The Class 68s at 10 years old: The story so far
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- A class with arguably no specialised niche, yet with enough capabilities to suit a plethora of different applications - the class 68s have already had a vibrant service history after ten years. This video will cover the history, technical specifications and future of the class, narrated by yours truly in the first video essay of the channel.
Any known inaccuracies in facts presented during this video will be listed in a pinned comment below.
Hope you enjoy this production! Let me know any/all feedback you have in the comments below so that I can continuously improve the format.
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Chapters:
00:00 = Intro
01:34 = Early history
03:25 = Technical specification
04:53 = Operational history
08:23 = Conclusions
09:41 = Outro
10:14 = Class 68 compilation
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RailQuest 2024 
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Lovely sound, almost as good as a Deltic or Western. As it happens I have lived beside a busy railway and loved the mix of noisy action followed by absolute silence. I've also lived by a main road which was a continuous drone 24hrs a day with the occasional loud bang when there was an accident. I now live in the middle of nowhere with no sound at all. I miss the railway!
I always thought the earlier examples, specifically the ones built by vossloh sounded very western like for sure. That's a really interesting story! Thanks for watching!
What a fantastic video this was! The 68s were the first classes to be introduced after my interest in the railways started and they really are fantastic locos, they sometimes make it seem like the ground is rumbling when they depart, I bet that hellfire departure of 68022 from Warrington Bank Quay felt like that
Many thanks!! I actually got into trainspotting a few years after they were introduced so the 88s ended up being the first train I ever saw introduced. And yep, that departure from WBQ was insane!
The Scarborough noise complaints weren't due to normal running. It was the night time idling during servicing working. I'm a mile away from Seamer station and can hear them plain as day during start/stop in the station. Personally i think thryre great but can understand the complaints.
Thats interesting! I find it bizarre that TPE weren't able to find a better operational solution that didn't require the locos running with ETS through the night honestly.
@@railquest I've they'd have moved the new depot 200m up the line its an industrial/commercial area where no one lives. A little bit of forward planning would have mitigated this before it was an issue.
@@tedcopple101 if you heard them 1mile away, 200meters wouldn't have made much difference, would it.
@@five-o5362 topography would make a huge difference.
We are having the same problems with our 68s at Stourbridge depot, noise complaints about running them for ETS for cleaning/maintenance activities.
Very well produced and presented.
Many thanks!
Great video, encouraged me to subscribe. I think the Class 68 is the best modern diesel for the enthusiast. Beautiful looks and sound. Haven't heard anything as exciting since the Deltics.
Many thanks! And absolutely - definitely a loco that gets a lot right in the eyes of enthusiasts!
Great video.
Love the sound of the 68s. I filmed one at Stafford a few weeks ago, I thought it was a helicopter approaching! 👍🏻😁
Thanks! Absolutely - such a modern classic!
Once of the best looking locos of recent years. Powerful looking but stylish.
Fully agree - truly a modern locomotive
Super vid! 👏 well done on the improved format and overall professionalism. Very good!
Many thanks!!
Well presented video. Good accompanying footage.
Thanks!
Oh no way! Firstly, great video! Really love the 68s and this was very well presented! Also, great meeting you at Canley for the Class 52 on Sunday! Keep up the good work!
Many thanks!
@@railquest you're more than welcome 😁
Such a great and well put together video.
I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been able to work with these locos over the past year.
Many thanks! What do you work as with them?
@@railquest I’m a fitter, but it also included depot driving 👍🏻
Hello from USA. Thanks for an informative video of class 68 with great film and sound too. I like the flexibility of this locomotive and hope it will provide good service for a long time.
Many thanks! It's definitely a loco that's capable of a lot of things!
Great vid, very informative
Thanks!
Speculation I know, but would it make sense to move surplus 68s to the Caledonian Sleeper? When trains north of the central belt are often using a 66 *and* a 73 to haul 7 or so carriages, it seems like a 68 could do the job of both of them and do it far more efficiently - especially the ex-TPX fleet that is already configured to work with Mk5a carriages.
Interesting idea. Not sure if Caledonian are locked into a contract with GBRf currently that might prevent such a reality. Perhaps the biggest foreseeable issue for that may be further noise complaints of the locos in Fort William and Inverness specifically but who knows!
The sound is old loco sound, like a HST, I love it
Definitely brings back a level of thrash to the railways reminiscent of the modernisation plan designs!
Interesting video. The first time I heard one was at Waverley. Absolute beast of a noise. I can see why the residents of Scarborough were a tad miffed! If they're so much lighter than the 66s they may get used on routes where old 37s currently roam.
