GB Railfreight Class 67 debuts on the Caledonian Sleeper
ONE OF the two Class 67 acquired earlier this year by GB Railfreight from Colas Rail Freight has made its debut on the Caledonian Sleeper, for which GB Railfreight provides the traction.
Still carrying the vivid yellow, orange and black Colas livery but without any branding, 67023 Stella worked with 73966 from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness on April 8, returning a Class 67 to the head of a Caledonian Sleeper service – once a common sight when the sleeper services were previously operated by DB Cargo.
The Caledonian Sleeper is usually hauled by a GBRF Class 92 from London Euston to the Scottish central belt. Upon arrival at Edinburgh Waverley, the sleeper is split into three portions, with one portion heading to Fort William, another to Aberdeen, and the third going to Inverness.
These three trains are then worked by Class 73/9 locomotives (usually 76966-971) which have had their electric third rail shoe gear removed and are fitted with larger fuel tanks.
While the Fort William and Aberdeen services are operated by single Class 73/9s, the Inverness train usually has a locomotive added in front of the Class 73, with GBRF Class 66s being used mostly in recent times. The Class 73/9 is required as it needs to act as a translator locomotive and is fitted with couplers that can be coupled to the Mk.5 Sleeper stock in use on the trains.
GBRF leases 67023 and 67027 Charlotte from Beacon Rail and the two locomotives are expected to be used extensively on Caledonian Sleeper services to allow Class 66s to be released for other GBRF contracts.