Description

The Class 70 is a six-axle Co-Co mainline freight GE PowerHaul locomotive series manufactured by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania. The order placed in 2007 for 20 units, with an option for a further 10, for Freightliner for operations in the United Kingdom was the first order for the PowerHaul type. The locomotives are similar in appearance to a Class 58; a hood unit design with a narrow body typical of locomotive types in use in North America, the cabs are accessed from the rear via exterior walkways on the narrow part of the hood. The distinctive front end shape is due to crashworthiness features.

The class is in use with Freightliner and Colas Rail in the UK.  Freightliner uses its fleet of 70/0 locomotives on its scheduled intermodal and bulk-haul services.  Colas Rail has contracts to work timber traffic and infrastructure traffic for Network Rail, and as a result both sub-fleets can be seen generally network-wide, route availability permitting, as these are substantial machines!