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EWS
Last edited by
railwayadam
• 4 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.
EWS train videos - page 7
Showing 500 of 5,323 videos.
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Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Load Haul, Mainline and Transrail in 1997 at Warrington, Cardiff and Lancaster
Southernrailwaysfan
Arriva Trains Wales 82306 + 67016 Depart A Foggy Cardiff Central For The Sidings
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Rails in Wales with the Royal Trains, in Cardiff, Pontypridd and Bristol
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Rail accident at Lawrence Hill. Bridge Strike 24 years ago, 67002, unedited clips.
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
9 x IEP, 68025 at STJ, Blue F/L 66623 Cardiff/Barry, 66024/152 Sandite. Oct 2017.
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Stafford, Nighttime loco hauled postals, sleeper, freight, engineers.Aug.2001
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Dean Forest Gala. May 2001 58042, 56111, 47306, 66524, 66250,60081, 37029/306.
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Railfreight. Horn fanfare as 10 Brand new DRS/Freightliners 66s pass Newport.
Mike Wilcock. Rails in Wales.
Deltic, Alycidon D9009, and more railways in South Wales, May/June 2017
