Locomotive diesel - British Rail Classe 66: libri illustrati di storia e guide

Class 66

Quando la British Railways (BR) fu privatizzata nell'aprile del 1994, alcune delle compagnie di trasporto merci furono acquistate dalla English Welsh Scottish Railways (EWSR), che immediatamente esaminò la flotta mista di locomotive e giunse alla decisione di acquistare 250 locomotive dalla General Motors (USA), basandosi sul precedente progetto della Classe 59 fornito alla Foster Yeoman nel 1985.
Consegnata al porto di Newport, ogni locomotiva veniva lubrificata, rifornita di carburante e acqua e rimessa in servizio poche ore dopo essere stata sollevata sulla banchina tramite una gru.

Il mercato del trasporto merci privatizzato nelle sue fasi iniziali era orientato alle industrie pesanti, ma i cambiamenti nelle politiche governative per contrastare il riscaldamento globale hanno comportato conseguenti modifiche nelle operazioni di trasporto merci, mentre il commercio globale ha registrato una crescita massiccia del movimento di container tra porti e centri di distribuzione interni.
Questo mercato in continua evoluzione ha incoraggiato sia gli operatori esistenti che quelli nuovi a basare le proprie attività su una flotta di locomotive affidabile, esigenza soddisfatta dal progetto della Classe 66.

L'espansione dell'area operativa della locomotiva è documentata nel libro attraverso un'analisi regionale che prende in esame sia i servizi di trasporto merci operati nella regione, sia le compagnie che li forniscono. L'analisi evidenzia anche i cambiamenti degli operatori, sia per quanto riguarda la sostituzione delle locomotive che dei trasportatori, in seguito alla rinegoziazione periodica dei contratti.

Il libro di Fred Kerr si propone di mostrare, a ottobre 2019, la gamma di servizi operati dalle locomotive di questa classe, inclusi occasionali servizi passeggeri nonostante le locomotive non fossero dotate di alcun sistema di generazione di calore.

Dettagli del libro

Autore:	Fred Kerr
Formato:	153 pagine, 21.5 x 28 x 2.5 cm, copertina rigida
Illustrazioni:	140 foto in colori
Lingua:	inglese
Editore:	Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781526776259

Class 66/0

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, most of the current locomotives in use on the national network were becoming very tired and evermore unreliable. It was during this time that EWS took over the large bulk of freight operations in the UK, and they quickly realised that major changes were needed.
In 1996, they ordered a whole fleet of 250 Class 66 locos, which followed on from the same basic design as the earlier Class 59, privately owned, locos used for the Mendip aggregates traffic.

The Class 66 was intended for more general use, rather than being used for just one specific purpose though. They have now been in service for over 20 years and have proved very reliable and capable locos. This volume covers the Class 66/0s from their early days up to the present at various locations around the UK.

Dettagli del libro

Autore:	Mark Pike
Formato:	96 pagine, 24.5 x 17 x 0.7 cm, brossura
Illustrazioni:	riccamente illustrato
Lingua:	inglese
Editore:	Key Publishing Ltd (GB, 2022)
Collana:	Britain's Railways
ISBN:	9781802822540

Class 66: 3/4/7/8

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 & 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.

Dettagli del libro

Autore:	Mark Pike
Formato:	96 pagine, 24.5 x 17 cm, brossura
Illustrazioni:	riccamente illustrato
Lingua:	inglese
Editore:	Key Publishing Ltd (GB, 2023)
Collana:	Britain's Railways
ISBN:	9781802822557

Class 66: 5/6/9

This third volume to cover the Class 66 takes a look at the Freightliner-operated Class 66/5/6/9 locos that were delivered during the early to mid 2000s. This was at a time when most of the current locos in use with Freightliner on the national network were becoming very tired and evermore unreliable.
Freightliner followed on from the example set by EWS with the Class 66/0, and very soon they started to order small batches of locos, which led to their current total of over 100 locos, although some have since been exported to Poland, sold to other operators and a few have been taken on from DRS.

The Class 66/5/9 took over the duties usually handled by Classes 47 and 57, whereas the Class 66/6 is a re-geared version capable of hauling heavier loads such as coal or aggregates. They have now been in service for over 20 years and have proved very reliable and capable locos.
This volume covers the locos from their early days up to the present time at various locations around the, especially looking at those in the South.

Dettagli del libro

Autore:	Mark V. Pike
Formato:	96 pagine, 24.5 x 17 cm, brossura
Illustrazioni:	riccamente illustrato
Lingua:	inglese
Editore:	Key Publishing Ltd (GB, 2023)
Collana:	Britain's Railways
ISBN:	9781802822465