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EWS
Last edited by
railwayadam
• 7 months ago
EWS was the dominant freight force of the 1990s and 2000s, famous for introducing the Class 66 and transforming the UK's rail logistics under its iconic maroon and gold branding.
Founded
1996
Status
Historic (ended 2007)
Country
UK
Regions
ALL
Website
—
Reference
—
Operator Code
EW
Also known as:
North & South Railways, English Welsh & Scottish Railway, DB Schenker, DB Cargo UK (current)
English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) was the undisputed titan of the post-privatisation freight era, formed in 1996 after a consortium led by the American company Wisconsin Central purchased the majority of British Rail’s freight sectors. At its peak, EWS controlled roughly 90% of the UK’s rail freight market, hauling everything from coal and steel to the prestigious Royal Mail "Mail by Rail" contracts. By streamlining operations and replacing the ageing, fragmented regional sectors of British Rail with a singular, aggressive corporate identity, EWS fundamentally reshaped the logistics of the UK network.
For enthusiasts, EWS is synonymous with the Class 66 "Shed." In 1998, the company placed a massive £350m order for 250 of these General Motors-built locomotives, a move that brought unprecedented reliability but also signalled the "cull" of beloved older types like the Class 31, 37, and 47. Beyond the 66s, the company introduced the high-speed Class 67 for mail and passenger work and managed a diverse fleet of "heritage" diesels in its early years, including the Class 56, 58, and 60. Their iconic maroon and gold livery, featuring the "Three Beasties" logo (representing the English lion, Welsh dragon, and Scottish stag), remains one of the most recognisable brands in modern railway history.
The company’s influence extended into the passenger sector, as they frequently provided "Thunderbird" rescue locomotives for failing passenger trains and operated the Caledonian Sleeper and various charter services. However, the EWS era came to an end after it was acquired by the German state operator Deutsche Bahn in 2007. The brand was eventually retired in 2009 in favour of DB Schenker, which later became DB Cargo UK. Today, while the maroon and gold is slowly fading from the network, many Class 66s and 67s still carry the legacy of the "Big Red Machine" in their original paintwork.
For enthusiasts, EWS is synonymous with the Class 66 "Shed." In 1998, the company placed a massive £350m order for 250 of these General Motors-built locomotives, a move that brought unprecedented reliability but also signalled the "cull" of beloved older types like the Class 31, 37, and 47. Beyond the 66s, the company introduced the high-speed Class 67 for mail and passenger work and managed a diverse fleet of "heritage" diesels in its early years, including the Class 56, 58, and 60. Their iconic maroon and gold livery, featuring the "Three Beasties" logo (representing the English lion, Welsh dragon, and Scottish stag), remains one of the most recognisable brands in modern railway history.
The company’s influence extended into the passenger sector, as they frequently provided "Thunderbird" rescue locomotives for failing passenger trains and operated the Caledonian Sleeper and various charter services. However, the EWS era came to an end after it was acquired by the German state operator Deutsche Bahn in 2007. The brand was eventually retired in 2009 in favour of DB Schenker, which later became DB Cargo UK. Today, while the maroon and gold is slowly fading from the network, many Class 66s and 67s still carry the legacy of the "Big Red Machine" in their original paintwork.
Videos featuring EWS
Showing 500 of 5,615 videos.
Trains & Freight Diaries
TRAINS AT LEAMINGTON SPA Class 37 Double Header! Class 68s, Freight & Delayed Voyagers 4K
DestinationTrainsPlanes
BUSY Toton TMD - Another 3 x Class 60's SAVED, 67005 SNEAKS Out as FIRE Brigade attend..
West Coast Mainline trains
Fantastic Freight Train Action at Derby Kensington Rainham Leicester Nuneaton 7th 8th 9th September
West Coast Mainline trains
Fantastic Busy Action at Rainham London &Barking Freight/passenger Trains 9th September 2026
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
66121 4L45 Wakefield Europort to Felixstowe North Dbc 11;38 10E Lea Road 7/9/2026
DestinationTrainsPlanes
EUROPHOENIX Collect 3 x SUPER Class 60's from Toton! 60066, 60024 & 60074 make their escape!