Thanks! Yes I had the pleasure of seeing a couple of these at Waverley and they'd always be the only train you could hear whenever they were there. Unfortunately, despite being lighter, the axle weight is quite similar as their bo-bo axle arrangement means less wheels to distribute weight. As a result, both 66s and 68s have the same route availability. The class 37s have the same number of axles as a class 66, but 20 less tons - truly a challenging loco to replace!
Good informative video! It's looking more likely that Chiltern railway is also going to hand back its 68s. as like TPE, they are experiencing noise issues, however its believed one of the class has been fitted with a new exhaust system for trial?
Thanks! I keep hearing contradictory rumours on this tbf. One moment I'll hear about these noise complaints, then a second later I hear that Chiltern are interested in purchasing the ex TPE mk5 sets haha. Will be interesting to see what happens in the end!
MK5a's and the 68's would suit TFW in my opinion
Loads of speculation has gone down on places like RailUK forums about potential like this. Atm it sounds like Chiltern will be taking them on to replace the MK3s given a recent tender that seems to target the mk5s specifically. If that does happen - I could see the Chiltern non-MK5 68s replacing the 67s in use with TFW
Time flies
It certainly does! I still remember the 88s entering service as if it were yesterday
great video matey , very informative thanks for the information loved it , take care a r b syd👍
Many thanks!
Nice looking locomotives..very modern,sleek.
Indeed - I'd put them up as one of the best looking locomotives but then I'm more of a fan of modern stuff. They've been fortunate enough to have a decent line up of liveries applied to them, with 68006 looking particularly fancy at the moment with the newer DRS colours
Never seen them in the flesh, the Transpennine livery makes them look futuristic
When you get a chance to see one - the first thing that you'll notice is how loud they are😅
I definitely agree on the transpennine livery but I honestly think every livery they've had (apart from maybe the Chiltern plain silvery colours) looks futuristic.
I'm surprised they cannot be muffled without disrupting too much power...
I keep hearing that Chiltern/DRS are looking into lowering the volume though I'm not sure what specifically they're planning to do. I doubt it would have an impact on the performance of the loco though 🙂
...didn't the CAF Mk V's also have issues with frame cracks (amongst other serious defects)?
They did from what I remember but that was merely one of many reasons they were withdrawn from TPE. From my understanding, the crew training was the main factor
A class 68 provides my msg notifications on my phone. I love the engine note: I love a good diesel, me.
Great idea, that! I guess it'd feel like an earthquake is going off when you get a message in that case give the engine note in question lol
Very cool but, i want to know what bracking is?
Ha ha, a special form of braking. 😜
Railway Network Electrification in Britain is far to be a total reality for a variety of reasons among historic and financial. So i believe class 68s will play an imoortant role along to class 66s by keep on the moove significant flow of goods by rail and who knows special train movements that at the present are heritage traction duties such as class 43 HSTs, 37s and 47s reaching their end of the line on mainline duties. Not even to mention class 20s and 56s.
Interesting point for sure. Personally, I certainly hope they get more use than they get atm! I always was confused as to why 68s weren't earmarked for replacing 37s on NR test duties but, annoyingly, 68s are RA7 whereas the 37s are RA5 so they can head test trains over tiny branch lines
They'd be great locos for the Scottish sleeper trains and get rid of the 73/9's
This seems to be an interesting recurring answer. My response to a previous comment was - Not sure if Caledonian are locked into a contract with GBRf currently that might prevent such a reality. Perhaps the biggest foreseeable issue for that may be further noise complaints of the locos in Fort William and Inverness specifically but who knows!
awsome video Love U.K Trains
Thanks!
So much quieter than the first generation diesels they were so noisy. and smokey.
In some ways definitely. But in terms of bass, I honestly think they can be louder at times😅
Certainly when ETS is active whilst standing still, I don't think many locos rival them
Scarborough residents (the fussy ones) must accept that the railway is not a place whose long gone Steam Era should be taken for granted as a Noise Free Zone relying in much quieter modern traction! Class 68s/67s rumbling engine reve when on electric suply mode to energise climatized coaches whilst stationary, brings much more convenience than inconvenience. So lineside residents from elsewhere, specially alongside Train/Tram Depots, must expect a noisy environment before move to a property in such locations, and more important, expect their long closed railway to be restored for its original purpose any time in story, because Dr. Beeching just switched the Standby Mode button to save tax payers money, despite Marples much different intentions.
To an extent, but I have to admit - every time I'm close to a 68 on ETS, I can usually hear it from a pretty far distance. They're way louder than the 185s and I honestly can't say I wouldn't also complain if I lived in the area and the 185s were swapped for 68s on Scarborough depot haha
I was the 88th like, hehe (great vid btw)
Thanks haha