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The Thirty-four Class 68 Diesel locomotives were built by Vossloh and introduced to service by Direct Rail Services (DRS) from 2014 to 2017. They are powered by a 3805hp CAT C175-16 Caterpillar engine, and have a maximum speed of 100mph. They can work in multiple with the similar Class 88 locomotives.

• 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

• 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.

Flask Trains

• Class 68s began to see to use on Nuclear Flask traffic from Carlisle to Scotland from 2016.
  • These train run with two locos and initially mixed pairings with class 37s occurred.
• Torness (Near Dunbar) 6S43/6M50
• Hunterston (on Largs branch) 6S54/6M22

• The first of the class to run on the Far North Line was 68017 which ran light as 0Z03 Inverness to Georgemas Junction on 13/09/22, <Flickr> returning as 0Z04 the following day.
  • This was in preparation for use on the Dounreay spent fuel traffic, as replacement for class 66/3 locos.
  • The Following week, 20/09/2022, 68001 & 68007 (top an Tail) took a flask wagon north as the 6S99 0521 Carlisle Kingmoor to Georgemas Junction <Flickr>. Returning on 21/09/22 as 6M97 1413 Georgemas Junction to Carlisle DRS sidings.

Transpennine Express Fleet

• Fourteen class 68s (68019-32) were sub-leased to Transpennine Express for use with Mk5a push-pull coaching stock from 2019-2023.
  • The Transpennine Express livery was notable for not having a front yellow panel.
  • They didn't run on TPE's passenger service to Scotland, but a few sets visited Glasgow.
  • 68025 worked a 5Q07 Warrington - Glasgow and 5Q35 return, on 9th August 2022, <Flickr>
  • The same loco is thought to have worked 5S10 0730 Crewe South Yard to Polmadie on 26th August 2022.

Network Rail Test Trains

Charter Trains

Class 68s often hauled the Northern Belle during 2015, 2016 & 2017 when DRS had the haulage contract.

See Also

Scot-Rail.co.uk Links

• Class 88
• Times:Fife Circle Loco Hauled Trains
• Scot-Rail Class 68 photo gallery

External Links

• Wikipedia - Class 68
• YouTube - a tribute to the ScotRail Class 68s