Search results for ""author mark pike""

In the late 1990s, English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) ordered a large fleet of 250 Class 66 locomotives to replace a variety of freight locomotive types that had been in service with British Rail for many years. However, EWS also required something with a bit more performance, as well as electric train supply, for hauling charter and mail trains, which were still quite common at that time. A partnership with Royal Mail resulted in the Class 67s moving post around the country. When Royal Mail ended that arrangement in 2004, the Class 67s were pushed into other areas of work, including light freight and occasional passenger services, as well as continuing with charters. Although the design of the Class 67s has not been to everyone's taste, they do at least add a bit of variety to the modern scene. During the 20 years that they have been in service, they have been very reliable with only occasional failures. Containing 220 images, this book illustrates all 30 locos in the class during their first two decades in service.

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In the mid-1980s, one of British Rail's major customers of heavy block trains, Foster Yeoman, suggested the unusual arrangement of running its services with locomotives owned by them, rather than BR. Disappointment in the Class 56s on its routes led Foster Yeoman to look elsewhere for locomotives. They eventually agreed a deal with the US firm General Motors to provide them with the locos designated as Class 59s. The Class 59s surpassed everyone's expectations and other customers unhappy with the Class 56s decided to purchase the Class 59s as well. The locos are now over 30 years old and are still performing the work they were designed for. With over 230 images, this book shows the Class 59s through the years across the United Kingdom.

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In the late 2000s, Freightliner was looking to expand its locomotive fleet towards more powerful and fuel-efficient locomotives that were compliant with the various European Union emission standards and rules. In a departure from the newest and most common locomotives running on the network at the time, Class 66s built by General Motors, Freightliner looked to General Electric to construct these new machines and opted to place an initial order for 20 locomotives with an option for a further ten. The new Class 70 was a 3,690bhp locomotive of a very different design from the Class 66s, with a focus on reliability and efficiency. Eventually, Freightliner declined to take up the option of the further ten locos and instead they were taken on by Colas Rail. Containing over 190 colour photographs, this book is a collection of images showing every Class 70 locomotive, except the ill-fated 70012, over the last decade or so that they have been in service. It shows a variety of locations, mostly in the south of England, where these impressive locomotives can be seen at work. 190 colour photographs

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Although in the late 1970s they were frowned upon by many for replacing a number of loco-hauled services, and indeed locomotives, for 40 years the High-Speed Train (HST) was the mainstay of express services for many train operators in the UK. It was in the former Western Region of British Rail that they first made their mark in service, and they were on duty there from their earliest days until 2019 when, after years of sterling work, they were withdrawn from frontline express duties. Illustrated with over 190 colour photographs, this book looks at the history of many of the power cars that worked in the region and details the varied Western Region locations, some off the beaten track, where they could be seen operating during their four decades of service. 190 colour photographs

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This book looks at the Class 56 and Class 58 locomotives and their service around the UK.

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In the early 1990s, the Waterloo to Exeter route was suffering many delays and problems due to the increasingly unreliable diesel locos being used at the time. It was therefore decided that new trains were the best option. At the time, there was an existing order for Class 158 units already being constructed and it was decided to modify the last 22 of these as Class 159s, specifically for use on western England services. The first of these units started work on the line during May 1993 and gradually replaced all the remaining locos and stock. Later, it was becoming obvious that the initial 22 units were no longer sufficient for the increasing number of travellers, so a further eight Class 158s made redundant in the north of England were modified as Class 159/1s and entered service in the mid-2000s. While their service continues to be good, as they are approaching 30 years old, the time is approaching for replacement.

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First introduced in the late 1980s, the Class 442s were like nothing that had been seen before in terms of Southern Region electric multiple units. These stylish and sleek trains were the first electric multiple units capable of reaching 100mph, and after many years travelling on the old Southern slam-door stock, mostly in vehicles that dated back to the steam era, the public's experience of riding in one of the 442s must have been incredible. The class served with several operators, including South West Trains, Southern and South Western Railway. With the advent of COVID-19 and the cutbacks to rail services across the country, after 35 years of service, the Class 442s found themselves on the chopping block. This book is a pictorial tribute of more than 200 images to what was, by far and away, the best electric unit ever to have worked on the Southern Region electrified lines.

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The Class 60 was the last truly British-built diesel locomotive design. From 1990, the locomotive was gradually delivered, with 100 in total going to the Railfreight sectors of Metal, Coal, Construction and Petroleum. Their introduction did not go smoothly, however, and they took almost three years to enter service due to various teething troubles. Once these were ironed out, the class became reasonably reliable, and examples of other classes that were getting very tired at the time were progressively withdrawn. Privatisation saw all the class being sold on to English, Welsh & Scottish Railways and, in 2004, the first Class 60 was withdrawn. Towards the end of the 2000s, almost all of the locos were put into store with a seemingly very bleak future. However, in the early 2010s, a small fleet of the locos received a thorough rebuilding so they could haul DB Schenker's heaviest trains, and eventually 21 locos were refurbished for them, another ten for Colas Rail and a further four for Devon & Cornwall Railways. This has meant that although the majority of the class is still presently rusting away and unlikely to run again, at least a number of examples will still be visible on the national network for a few more years to come. Illustrated with over 190 photographs, this volume looks at the Class 60s from their early days through to the end of the 2010s.

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Class 47s have now been part of the UK railway system for over 60 years. They have been used on every type of train over the years, including front line passenger, freight and charter trains. During the late 1980s and through the following 20 years, however, many locos were steadily withdrawn from service with their former duties being taken over by newer fixed formation electric and diesel units. However, due to their versatility and almost a go anywhere' capability, many of the newer operating companies that appeared during this period saw the potential in further use for them. Although the vast majority have long since been scrapped, there is still a good amount of examples that can been seen at work throughout the UK. This book shows the duties the class has worked from around the mid-1980s through to the present time.

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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.

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For almost 50 years, High Speed Trains (HSTs) have been the mainstay for express services for many operators in the UK. While they were used extensively by British Rail - even being dubbed the saviour of British Rail' - these trains have been used by other operators as well, including East Coast, Midland Mainline, and Virgin CrossCountry. However, following their mass withdrawal in 2018-19, when the Hitachi bi-mode units came on the scene, many of the HSTs were put into storage, or, sadly, scrapped altogether. Fortunately, not everyone followed suit. Some operators have been reconsidering their potential in recent times. Colas Rail acquired some to use as test trains operated for Network Rail, and Locomotive Services Ltd have two dedicated charter sets that are used throughout the UK. Illustrated with over 230 images, this book follows on from HSTs: The Western Region. It shows HSTs over the past 20-30 years, in numerous UK locations, highlighting why they have served so long and why they should be saved.

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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.

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Carrying on from his first EC Electrics volume, which focussed on classes 86, 87, 90 and Driving Van Trailers (commonly known as DVTs), this book examines classes 91, 92 and DVTs around the UK. The British Rail (BR) Class 91 is a high-speed electric locomotive, which was ordered as a component of the East Coast Main Line modernisation and electrification programme of the late 1980s. The BR Class 92 is a dual-voltage electric locomotive, which was designed specifically to operate services through the Channel Tunnel between Great Britain and France.

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This book features over 180 images of locomotives from classes 2027, operating across the UK.

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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.

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