British Rail Class 60

The British Rail Class 60 is a class of Co-Co heavy freight diesel-electric locomotives built by Brush Traction. They are nicknamed Tugs by rail enthusiasts.

British Rail Class 60
EWS 60 068 passing through Castleton East Junction
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderBrush Traction
Build date1989–1993
Total produced100
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo′Co′
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum curve80 metres (4.0 chains)[1]
Wheelbase15.3 m (50.2 ft)[2]
Length21.34 m (70 ft 0 in)[2]
Width2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)[2]
Height3.95 m (13 ft 0 in)[2]
Loco weight129 t (127 long tons; 142 short tons) or
131 t (129 long tons; 144 short tons)[2]
Fuel capacity5,900 litres (1,300 imp gal; 1,560 US gal)
Prime moverMirrlees MB275T[2]
MU workingWithin own class only
Train heatingNone
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed60 mph (97 km/h)[2]
Power outputEngine: 3,100 bhp (2,300 kW)
at rail: 2,415 bhp (1,801 kW)[2]
Tractive effortMaximum: 106,500 lbf (474 kN)[2]
Brakeforce62 kN (13,900 lbf) or 74 kN (16,600 lbf)[2]
Career
Operators
Numbers60 001-60 015, 60 017-60 100, 60 500 (originally 60 016)
Axle load classRA 7
Disposition29 in service, 66 stored, 3 preserved, 1 scrapped

History

In the 1980s, British Rail determined there was a requirement for a high-powered Type 5 diesel locomotive for use on its Trainload Freight sector. On 10 August 1987, the British Railways Board issued a competitive tender for response by 7 November, for a fleet of 100 locomotives. Of the six companies invited to tender, only three bid responses were received:[3]

Of the three bidders, Brush was selected, and an order was placed for 100 locomotives in a deal worth around £120 million.[2]

Brush sub-contracted parts construction, with final construction at Brush's erecting shops at Loughborough. The bodyshells, shared with the Class 92 electric locomotives, were fabricated by Procor (UK) of Wakefield. The engine was a higher-powered development of the Mirrlees engine previously fitted experimentally to Class 37 nos. 37 901-37 904.[4]

The first locomotive was delivered in June 1989 and sent to Derby for testing, which revealed a number of teething problems.[2] Parts requiring modifications included the axle box suspension and the Mirlees engine cylinder head.[4]

Design

Bodywork

Unlike the Classes 59 and 66 (solid girder underframe) the Class 60s have a monocoque stressed skin construction with diagonal trusses - with the external bodywork providing support for the internal components.[5]

Two different cab designs were considered and full size mock-ups were made in wood, plastic and metal by the Engineering Development Unit at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby. One of these had a French-style raked-forward cab end, similar to the SNCF Class CC 72000, but this was rejected in favour of a more conventional cab.[6]

Electrical

The main alternator is a Brush BA1006A type, providing power for the traction motors via rectification circuits to DC, the auxiliary alternator is Brush BAA 702A Auxiliary Alternator, providing power for the radiator fans, lubrication and fuel oil pumps, traction motor cooling fans and air compressors amongst others. The main and auxiliary alternators are both driven by the main engine.[7]

Each of the six axles is driven via a reduction gear by one nose suspended axle hung traction motor (Brush designed and built TM2161A four pole motors). Each motor has a separate microprocessor-controlled power supply (SEPEX in Brush's designation - from "Separately Excited"), a system that was first tried on one Class 58, 58050. One feature of this system is that if one set of wheels/axle/motor starts to wheelslip their speed can be reduced without affecting the other motors.[7]

Prime mover

The engine is an 8-cylinder, 145 litre Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275T diesel traction engine (275 mm cylinder diameter);[8] the Mirrlees engine was one of the most fuel efficient available at the time (189g of fuel per kWhr), but relatively heavy. The engine was also successfully installed in marine applications such as small ships and passenger ferries. The low cylinder count for the rated power was expected to result in lower maintenance costs.[9]

Engine dimensions[10]
  • Eight cylinders in line
  • Bore, 275 mm (10.8 inch)
  • Stroke, 305 mm (12 inch)
  • Power output, 3,100 hp (2,311 kW) at 1,000 rpm

Current operators

DB Cargo UK
60 019 (Westerleigh, 2009)

Following the privatisation of British Rail all 100 units came under the management of the English Welsh & Scottish (EWS),[4] It was EWS's policy not to reduce the 100 strong fleet, with both fire and collision damaged locomotives receiving repairs.[11] In 2003/04 a number of the fleet were stored, surplus to requirements.[11][note 1] Between 2004 and 2007 typically between 50–75%[note 2] of the fleet would be out of action at a given time.[4] In 2007 the operational fleet was estimated to be 60 locomotives.[11]

60 079 (Westerleigh, 2012)

In June 2007 EWS was acquired by DB Schenker, a wholly owned subsidiary of the German railway company, Deutsche Bahn. Since working for EWS/DB Schenker, Class 60s have typically been employed on stone, aggregate, ballast and petroleum traffic and also on steel trains. By 2009 many Class 60s were in storage, with only fifteen in operation at any one time.

