Description
The Class 66 is one of the most ubiquitous diesel classes in the UK. 480 examples were built for the UK market with additional examples being imported from other countries pools to bolster the amount in service in the UK. The Class 66 is a progression of the privately commissioned Class 59 that Foster Yeoman had constructed to replace their aging and failing BREL locomotives. The Class 66 shares the same body as the 59 but has uprated internals.
In May 1996 EWS placed an order for 250 units to be built in London, Ontario. These would set EWS back £375 million, with the first units arriving relatively quickly in early 1998. The locomotives would be in service from the point they touched down at Newport Docks, with the locomotives shipped already filled with water and fuel. The last such example arrived in the UK in spring 2016.
Class 66 number 66714 entered service in 2003 after arriving in the UK from Canada earlier in the same year. The locomotive became part of the GB Railfreight fleet immediately upon its arrival and has remained on their roster ever since introduction. It is one of their over 100 strong fleet that can often be seen hauling heavy goods trains around the national network. The locomotive was named almost upon its introduction, carrying the name ‘Cromer Lifeboat’ in honour of the lifeboat station of the same name.
