I dont know much about new motive power, apart from I enjoy watching them.
Is it just me, or do the 66's really look good in whatever livery they are turned out in.
Paul.

Yeah I think your right there Paul. They do look pretty good in whatever livery. Its just a shame they are built like bike sheds on wheels. :D

Here's the livery us at work think suits it best though.

That looks mean! Almost like something out of a science fiction movie.
You say they are like a bike shed on wheels. Does that mean they really are'nt as good as they look?
Paul.

Yeah. They look ok from a distance, but the bodywork is very close to being like corrugated iron. There's two reasons for this. Firstly its to keep the weight of the loco down, and secondly and most importantly, it helps keep the price down as well because it makes them easier to maufacture and also keeps the cost of materials down. Alan Sugar would have been proud of the finished products though.

He would'nt have fired anyone then. I dont watch "The Apprentice" but have seen clips from it. That seems to be his catch phrase.

Paul.

Doesn`t the extra weight resting on the driving wheels give it more traction on the rails?

It's a fine balance between adhesive weight and axle loading!

When the first of the 66's were being built they knew how heavy they were allowed to make them, so the last thing they added to them was the fuel tank. The reason being was so that they could put as big a tank on as possible that would make the loco still beneath the maximum weight with a full tank.

EWS need to give their locos a wash that would knock a tonne off each ones axle weight.

Much more important things to do with locos than wash them. (management statement)

Les:p :D