British Rail Class 67 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 67
67030 in EWS livery (Kingswear 2017)
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Alstom Meinfesa, Valencia Model EMD JT42HW-HS Build date 1999–2000 Total produced 30
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo′Bo′  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge Wheel diameter 965 mm (3 ft 2 in) Minimum curve 75 m (3.7 ch) Wheelbase Bogie wheelbase: 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in) Bogie pivots: 11.63 m (38 ft 2 in) Length 19.71 m (64 ft 8 in) Width 2.71 m (8 ft 11 in) Height 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in) Loco weight 88–90 tonnes (87–89 long tons; 97–99 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 5,400 litres (1,190 imp gal; 1,430 US gal) Prime mover EMD 12N-710G3B-EC Alternator EMD AR9AC6HEX Traction motors EMD D43FM MU working AAR system (59, 66, 67, 68 008-015, 69, 70, and 73/9) Train heating Electric Train Supply (index: 66 / 330 kW) Loco brake Electropneumatic Safety systems AWS TPWS ETCS
Performance figures Maximum speed Design speed: 125 mph (201 km/h) Power output Engine: 3,200 bhp (2,386 kW) @900 rpm At rail: 2,500 hp (1,864 kW) Continuous: 92 kN (20,700 lbf) @75 km/h (47 mph) Brakeforce 780 kN (78 long tons-force)
Career Operators Colas Rail DB Cargo UK Transport For Wales Numbers 67001–67030 Nicknames Skips Axle load class Route availability 8 Current owner DB Cargo UK Colas Rail (Only 67023, 67027) Transport For Wales (Only 67026, 67028) Disposition 21 in service, 8 stored, 1 scrapped
Sources: except where noted

The Class 67 locomotives are powerful diesel-electric locomotives used on railways in Great Britain. They were built between 1999 and 2000 in Spain by Alstom and Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD). These locomotives are known for their speed and ability to pull both Royal Mail trains and passenger coaches. They are a type of Bo-Bo locomotive, which means they have two bogies (wheel sets) with two powered axles each.

The Story of the Class 67 Locomotives

How the Class 67 Locomotives Were Designed

EWS (English Welsh & Scottish Railway) ordered 30 of these locomotives. They needed new trains to replace their older Class 47 locomotives. The new Class 67s were designed to pull fast mail trains and passenger services. The company Angel Trains helped with the funding. After 15 years, DB Cargo UK took full ownership of these locomotives.

The body of the Class 67 is a special design by Alstom. It's like a strong shell that carries the weight. The wheels and their frames (called bogies) are also Alstom's design. The engine, generators, and motors come from General Motors' EMD, similar to those used in the Class 66 locomotives. However, the Class 67's motors are mounted differently. This helps them go faster. The driver sits in the middle of the cab for a good view.

These locomotives can also provide Electric Train Supply. This powers the heating and air-conditioning for passenger coaches. They can connect to other trains using two types of couplers: buffers and chain couplers and buckeye couplers.

Testing the New Locomotives

Before they came to the UK, the Class 67s were tested in Spain. Locomotive 67002 reached a top speed of 143 miles per hour (230 km/h) during these tests.

The first locomotive, 67003, arrived in the UK in October 1999. There were some small delays at first. The trains were a tiny bit too wide for some railway lines. But these issues were quickly fixed. All 30 locomotives arrived in the UK by early 2000.

Initially, the heavy weight on each axle meant they could only go 110 mph (177 km/h). Engineers made changes to the bogies. By July 2001, locomotive 67023 could run at 125 mph (201 km/h). All 30 locomotives were updated by June 2003.

Where the Class 67 Locomotives Work

Working for DB Cargo UK

The Class 67s first mainly pulled mail trains. However, in 2003, the mail train contract ended. All mail services stopped by March 2004.

Since then, these locomotives have found new jobs. They helped pull the Caledonian Sleeper trains in Scotland. These are overnight passenger trains. In 2015, GB Railfreight took over this contract. They used Class 67s for a few more years until new Class 73/9 locomotives were ready.

Class 67s also act as "Thunderbird" rescue locomotives. They help move trains that have broken down. They also pull some freight trains and special tourist trains. Two Class 67s were specially painted for the British Royal Train starting in 2003. A third one received a special paint job for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012.

Some Class 67s also worked for Wrexham & Shropshire passenger services until 2011. Chiltern Railways later used Class 67s for their services between London and Birmingham. They were replaced by Class 68s from December 2014.

In December 2023, DB Cargo UK announced that 10 Class 67s were available for sale.

