The La Guaira and Caracas Railway was a narrow gauge (914mm gauge) line that linked Caracas to the port of La Guira. The line was electrified in the 1920s and used a combination of Swiss built locomotives and British built passenger motor cars. The latter were built by Cravens with electrical equipment by English Electric. The motor cars could carry passengers and also haul other carriages.
One of the motor cars [1]
Information
Number built:
4
Built:
1927
Builder:
Cravens / English Electric
Motor:
4 DK109 traction motors (1500v DC OHLE)
Power:
264 hp (197 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
Bo-Bo
The motor cars served into the 1940s but the line suffered from competition with road transport, and was a different gauge to other railways in Venezuela, after a period of financial difficulty it was nationalised. After storm damage in 1951 the railway was not repaired due to a lack of government finance and closed. The motor cars managed to survive stored at Caracas until the end of the 1950s but were scrapped. Little trace of the railway now remains.
[1] "Electrification of the La Guaira and Caracas Railway", English Electric Journal (4/1928) p. 74
As the LMS/BR Black 5 and Class 47 were to previous generations, the Class 66 is to this one: the universal locomotive that can be seen pretty much anywhere on the national railway network. With a huge fleet of 480 built (most of which are still in service) available it handles the bulk of freight traffic. Indeed more than any other class it is the face of British rail freight. The Class 66 was based conceptually on the Class 59, a US/Canada built freight locomotive bought in small numbers by private companies to haul trains in the latter days of British Rail. The 66 uses the same body shell meaning there are many aesthetic similarities to the 59 but the 66 has a different engine model and traction equipment [1].
The Class 66 was initially ordered by EWS (now part of DB Cargo) in the early days of rail privatisation, the first order was for 250 with subsequent carry-on orders continuing until 2016 when the final batch arrived in the UK. No further new 66s are likely due to changes in EU emission rules. Similar locomotives have been built by EMD for operators in Europe and elsewhere, some of these being later imported to join the British fleet.
The very final Class 66, 66 779, was painted in British Railways lined green and named "Evening Star" after the last steam locomotive built for British Railways [2].
Sub-class
Details
66/0
Original 250
66/3
Extra locomotives now operated by DRS
66/4
DRS and Freightliner operated
66/5
Freightliner operated
66/6
Freightliner operated, re-geared for heavier trains, lower top speed
66/7
GB Railfreight operated
66/8
Colas operated
66/9
With lower emissions engine
The Class 66 is currently operated by DB, Colas, Freightliner, GB Railfreight and DRS. The vast majority are still in service, two have been written off following accidents.
DB 66 041 waits for a signal at Sandbach
Freightliner 66 538 heads through Rugeley Trent Valley
Freightliner 66 517 passes Water Orton
Freightliner 66 543 and 566 rest at Crewe
Another Freightliner loco, 66 545 passes Brondesbury
[1] Colin J. Marsden, Traction Recognition 2nd Edition (Ian Allan, 2008) p. 66 [2] "GBRF Names Last 66 Evening Star", Railways Illustrated No. 161 (July 2016)
Ruston & Hornsby built many 20DLs over a lengthy period. The example here, with the works number 223741 is now preserved at Crich Tramway Museum. The 20DL refers to the power rating (20hp) and DL means narrow gauge. However, 223741 is now a standard gauge locomotive having been converted from 600mm gauge in 1963. A similar locomotive at Crich is 326058.
223741 at Crich
Information
Number built:
1
Built:
1944
Builder:
Ruston & Hornsby
Motor:
Ruston & Hornsby 2VSHL diesel
Power:
20 hp (15 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
4wDM
The locomotive was formerly operated by the Accrington Corporation.
These trams were the first built for the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) metro which began operations in 2004. The trams are a variant of the Bombardier Incentro design, this was originally an ADtranz design but by the time production began Bombardier has taken ADtranz over.
Tram 211 at Southchurch Drive North
Information
Number built:
15
Built:
2002-3
Builder:
Bombardier Derby
Motor:
8 Bombardier asynchronous electric motors (750v DC OHLE)
Power:
480 hp (360 kW)
The trams have five short articulated sections. The trams were refurbished in 2012-13 and have been supplemented by a fleet of Alstrom Citalis trams as the NET has expanded.
204 at Nottingham Station
Behind one of the driver cabs
214 at Compton Acres
In the other direction, 211 arrives at Compton Acres
English Electric built hundreds of electric and battery electric locomotives for industrial and commercial customers. These two locomotives were built for the Rhodesia & General Asbestos Corporation for work at it's Shobani mine. The locomotives worked in tropical conditions at altitude both above and below ground.
The two locomotives [1]
Information
Number built:
2
Built:
1928
Builder:
English Electric
Motor:
2 DK51F electric motors
Power:
15 hp (11.2 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
4wBE
The locomotives could maintain maximum power for an hour with their 95v batteries. The locomotives were not very powerful perhaps though they were pretty small (though weighed four and a half tons), they operated on a 1 foot 6 inch gauge (457mm minimum gauge) railway.
[1] "A recent industrial locomotive installation", English Electric Journal Vol. 4 Issue 2 (1928) p. 60
