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British Rail Class 70
A Freightliner Class 70 at the Port of Felixstowe in June 2012
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Electric Model PH37ACmi Build date 2008–2017 Total produced 37
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co′Co′  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 1,067 mm (42.0 in) Length 21.710 m (71 ft 2.7 in) Width 2.642 m (8 ft 8 in) Height 3.917 m (12 ft 10.2 in) Loco weight 129 t (127 long tons; 142 short tons) (empty) 135 t (133 long tons; 149 short tons) (full) Fuel capacity 6,000 L (1,300 imp gal; 1,600 US gal) Prime mover GE PowerHaul P616 Alternator GE GTA series Traction motors GE 5GEB30 axle hung MU working AAR system (59, 66, 67, 68 008-015, 69, 70, and 73/9) Train heating None
Performance figures Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h) Power output Engine: 2,750 kW (3,690 bhp) Tractive effort 534 kN (120,000 lbf) (starting)
Career Operators Freightliner Colas Rail Numbers 70001-70020 70801-70817

The British Rail Class 70 is a Co-Co mainline freight GE PowerHaul locomotive series manufactured by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. They are operated in the United Kingdom by Freightliner and Colas Rail. These locomotives replaced the Class 59 as having the highest tractive effort of any Co-Co Diesel locomotive in use in the United Kingdom when they were introduced.

Background and specification

In November 2007, Freightliner announced Project Genesis, a procurement plan for 30 freight locomotives from General Electric (GE). The locomotives ordered were intended to match older types in terms of haulage capacity whilst at the same time being more fuel-efficient. The project was a collaborative effort between Freightliner and GE, with input from drivers on the cab design. The locomotives utilize a GE PowerHaul P616 diesel engine rated at 2,750 kW (3,690 hp). The locomotive meets EU Tier IIIa emission regulations. Freightliner expects that the locomotive's efficiency is 7% higher than contemporary models, with a further 3% increase in efficiency whilst braking; regenerative braking is used to supply the energy to power auxiliary motors.

The locomotives were given the Class 70 TOPS code.

The new locomotives are similar in appearance to a Class 58; a hood unit design with a narrow body typical of locomotive types in use in North America, the cabs are accessed from the rear via exterior walkways on the narrow part of the hood. The distinctive front end shape is due to crashworthiness features It is also fitted with air conditioning and acoustic insulation to improve the crew's environment, making it an improvement over the Class 66.

Operations

Freightliner

Construction of the first two locomotives at GE's Erie, Pennsylvania plant was completed in July 2009, with both locomotives tested during the same month. The original plan was for two months of testing, with the locomotives then spending a further three weeks being modified where necessary and prepared for transport to the United Kingdom.

The first two locomotives arrived at Newport Docks on 8 November 2009. The delivery gave GE its first locomotives in service on the British rail network. The first locomotive was given the name PowerHaul' at Leeds on 24 November 2009.

Four more locomotives were delivered to the UK on 2 December 2009. On operation tests, 70001 hauled a 30-wagon train consisting of 60 ISO containers during December 2009. 70002 also hauled a 19 hopper 1,300-tonne (1,400-ton) coal train in the same month.

On 5 January 2011, 70012 was severely damaged while being unloaded at Newport Dock when part of the lifting gear failed, causing the locomotive to fall back into the hold of the ship.

In January 2017, some were placed in store at Freightliner's Leeds Midland Road depot. By July 2018, 13 of the 19 were in store. In March 2020, only four remained in store, the rest having been returned to service. However, by June 2020 all Freightliner examples were in storage at Leeds Midlands Road, with only two, 016 and 017, returning to service as of July 2020.

Turkish demonstrator

In August 2012, it was announced that the demonstrator locomotive built in Turkey in 2011 was to be transferred to the UK and allocated the number 70099. The locomotive was to be allocated to the private owners pool for use as required. On 19 November 2012, it was announced that 70099 was to test trial with GB Railfreight for coal and intermodal traffic trials.

Colas Rail

In November 2013, Colas Rail announced it had ordered ten class 70s for entry into service in 2014; the order included the Turkish built demonstrator 70099, renumbered as 70801, and the remainder of Freightliner's original order option of 30 locomotives.

Colas' locomotives were allotted numbers in the 708xx range. Locomotives 70802–70805 had already been constructed at the time of the order and were shipped to the United Kingdom in January 2014, with the rest assembled and delivered later the same year. In 2015, Colas announced the purchase of an additional seven locomotives, which were delivered by 2017.

