Wondertrain back on track

IT'S the engine with attitude – the train they call Lucky!Just five days ago this was the engine on national news bulletins. It dominated the cover of The Evening Star as we reported the potentially horrific accident just south of Manningtree station.

IT'S the engine with attitude – the train they call Lucky!

Just five days ago this was the engine on national news bulletins.

It dominated the cover of The Evening Star as we reported the potentially horrific accident just south of Manningtree station.

But both the wondertrain locomotive and its driver escaped from the accident unscathed – and now its back on duty at Ipswich station.

The driver himself was back on duty within 48 hours, although his bosses at Freightliner said he did not want to talk to the press about his frightening ordeal.

Freightliner chiefs said the locomotive suffered only minor damage and had been sent to Crewe for repair – but by last night it was back waiting for its next job at Ipswich station.

It's one of the newest locomotives on the rail network, a Class 66 heavy diesel freight locomotive made by General Electric at its plant in London, Ontario, Canada.

This class of locomotive is operated by English Welsh and Scottish Railway and GB Railfreight – sister company to Anglia Railways – as well as Freightliner.

But locomotive 66536 has already proved itself a luck train, escaping from the kind of accident that would have written off less sturdy engines.