British Rail Class 70 (diesel)


The British Rail Class 70 is a six-axle Co-Co mainline freight GE PowerHaul locomotive series manufactured by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania. They are operated in the United Kingdom by Freightliner and Colas Rail.

Background and specification

In November 2007, Freightliner announced Project Genesis, a procurement plan for 30 freight locomotives from General Electric. 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. the locomotive meets EU Tier IIIa emission regulations. Freightliner expects that the locomotive's efficiency is 7% better 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, breaking the previous convention that class numbers in the 70s were used for DC electric locomotives.
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 coal train in the same month.
On 5 January 2011, 70012 was dropped 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 and being severely damaged.
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 2, 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. 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. Despite the number range, Colas Rail locomotives remain as Class 70/0 rather than 70/8.

Accidents and incidents

List of Class 70 locomotives

Status of locomotives is correct as of July 2020.
NumberNameLiveryOperatorStatusNotes
70001PowerhaulFreightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70002Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70003Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70004The Coal Industry SocietyFreightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70005Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70006Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70007Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70008Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70009Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70010Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70011Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70012Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerWithdrawnDropped during unloading in Newport Docks.
Returned + repaired as GE test bed.
70013Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70014Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70015Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70016Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerOperational
70017Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerOperational
70018Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70019Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70020Freightliner PowerhaulFreightlinerStored
70801Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperationalRenumbered from Turkish demonstrator 70099, previously
70802Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70803Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70804Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70805Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70806Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70807Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70808Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70809Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70810Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70811Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70812Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70813Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70814Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70815Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70816Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational
70817Colas Rail FreightColas RailOperational

Names