Class 68
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The Class 68 locomotives were built by Vossloh and introduced to service by DRS in 2014. They are powered by a 3805hp CAT C175-16 Caterpillar engine, and have a maximum speed of 100mph.
ScotRail Use
New 68003 Sits on Motherwell TMD, Mon Tue 1st July 2014 Photo by JimGillies
- The first Class 68 to cross the border in to Scotland was on 9th June 2014 with 68003 hauling five mk2 coaches as the 1120 5Z69 from Carlisle Kingmoor to Motherwell.
- The first revenue earning train to be Class 68 hauled in Scotland was on 29th July 2014, with 68005 hauling the 4H47 05:08 Mossend - Inverness Needlefield Yard Intermodal train.
- The class made its passenger debut on additional ScotRail services for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the first working was on Tuesday 23rd September, 68006 hauled eight Mk2 coaches (and 68005 on the rear) as 1Z25 0623 Glasgow Central to Gleneagles.
- Six of the fleet carry a silver & grey livery for use on Chiltern Railways London - Birmingham service, one of these locomotives,
- 68014, worked the 4H47 05:08 Mossend - Inverness and 4D47 return on Tuesday 23rd to Friday 26th September, and also Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th September 2014
68014 passes Larbert with 4D47 for Mossend. Photo by gazhamilton
- 68013 has also visited Motherwell on March 7th 2015.
ScotRail Use
- From April 1st 2015 until 2020, Class 68s were hauling two morning and evening peak-time ScotRail trains between Edinburgh and Glenrothes.
- 68006 'Daring' and 68007 'Valiant' were repainted in the ScotRail 'Saltire' livery for use on these trains. However other Class 68s occasionally appeared.
- From 30th March 2020, a reduced Covid-19 timetable was introduced and the loco hauled trains were switched to two late evening services.
- These continued until the final day of use, Friday 29th May 2020.
68007 Valiant with 2K14 18:15 Glenrothes with Thornton - Edinburgh at Aberdour 14th April 2015 Photo by camerar
- In 2016, an additional 9 class 68s (68026-34) were ordered and arrived in 2017 but will mostly be used for loco hauled Transpennine express services from 2018.