POWER BY THE HOUR
Classic Roundel-designed livery returns on heavyhauling GBRf Class 66.
GBRf ‘66’ gets retro look; Hanson & Hall hires HST power cars; Class 69s on the move.
THE latest GBRf ‘celebrity’ repaint to emerge from Eastleigh Works is Class 66 No. 66793, the former ‘Euro spec’ HHPI No. 29004.
This Beacon Rail machine has been outshopped in the classic Railfreight Construction colour scheme, which is particularly appropriate for this lowergeared machine that is effectively a Class 66/6.
The loco undertook a test run to Basingstoke and back on March 26, before moving to Doncaster Decoy
Yard with No. 47749 and a pair of exClass 508 barrier coaches (as 5E02). On March 28, it was transferred to Liverpool, tucked in behind No. 60076 on a 6M51 Decoy Yard-Liverpool empty biomass service, where it was expected to be given a thorough workout on these heavy trains that face difficult gradients just to get out of the docks (see also photo on page 20).
Meanwhile, No. 66795, the former MRCE No. 561-05, has already been reliveried into standard GBRf colours following the removal of its
G&W vinyls at Doncaster Roberts Road and a move to the paintshop at Toton via Peterborough on March 12. On the 29th, it was on the move again, collected by No. 66771 on a 0Z95 transfer to EMD Longport for modifications to allow it to work in the UK.
The Beacon Rail/GBRf conveyor belt of reconditioned locomotives continues with the arrival of No. 66798 (the former MRCE No. 513-03) rather than the expected No. 66796 (MRCE No. 513-10). Removed from Immingham Docks on March 25 behind No. 66786 for a short 0P66 trip to Doncaster Decoy, it went to Eastleigh the same day under a 0O66 headcode behind No. 47749. No. 66798 is another European example that wore G&W orange and black, but its wrap was removed while still on the continent to leave the Beacon Rail blue base below.
Nos. 66734, 66799 and the aforementioned No. 66796 are still to arrive and their former identities to be officially revealed.