Class 66: 3/4/7/8

Mark Pike

ISBN 10: 1802822550 / ISBN 13: 9781802822557

Published by Key Publishing Ltd, GB, 2023

About this Item

This second volume to cover the Class 66 takes a look at the Fastline/Direct Rail Services/Colas-operated Class 66/3/4/8/7 locos that were delivered during the mid to late 2000s. This was a time when most of the current locos in use with Freightliner and English Welsh and Scottish (EWS) were Class 66s and were tried and tested as reliable locos. Direct Rail Services closely followed EWS and Freightliner and very soon it ordered one batch, then another, then another, until the total was 34. However, DRS later sold the first 20 locos to both GB Railfreight and Freightliner and were left with just 14 locos that they continue to operate to the present day (late 2021). Production numbers of the Class 66/3 only totalled five locos and lasted only a short while (2008-2010) when these five were taken on by DRS. The Class 66/8s also only numbered five locos and these supplement the Class 70s on various work around the UK. This volume covers the locos from their early days up to the present time at various locations around the UK, with a special focus towards the south and its beautiful landscapes.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781802822557

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Class 66: 3/4/7/8
• Publisher: Key Publishing Ltd, GB
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1802822550
• ISBN 13: 9781802822557
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

In the late 1990s, English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) had led the way with their Class 66s. As other operators followed suit, it was decided to distinguish the locomotives based on their operator. EWS’s initial locomotives became 66/0. The Class 66/3/4/7/8 came soon after. Initially owned by Fastline Freight, the 66/3s were eventually added to Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) fleet. The 66/4s were originally used by DRS, but they were then bounced around between GB Railfreight (GBRf), Freightliner and Colas Railfreight. GBRf was also the operator of the 66/7s. The 66/8s were also moved around several operators, including Colas, GBRf, DRS and Freightliner. After almost 25 years of service, these locomotives have proved worthwhile investments, with very few failures or mechanical issues. There has also been some good livery variation with the 66/7s in particular hosting a range of more unusual and colorful designs. With over 200 images, this book looks at Class 66 sub-variants 3/4/7/8 as they hauled trains around the country.