November 2009. The locomotives were shipped from the Port of Erie to Newport in South Wales and are anticipated to arrive early January.


The PowerHaul Series represents GE Transportation’s first entry to the UK and European market place. The PowerHaul Locomotive recently made its international debut at InnoTrans, the world’s largest rail trade show in Berlin, generating great interest among European as well as Asian railways.
“We are gratified that Freightliner already has been honored by the U.K. rail industry for their success in deploying GE’s new PowerHaul Series Locomotive,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “It is a strong validation of our strategy of serving rail customers worldwide when the industry itself recognizes the PowerHaul performance advantage. We look forward to even more success for Freightliner with the addition of this latest shipment to their fleet.”
The locomotives shipped by sea today from the Port of Erie to the Port of Newport in South Wales, U.K., and are anticipated to arrive early January.
Leading Technology
The PowerHaul Series Locomotive is GE’s most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and low-emissions diesel-electric freight locomotive to date.
The 129-ton PowerHaul Series locomotive is designed to generate more horsepower and tractive effort while lowering fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than locomotives currently in use. The locomotive features several leading technologies to achieve this performance including the new V16-cylinder, twin-turbo PowerHaul Series engine -- a product of ecomaginationSM. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products.
This 3,700-horsepower engine is EU Stage IIIa emissions certified. Combined with other technologies the engine is projected to reduce PowerHaul locomotive fuel use by approximately 9% compared to current operating fleet averages. This fuel savings also will reduce GHG emissions over a typical duty cycle and overall operating costs.
GE’s unique AC individual-axle traction-control technology enables the PowerHaul Series to haul heavier loads by significantly reducing slippage on start-ups, inclines and suboptimal track conditions.
The PowerHaul Series also features dynamic braking in addition to air brakes to provide smoother handling when hauling heavier loads.
With GE’s traction advantage Freightliner now is able to save time and money by using a shorter, more direct route with a steeper incline for hauling coal on the Bristol-Rugeley power station run. This economical route was unusable by its older fleet locomotives that had to take a longer, indirect route because they could not cope with the incline.
Due to the PowerHaul locomotive’s increased hauling capability compared to its older fleet locomotives, Freightliner also is experimenting with up to 25% longer trains to reduce traffic congestion on the rail network such as on the North London line.

All very impressive, I'm sure, but it's a great pity more thought (SOME thought?) wasn't put into the aesthetic side of things. As my dear old mum used to say, they're " as ugly as a robber's dog." And that's her polite version!
Her OTHER polite expression was "as ugly as a dog's bum with a hat on."

Merry Christmas all. :):D

Not ugly !

More "purposeful";)

They say that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"; Bramleyman reckons that 37s are ugly - naaah - they're terrific - PROPER diesels! And I always thought 'Warships' were good looking things myself, but find 31s sadly lacking in looks...
Those North British diesel-hydraulics always looked like their noses had been bitten off to spite their faces! :)

Having now seen one in the "metal" I think they look better than I had feared!

The Bachmann Model also looks more attractive than I expected.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

I do have to admit, although I dislike them, I do want to see one in the 'metal'.
Where would be the best place to see one?

Get to play with my "Bachmann Model" class 70 tomorrow,like big kid...........:D

Reported on 'wnxx.com' today 70012 was dropped 20' during unloading at Newport. If the reports are true and not exaggerated and the fall was unsupported then the damage must be massive!

Reported on another forum to have caused "Half a million pounds worth ........................of improvements"!:D

Regards, 62440.

Having worked in a large not very good firm who used to manufacture cars in East London. The vehicles I have seen damaged before delivery was numerous, one instance the drivers door being fully opened backwards during a collision in the stock compound. The car were still delivered 'Brand New' after repair to the unsuspecting purchaser. Accidents happen! that's why Insurance Companies exist.

Burton Salmon
 

A 70 went through Burton Salmon with only one coal wagon on Tuesday.
Yes I had just got back in the car so missed the photograph:mad:

Lots of reports but most say 15feet and that H&S have confiscated the lifting rigs

The loco apparently has not been removed from the ship and will not be but returned to Canada

there are reports of an American Scrap company is already in place BUT this is probably spurious as Insurance inspectors have not been allowed on ship and the loco and ship are in the hands of the H&S Exec

Hello all, I heard that they're going to send 012 back to the U.S. where as soon as it lands the Yanks are gonna scrap it, as far as i know the Americans have been sending there rubbish over here for a few years now what with all the 66's or Sheds running around on the network anything British Built get Scrapped these days what a shame.......So much for Great Britian.

The Sheds are Now Europe wide but the best bit is the Class 58's in Holland and Spain Not to forget the 03's in Italy and I believe there are some 37's in Spain too

Wish we could get the Government to help Think about the 8F's that are being bought back from Turkey

As a 'glass half empty' sort of person I should point out that it could have been worse. At least when it fell back into the ship it didn't go through the bottom. Acccording to Wonkypedia it weighs 129 T !

That would have been a cra**y day for someone. :eek:

there was a traffic report on classic fm this afternoon they said a lorry had shed its load of train engines.i have never seen more than one engine per lorry
may be they were small industrials
anyone know what happened?

Perhaps they meant 'engines' as in internal combustion engines, rather than 'engines' as in locos ? :confused:

FP

no. no sorry should have made it clear they said train engines..

It's a great pity these things weren't nicknamed 'Clangers' - it would have been ideal if the person responsible for the mishap had been able to say that he'd dropped a clanger....:)

I only wish i was on the crane i would have dropped the lot horrible locos :confused: :confused:.

ccmmick.

The question of the locos returning to the states all depends on where the ship is booked to go next.
Liability will probably initially be on whoever was lifting. Photos of the loading appeared to show the ships own crane doing this.
However this may not be the case for the unload.

LOL
Round here there called Bettys (Ugly Bettys) after the TV show of the same name

70002 at Darlington this morning on coal southbound 0915 hrs

Saw class 70 today at Helsby,pulling coal.......

class 70 nicknames
 

I've not been comvinced by any of the nicknames so far although i've heard 3 this week that seemed a bit more catchy; 'tonkas', 'weebles' and 'bricks'! Hmm. :confused:

I think we should try to grow to love them,they cannot help being designed for the job rather than the look they seem to do a good job on the GEML longer container trains
and from reports I have read they have great pulling power !
Pity about the looks. If only they could fit that kit in a Western body

Just found out about these locomotives in a special Trains diesel issue. They obviously have a low-clearance capability and remind me of the EMD G12, a road switcher found in Mexico. What's impressive to me is when you consider the 3,700 hp in a small package and I like the double cab. My concern, however, is if there's a collision, the engineer could easily get killed, because of such a short nose.

If you go to youtube.com, type "PowerHaul Story" into the search and you'll find a good clip on it. Includes a unit being on-loaded in Norfolk, VA and off-loaded in Newport, Wales.

Is the PH37ACmi now the standard freight loco of the UK?