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
“Driver Jack Mills” 66126 4L45 Wakefield Europort to Felixstowe North Dbc 11;39 Lea Road 18/8/2026
spompeytransportvideo
Railways around Birmingham Part 3 of 4 Tyseley Station (Birmingham) 28th July 2026
Trains Trains Trains
Ayrshire Coast vs. Other Scottish Railways: Here's Why #ayrshire #scotland #fyp
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
Well worth the wait! “Maritime Intermodal 4” 66051 6Z55 & 28 fuel tanker wagons 13;22 76L 28/7/2026
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
Smoky! 66106 4L45 Wakefield Europort to Felixstowe North Dbc Lea Road 27/7/2026
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
🎺🎺🎺👍😃 “Whitemoor” 66730 4E20 Felixstowe South Gbrf to Doncaster Iport Gbrf 25/7/2026
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
A walkaround the miniature steam engines at Ackworth steam rally 18/7/2026
DestinationTrainsPlanes
PAIR of Chopper ENGINE STARTS as they Form a FOUR LOCO Convoy with 47077 & 31466
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
Classic EWS colours on 66161 4E25 Biggleswade Plasmor to Heck Plasmor 17;04 Lea Road 1/7/2026
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Rails in Wales. Railtour Top/Tail 66113/166 into Barry Island 2015, plus update in 2021
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
Tankers for storage 66106 6Z60 Immingham Sorting Sidings to Worksop Down Yard 11;32 17E 24/6/2026
Lea Road trains & FoHA talks
“Powered by HVO” 66077 6Z60 Immingham Sorting Sidings to Worksop Down Yard 11;45 Central 23/6/2026
DestinationTrainsPlanes
PAIR of GRIDS, HOOVER, CL31 & DELTIC Convoy - Plus HST Powercars & More at Toton!
Sheffield Transport Football SAM
Trains At SkeltonJn (York) & York With 5043+37240 On 12th June 2026
The Devon Trainspotter
Trains at Exeter St Davids including the Atlantic coast express and the Golden Hind
West Coast Mainline trains
Fantastic very Busy Morning at Carlisle Station Freight/passenger Trains 5th May 26 WCML
DestinationTrainsPlanes
REPAINTED 58023 Joins the Loco CONVOY under its OWN POWER at UKRL Loughborough Brush!
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Railways in Wales 2006. "Fond memories" Llandeilo. Cynghordy, Pontypool etc.
DestinationTrainsPlanes
56302 REPAINTED in Gloss White Ahead of EXPORT to Africa - Plus other locos at Colwick TMD
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
"Blue Peter" 60532 in green livery. EWS 58024/037.July 1st 2000. Newport/Cardiff.
West Coast Mainline trains
Fantastic Freight trains at Stafford Rugby Runcorn Tamworth 14/15th April 2026 WCML
West Coast Mainline trains
Fantastic Busy day at Rugby Station Freight/passenger/Test/Light Locos Trains 14th April 2026 WCML
Oscar The Trainspotter
Class 801 FAILURE causes ECML MAYHEM with over 200+ minute DELAYS! | 18/04/26
Trains & Freight Diaries
STEAM TRAIN, Takes Over York! 45407 Whitby Flyer Arrival, Departure & ECML Action
DestinationTrainsPlanes
New 2024 TUBE Stock Passing through Toton - With Scrap Line Class 60's rearranged!
DestinationTrainsPlanes
The REDS Turning BLUE! 66006 & 66024 are REPAINTED and Ready for EXPORT at Toton TMD..
swindon_rail enthusiast
DOUBLE HEADED Tractors! on The Welsh Chieftain draw the crowds at Newport & Cardiff 7.3.26