Working for Colas Rail

In January 2017, Colas Rail bought two Class 67s, 67023 and 67027. They were repainted and now help check the railway tracks for Network Rail. These two locomotives were later leased back to Colas Rail after being sold to Beacon Rail Leasing in December 2018.

Working for Transport for Wales Rail

Transport for Wales Rail started using Class 67s in 2012 for their "Premier Service." This service runs between Holyhead and Cardiff Central.

In January 2023, Transport for Wales Rail expanded its use of Class 67s. They leased 12 locomotives from DB Cargo UK. These trains can operate in a "Push-Pull" way. This means a locomotive is at one end and a special control car (a Driving Van Trailer) is at the other. This allows the train to change direction without the locomotive moving to the other end. These Class 67s wear different paint schemes.

Other Companies That Used Class 67 Locomotives

GBRf

In mid-2022, GB Railfreight (GBRf) temporarily used 67023 and 67027. They used them for the Caledonian Sleeper trains in Scotland. Locomotive 67023 started working on these services in December 2022. Locomotive 67027 was repainted into GBRf colours. However, by June 2023, 67027 was returned to Colas. Locomotive 67023 also went back to Colas later that year.

The Class 67 Fleet

Illustrations

Diagram of a Class 67 locomotive.

Summary of the Fleet

Detailed Fleet List

Locomotives that do not currently carry their names are shown with the name in brackets.

The Different Looks of Class 67 Locomotives

The Class 67 locomotives have worn many different paint schemes, called liveries. They started in EWS's maroon and yellow colours.

In 2003, locomotives 67005 and 67006 were chosen for the British Royal Train. They were painted in a special Royal Claret colour. They were named Queen's Messenger and Royal Sovereign.

Locomotive 67029 was painted silver in 2004. It was used for the DB Schenker Company Train. In 2007, 67029 was named Royal Diamond. This honoured the 60th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

From 2008, some locomotives (67012–67015) wore Wrexham & Shropshire's silver and grey livery. They received names like A Shropshire Lad and Thomas Telford. These locomotives later changed colours for their new roles.

In 2010, 67018 was painted red with a maple leaf for DB Cargo UK. It was named Keith Heller.

Locomotives 67001–67003 were painted blue for Arriva Trains Wales in 2011. They worked on the Cardiff-Holyhead service.

In 2012, 67026 received a silver livery with a Union Flag and a special logo. This was for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II celebrations. Queen Elizabeth II named it Diamond Jubilee.

In 2015, 67004 was painted "Midnight Teal" for the Caledonian Sleeper. It was named Cairn Gorm. Locomotive 67010 also received this livery. Both have since been repainted into DB Cargo red.

In 2017, Colas Rail's 67023 and 67027 were named Stella and Charlotte.

During October 2017, 67021 and 67024 were painted in a brown and cream livery. This was for the Belmond British Pullman luxury train services.

In October 2018, the Royal locomotives, 67005 and 67006, were repainted in a slightly updated Royal claret livery.

Images for kids

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  Original EWS livery (67017, Plymouth 2003)

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  Royal Train livery (67005, King's Cross 2008)

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  Silver jubilee livery (67029, Taunton 2010)

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  DB Schenker livery (67018, Paignton 2010)

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  67015 in Wrexham & Shropshire livery (Marylebone 2008)

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  Arriva livery (67003, Holyhead 2012)

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  Caledonian Sleeper livery (67004, Edinburgh Waverley 2015)

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  Colas Rail livery (67027, Derby 2017)

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  Pullman livery (67024 & 67021, Truro 2018)

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  Transport for Wales Silver & Red livery (67017, Crewe 2024)

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  Transport for Wales Black & Red livery (67020, Crewe 2024)

Train Incident at Lawrence Hill

67002 at Lawrence Hill after the incident.

A serious train incident happened with locomotive 67002 at Lawrence Hill (Bristol) on November 1, 2000. A Royal Mail train, pulled by 67002, went past two red signals. It then ran into the back of a coal train. The mail train was travelling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).

The locomotive climbed over the back of the coal train. It stopped on top of a coal wagon, against a bridge. The driver of the mail train suffered some injuries. No other people were hurt. Investigators first thought the brakes might be faulty. However, they later found the incident was caused by railway staff misunderstanding and incorrectly using a brake valve.

Model Trains

If you like model trains, Hornby Railways made its first model of the BR Class 67 in 2006. It is available in the OO gauge size. The Class 67 is also one of the few British locomotives available in the very small T gauge size.

See also

• The Israel Railways JT 42BW and Renfe Class 333.3 are a similar design
• Vossloh Euro 4000 – Related locomotives built at the same factory (former Alstom Valencia plant)