Accidents and incidents

• On 5 January 2011, locomotive 70012 was dropped during unloading from the ship in which it had travelled from the United States. Part of the lifting gear failed, causing the locomotive to fall approximately 13 to 20 ft (4 to 6 m) from the crane, back into the hold of the ship. The impact severely bent the locomotive's frame, rendering it unserviceable and resulting in it later being returned to the United States. It was rebuilt as a test bed and used as a shunter at the Erie plant.
• On 5 April 2012, locomotive 70018 had an engine room fire requiring the attention of the fire brigade, whilst hauling a freight train on the line between Basingstoke and Winchester, Hampshire.
• On 27 February 2016, locomotive 70803 collided with an engineers train at Ivybridge, Devon and was derailed.
• On 30 October 2016, locomotive 70804 ran away and was derailed at Toton Sidings in Nottinghamshire.
• On 28 January 2020, a container train hauled by 70001 was derailed at Eastleigh, Hampshire. The derailment was caused by a defect which allowed the track to spread underneath the train.

See also

• GE CM20EMP, Indonesian twin-cab GE locomotive

Notes

1. Full mass is 135 t, as displayed on the locomotives information plate.
2. The relevant standard at the time of introduction being EN 15227

References

1. "Freightliner Group Orders 30 Locomotives from GE – Transportation for UK Market" (Press release). GE Transportation. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
2. "Freightliner Group Ltd has placed an order for 30 brand new locomotives". freightliner.co.uk (Press release). Freightliner. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008.
3. "Freightliner order 30 General Electric Genesis JS37ACi locomotives". TheRailwayCentre.com. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
4. ^ "PowerHaul brings Evolution technology to Europe". Railway Gazette International. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 1 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
5. PowerHaul locomotive specification sheet (Version 3). Freightliner details may not be final
6. ^ "Freightliner PowerHaul loco design on show". Railway Gazette International. 8 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
7. Rail Express. October 2009. p. 5. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
8. Railways Illustrated. November 2009. p. 13. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
9. "PowerHaul® locos ready for testing" (PDF). freightliner.co.uk (Press release). Freightliner Group. 10 July 2009.
10. "Freightliner PowerHaul locomotives ready for testing". Railway Gazette International. 10 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
11. Haigh, Philip; Clinnick, Richard (2009). "Freightliner PowerHaul starts tests ready for autumn". Rail. No. 623. pp. 6–7.
12. ^ "Class 70s: a decade of disappointment". Rail. No. 893. 4 December 2019. pp. 64–70.
13. "PowerHaul arrival brings GE into European loco market". Railway Gazette International. 8 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
14. "GE lands first British locomotive order". International Railway Journal. January 2008. p. 5.
15. ^ "PowerHaul – Longer, Heavier Trains". freightline.co.uk. Freightliner Group. Freightliner is pleased to announce that PowerHaul locomotive 70001 has successfully completed operational trials hauling, the first ever 30 wagon train to and from the Port of Felixstowe
16. "PowerHaul runs first loaded trial". agg-net.com. QMJ Publishing. 4 December 2009.
17. ^ "New Class 70 dropped during unloading". Rail. No. 662. Bauer Consumer Media. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011.
18. "Class 70s stored". Rail. No. 820. 15 February 2017. p. 31.
19. "Freightliner Class 70 fleet reduced further". Rail Express. No. 267. August 2018. p. 86.
20. "In Brief". Railways Illustrated. April 2020. p. 19.
21. "Tülomsas rolls out Turkish PowerHaul". Railway Gazette. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
22. Coward, Andy (2012). "Demonstrator '70' set for UK use". Rail. No. 701. p. 30.
23. Coward, Andy (2012). "GBRf in the frame for Turkish '70'". Rail. No. 702. p. 33.
24. "Colas Rail orders 10 GE Transportation PowerHaul locomotives". Railway Gazette. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
25. "Colas Class 70 moves". Railways Illustrated. Eastfield Media. January 2014. p. 11.
26. Pritchard, Robert (February 2016). "More 70s for Colas Rail". Today's Railways. No. 170. Platform 5. p. 58.
27. "Damaged Class 70 returns to America". Rail. No. 674. 13 July 2011. p. 29.
28. "Train fire causes "significant" delays to South West Train services". BBC News. 5 April 2012.
29. Adams, Melanie (5 April 2012). "Fire on train at Micheldever causing delays on line between Hampshire and London". Southern Daily Echo.
30. "Collision between two freight trains in a work site near Ivybridge, Devon, 27 February 2016". Rail Accidents Investigation Branch. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
31. "Runaway of locomotive – News stories – GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
32. "Derailed freight train blocks railway line at Eastleigh". BBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
33. "Freight train derailment at Eastleigh, Hampshire 28 January 2020" (PDF). Rail Accidents Investigation Branch. Retrieved 4 March 2021.

Further reading

• Green-Hughes, Evan (March 2011). "Powerhaul Class 70". Hornby Magazine. No. 45. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 72–75. ISSN 1753-2469. OCLC 226087101.

External links

• "PowerHaul". freightliner.co.uk. Freightliner Group.
• "PowerHaul Series Locomotive". getransportation.com. General Electric. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

• British Rail diesel locomotives
• Co-Co locomotives
• GE PowerHaul
• Railway locomotives introduced in 2009
• Standard gauge locomotives of Great Britain
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Great Britain