British Rail Class 68
68 008 passing Norton Fitzwarren in 2016
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sources: Technical parameters. (except where noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | Vossloh |
| Model | Vossloh UKLight |
| Build date | 2013–present |
| Total produced | 25 (plus 9 on order) |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Bo-Bo |
| UIC class | Bo'Bo' |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Wheel diameter | 1,100 mm (3 ft 7.3 in) |
| Loco weight | approximately 85 tonnes |
| Fuel type | diesel |
| Fuel capacity | 5,000 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,300 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Caterpillar C175-16 |
| Alternator | ABB WCqx560pb6 |
| Traction motors | Four ABB 4FRA6063 (600 kW) |
| MU working | 68 001-68 007 and 68 016-68 034: Within class only. 68 008-68 015: AAR System, compatible with Classes 59, 66, 67, and 70 plus AAR fitted Mk3 coaches and DVTs. |
| Train heating | Electric, HEP inverter up to 500 kW |
| Loco brake | Blended: Rheostatic braking (2100kW); electropneumatic. |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) |
| Power output | 3,800 hp (2,800 kW) at 1,740 rpm |
| Tractive effort | 317 kN (71,000 lbf) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | |
| Numbers | 68 001–027 (delivered) 68 028–034 (on order) |
| Official name | UKLight |
| Nicknames | Warskips, Cats, Turtles, Diggers |
| Axle load class | RA 7 |
| Delivered | 2014 |
| First run | 2014 |
| Current owner | Beacon Rail |
The Class 68 is a type of mainline mixed traffic diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by Vossloh for Direct Rail Services in the United Kingdom. The design is derived from the Vossloh Eurolight, and Vossloh's product name is UKLight.
The second batch of Class 68s - also for Direct Rail Services - completed delivery in April 2016.
On 5 January 2012, Direct Rail Services announced it had placed an order for fifteen 160-kilometre-per-hour (100 mph) Vossloh Eurolight locomotives from Vossloh for intermodal and passenger work with a 16-cylinder 2.8 MW (3,800 hp) C175-16 engine from Caterpillar Inc. to be delivered from late 2013. The value of the contract has been estimated at £45 million. An option for ten further UKLights was confirmed to have been taken up in September 2014. Further to this, on 28 July 2015 Vossloh España announced an order for a further 7 locomotives from DRS. In January 2017 a further two locomotives were added to the order.
The locomotives have been given TOPS class 68, Vossloh's product name for the design is UKLight.
The Class 68 complies with Stage III A of the European emission standards.
The first locomotive spent several months being tested at Velim Test Centre in the Czech Republic prior to being shipped to the UK. The second unit in the class, numbered 68 002, was the first to arrive in the UK in January 2014.
The Class 68 is a mixed-traffic locomotive intended for use on both passenger and freight trains. DRS has a contract with VSOE to provide locomotives for its Northern Belle service. DRS has indicated that the locomotives will likely be used on container traffic, and on Network Rail trains for which it is contracted to operate, but that they will not be used on nuclear flask trains, however they have been used on these numerous times.
...
Wikipedia