Transport of Delight

The class 59 Co-Co was the first class bought by a private operator for
freight operation. Foster Yeoman ordered an initial four locomotives from
GM in the USA to handle their quarry traffic from Merehead. These were
built at the LaGrange works in Illinois and were delivered in 1986, followed
by a fifth in 1989, forming class 59/0. All remaining 59s were built in London,
Ontario. Two other companies ordered the class: ARC who bought four 59/1
units, also for aggregate traffic in 1990 while National Power bought six 59/2
for limestone traffic between 1993 and 1995. The locomotives are type 5,
fitted with an EMD 16-645E3C engine, rated at 3000 hp.

The massive Class 66 fleet sprang initially from an order placed by EWS for
250 locomotives which first entered service in 1998. They utilise an almost
identical bodyshell to Class 59 but are powered by a GM 12N-710G3B-EC
engine developing 3300 hp. Other operators have also bought the class
and. at the end of 2008 there were over 450 of the class in service in the
UK. Classifications include 66/0 for EWS, 66/4 for DRS, 66/5 and 66/6 for
Freightliner and 66/7 for GB Railfreight while class 66/9 currently comprise
two units using low-emission GM 12N-710G3B-T2 engines.

There are currently 39 photographs in this gallery. Updated 10/09/09.

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