European Railroad Discussion > 68013 - Chiltern's new toy

Yesterday 68013, one of the new DRS owned (but Chiltern liveried) Vossloh/Caterpillar UKlight class 68s, carried out a test run from Wembley to Bicester North and back with one of Chiltern's Mainline set of Mark 3 cars. The 68s will take over from the DBS owned class 67s on Chiltern loco hauled trains during 2015, this was the first time they've run with one of the plug door Mainline sets. The journey from Wembley was via Marylebone, then non-stop to Bicester North before retracing its steps to Wembley. I can't say I really like the look of the 68s, like most modern locomotievs they are rather style-less, but the throaty sound of the 16 cylinder Caterpillar prime mover was pretty impressive as it roared past. In true British fashion they already have a nickname - Turtles - something to do with a resemblance to teenage ninja turtles. Perfectly logical to a nine year old, not so to anyone older :-)

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Turtle?
Popular with young people?
Free publicity?
Chiltern should jump on that, order some green paint first thing Monday morning!
It's good to have fun.
Thanks for posting.

Oh Dear, they're over here!
I suspect its only a matter of time before somebody calls it "sexy", enough said!

Keith G, London, UK

CIT1023 Wrote:
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> Oh Dear, they're over here!

They've been in service for a few months now, Chiltern's Banbury service (1H20 and 1U61) have been 68 hauled since before Christmas. One does wonder precisely why DRS have acquired these locomotives, they certainly don't need them.

Well, the Italian Railroads even had even a turtle painted under the cab window in ther E444 tartaruga (turtle) series, so there is a precedent! The trataruga unfortunately was only 30 years in service, not particularly long for an electric engine.

Thomas Eckhardt

I think one of them worked a freighter into Aberdeen Scotland this week

bakersfielddave Wrote:
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> I think one of them worked a freighter into
> Aberdeen Scotland this week

They've been working DRS intermodal services in Scotland for many months now.