Bachmann 32-736
British Rail Class 66 66846 Colas Rail Yellow & Orange
Class & Prototype
- Class: British Rail Class 66
- Traction: Diesel
- Transmission: Electric
- Built: 1998-2014
- Total Built: 446
The British Rail Class 66, introduced in 1998, revolutionized UK freight operations with American EMD reliability. Built as the JT42CWR model with a 12-cylinder 710 engine producing 3,300 horsepower, these Co-Co diesels achieved 95% availability versus 65% for the Class 47s they replaced. Approximately 412 locomotives remain operational across DB Cargo UK, GB Railfreight, Freightliner, DRS and Colas Rail, dominating intermodal container services, aggregates, steel, biomass and infrastructure traffic. The class's 27-year production run ended in 2016 with 66779 "Evening Star" due to EU emissions regulations. No replacements are expected before the 2040s, ensuring continued prototype relevance. The Class 66 offers modellers exceptional livery diversity across all major operators, making it essential for any British layout from 1998 onwards.
No prototype found.
Operator & Livery
- Operator: Colas Rail
- Livery: Yellow & Orange
Colas Rail is a modern European railway company combining infrastructure construction with freight operations across 20+ countries. Formed in 2008 from the merger of Seco Rail and Spie Rail, the company operates diverse locomotive classes including Class 56 'Gridirons', Class 66s, and Class 70 PowerHauls in distinctive orange and yellow livery. Major projects include High Speed 1 construction, London Waterloo upgrades, and Morocco's Al Boraq high-speed line. As both a Network Rail contractor and freight operator, Colas Rail represents contemporary railway engineering excellence with over 170 years of heritage dating back to French railway pioneers.
The distinctive Colas Rail livery features a striking tri-colour scheme designed for maximum visibility during infrastructure operations. The design comprises a split-colour body with bright yellow covering the one half and vibrant orange covering the other half of the locomotive sides (approximately Humbrol 24 Trainer Yellow and Humbrol 82 Lining Orange respectively). The upper section and roof are finished in matt black, creating a characteristic angled demarcation line that cuts diagonally across the locomotive body, separating the coloured lower sections from the black upper area. Bold black "COLAS RAIL" or "COLAS RAIL FREIGHT" lettering spans across the yellow section, with the company's distinctive logo prominently displayed on the cab sides. This high-visibility half-and-half colour combination ensures operational safety while creating one of the most recognisable corporate identities in contemporary British railways, making Colas Rail locomotives particularly popular subjects for railway photographers and model railway enthusiasts seeking authentic modern prototype liveries.