The first consignment of Freightliner Groups’ latest order of 16 Class 66 locomotives from Electro Motive Corp Canada have arrived in the UK via ABP Newport Docks, South Wales. Part of an initial investment of £30m, these locomotives will increase the Freightliner Class 66 fleet to a compliment of 120.

The delivery on 6 February 2007 on board Jumbo ship MV Fairload was two locos Nos. 66623 and 66624, of these No. 66623 is painted in custom livery in joint Bardon Aggregates/Freightliner colours of blue bodyside and green roof to recognise the partnership between Freightliner Heavy Haul and Bardon Aggregates. The contract, which began on the 1 April 2006, remains the companies’ largest aggregates contract to date, and has thus far seen a service delivery record of 100%.

The other loco No. 66624 is painted in standard Freightliner green livery.

The further batch of 14 Class 66’s (a mix of 66/5s and 66/6s) for theFreightliner Heavy Haul and Intermodal businesses are expected to arrive towards the end of February/early March. several locos of this order have been observed complete in the EMCC yard in London, Ontario, Canada.

As well as the two UK based locomotives, the MV Fairload also carried six other Class 66s which 'passed through' the UK on 6 February, these were:
Freightliner-Poland No. EU-02 painted in green & yellow carrying work No. 20058725-02
Freightliner-Poland No. EU-03 painted in green & yellow carrying work No. 20058725-03
Freightliner-Poland No. EU-04 painted in green & yellow carrying works No. 20058725-04
Freightliner-Poland No. EU-05 painted in green & yellow carrying works No. 20058725-05
Nedtrains No. EU-08 painted in grey & yellow carrying works No. 20058725-08
Nedtrains No. EU-09 painted in grey & yellow carrying works No. 20058725-09
All these locos are to be off-loaded in Rotterdam and commissioned by Nedtrains, Tilburg prior to delivery to Freightliner Poleland and other customers.

For those who keep delivery records, No. 66624 was offloaded at 10.50 and 66623 at 11.28.