In the late 2000s, Freightliner was looking to expand its locomotive
fleet towards more powerful and fuel-efficient locomotives that were
compliant with the various European Union emission standards and rules.
In a departure from the newest and most common locomotives running on
the network at the time, Class 66s built by General Motors, Freightliner
looked to General Electric to construct these new machines and opted to
place an initial order for 20 locomotives with an option for a further
ten. The new Class 70 was a 3,690bhp locomotive of a very different
design from the Class 66s, with a focus on reliability and efficiency.
Eventually, Freightliner declined to take up the option of the further
ten locos and instead they were taken on by Colas Rail. Containing over
190 color photographs, this book is a collection of images showing every
Class 70 locomotive, except the ill-fated 70012, over the last decade or
so that they have been in service. It shows a variety of locations,
mostly in the south of England, where these impressive locomotives can
be seen at work.
