Shaken and stirred: Long appointed CEO G&W (Freightliner)

This from Freightliner...

LONDON – Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) today announced the appointment of Gary R. Long as Chief Executive Officer of its UK/Europe operating region, which is led by the UK’s Freightliner. He succeeds Russell Mears, who will transition to the role of Senior Advisor in the third quarter of 2017.

Long was President and CEO of the North American freight railroad holding company OmniTRAX, Inc., prior to joining G&W in 2013. He has nearly 35 years of transportation industry experience, including roles related to rail, motor carrier, port, maritime and intermodal terminals, and currently heads one of G&W’s U.S. operating regions. “Gary’s strong operational, commercial and management background in the rail, trucking and maritime industries make him particularly well suited to lead G&W’s UK/Europe businesses,” says Jack Hellmann, G&W Chairman, President and CEO.

Eye welcomes the news of Mears' 'transition'. Whatever that may mean.

Exciting new logo for Class 70 fleet

Freightliner owner files for bankruptcy protection

This from Bloomburg...

Arcapita, formerly known as First Islamic Investment Bank, filed for Chapter 11 March 19 along with five affiliates, listing assets of $3.06 billion and liabilities of $2.55 billion. Arcapita Investment Holdings Ltd., already in U.S. bankruptcy, has also filed a bankruptcy in the Cayman Islands in aid of the Chapter 11 proceeding.

Arcapita acquired Freightliner in 2008.

Freightliner's website was unavailable for comment, or indeed anything...

UPDATE: Happy Friday! Freightliner now back on-line...

Railway Gardens - Freightliner at Peterborough

This from the Albatross...

No measurable rain in the Eastern half of the UK for several months has eased the workload of those responsible for vegetation control.

And yet, in spite of this, the bountiful Buddleia is fighting back!

At Freightliner's Nene Valley Depot on platform 3 at Peterborough station it looks like the vegetation has already won!


Rumour has it that two drivers entered the 'depot' a few weeks ago and have not been since...

More piccies of celebrity loco 70012 'Powerfall'

These fine images from Captain Ahab...




Freightliner has apparently denied that this is a design mod in preparation for returning traffic to the Cromford and High Peak Railway.

70012 - Crash, bang, wallop....

Good news from Freightliner!

Apparently when unloading Ugly Sister number 12 the lifting equipment failed and the locomotive dropped back into the ship's hold.


Perhaps this one should be named Freightliner Banana?

UPDATE: This from The Cynic...

I notice Eye's suggestion that 70012 should be named ‘Freightliner Banana’.

However, I would suggest that in order to keep with the naming convention of the only named class member so far (70001 ‘PowerHaul’) perhaps ‘PowerFall’ would be more suitable?

GBRf bidders - A view from a parallel universe

So who is really interested in buying First freight subsidiary GBRf?

Apparently at least one domestic freight operator is.

Sources suggest Freightliner; as the avaricious DB is now too busy consuming Sunderland based bus and rail combo Arriva.

Meanwhile, Eye understands that a number of overseas money houses are sniffing round.

Interesting.

Who might have form for buying freight operations with a "nationwide network"?

Particulalry with rising oil costs making "rail freight more profitable against the rival truck-based freight"?

Eye likes the sound of WBRf!

First but possibly not for freight

Industry and Twitter sources suggesting GBRf may be looking for a new home.

Freightliner GBRf anyone?

Freightliner Ugly Sisters - What not to wear

UPDATE: This from The Water Baby...

Enough slating of the PowerHauls please!

Surely we live in a society already spoilt enough by pressure to conform to visual stereotypes of a certain body[shell] image?

I have a hunch the distinctive '70's will one day be regarded as cult classics.

So, in keeping with the Eye's recent pop penchant, allow me to paraphrase an excellent Sugababes track: 'if they're ugly, then so are we...'

Freightliner to name the Ugly sisters

***Driver Potter has the full list of names to be applied to Freightliner Cl70s***

UPDATE: This from TonyVeitchUK via Twitter...

Tell Potter Debbie Harry doesn't qualify... American interloper... oh, I get it.

Ugly, ugly, ugly - Part II

Via Twitter

@PowerHaul: Video footage of the first two PowerHaul locomotives being unveiled

With a bowler tip to @RailwayGazette

Freightline® Gobshitte®y

This C®ap from Freightline®, presumably at the behest of GE®.


Eye® is delighted to say that NR® in its response refused to play this g@me.

What a lot of a®se!

Lookalike XXVI

Ugly, ugly, ugly

Behold Frightliner's behemoth!



Presumably its front end will be redesigned before it graces our shores?

UPDATE: This from our International Correspondent...

Size may not be everything, but FL's "behemoth" looks both a bit challenged in the nose end design but also very squat next to the Union Pacific 15ft 9in locos.

I don't remember Flying Scotsman looking quite so inadequate when it was in the US.

Freightliner sold

***Freightliner has been bought by Arcapita***

3i Press Release here

Three in the frame for Freightliner

SNCF, Go-Ahead and Arcapita are rumoured to be interested in buying intermodal, coal and infrastructure train operator Freightliner, which has been put on the market by private equity owners Electra Partners and 3i.

The Sunday Telegraph's business section has Bahrain investment fund Arcapita leading the field.