In September 2010 twenty of the class were offered for disposal by DB Schenker UK,[12][13] whilst in November 2010 DBS announced that 20 units would be overhauled.[14] In January 2011 DB Schenker announced that seven units would undergo an overhaul, with an option of an overhaul on a further fourteen units. In January 2013, the overhaul was described as an "upgrade" to create a new fleet of "Super 60's".[15] DB Schenker gave no technical details but, according to Tugtracker, there were mechanical upgrades trialled on 60 099 and electrical upgrades trialled on 60 011. Tugtracker also gives a list of eighteen locomotives upgraded between 1 September 2011 and 1 October 2013.[16]

Locomotives which had gone through the Super 60 program by September 2013 included (17); 60 007, 010, 015, 017, 019, 020, 024, 039, 040, 054, 059, 062, 063, 074, 079, 091, 092, with another four programmed later that year; 60 001, 044, 066 and 60 100, although its unclear if all of these were completed. [17]

In 2012 some Class 60s were offered for sale through Romic-Ace International Pte Ltd.[18] In late 2013 DB Schenker Rail UK offered 20 locomotives for sale.[19] These were to be purchased on 31 October 2013 by Doncaster-based Wabtec Rail in a £10m deal - the deal was reported to have fallen through in 2014.[20]

In August 2017 DB Cargo UK offered a further 20 locomotives for sale, these being 60 003, 004, 005, 006, 008, 013, 014, 018, 022, 023, 025, 027, 030, 031, 032, 037, 042, 050, 051, and 052. They were sold to Wabtec Rail.[21] However again this sale subsequently fell through. In late 2018 DB Cargo UK offered 3 Class 60's (60 004, 014 and 018) for sale, which caused the status of the previous sale of Class 60 locomotives to Wabtec to be uncertain, given all 3 locomotives had thought to have been included in the previous Wabtec sale.[22]

On 1 December 2018 DB Cargo UK offered further Class 60s for sale - 60 008, 028, 029, 046, 055, 064, 070 and 098, which was the first time 60 064 had been put up for sale.[23]

In 2019 DB Cargo UK offered 60 006, 050, 060, 081 and 086 for sale, stored at Toton.[24] All found buyers with three, initially, sold to metal recyclers (60 006 & 086 sold to Ron Hull, Rotherham, 60 050 to Raxstar) and 60 060 & 081 to 'Private Sales'. Subsequently, 60 086 was resold to a private owner and 60 050 was purchased by the same individual.

On 20 January 2020 60 006 was scrapped at Toton and was the first of the class to be scrapped.[25]

On 10 February 2020 60 086 was transferred to the Wensleydale Railway and into preservation.[26] This was followed by 60 050.

GB Railfreight

In July 2018 GB Railfreight bought all ten of Colas Rail’s Class 60 locomotives, Colas having replaced them with a further seven orders for Class 70 locomotives.[27]

DCRail

In March 2019 DCRail acquired four locomotives from DB Cargo; 60 028, 029, 046, 055. These are being overhauled by DB Cargo at Toton TMD with 60 046 the first to enter service in November 2019.[28]

Former operators

British Rail
60 024 Elizabeth Fry at Eastleigh

By 1990, the class had started to be introduced onto the mainline, replacing previously double headed Class 33 Type 3s in the South East region, as well as Classes 20, 26, 27, 31 and 73.[4] The first locos accepted into traffic were 60 017 and 60 018 in October 1990.[3] The class 60s primarily worked on aggregate (specifically stone) traffic also replacing Class 56s and Class 58s, some of which were withdrawn, others transferred.[2] Their introduction replaced double-heading and also allowed longer and/or heavier trains to be worked.[4]

Colas Rail
60 076 (Bristol, 2015)

In June 2014 it was reported that 10 locos have been sold to Colas Rail. The numbers are 60 002/021/026/047/056/076/085/087/095/096.[29] The first one to appear in the Colas yellow and orange livery was 60 087, which was photographed at Burton-on-Trent on 2 June 2014.[30] In July 2018 Colas Rail sold all ten of its locomotives to GB Railfreight.[31]

Accidents and incidents

Naming and liveries
60 054 named Charles Babbage

In 1989 Railfreight named the Class 60s in traditional fashion; those locomotives attached to the construction and metals sectors were named after British mountains as were some attached to the coal sector. The others (coal and petroleum sectors) received the names of famous British citizens, with an emphasis on those whose contribution had been to science and engineering. Locomotives numbered 60 001 and 60 098 were exceptions, being named Steadfast and Charles Francis Brush respectively.[33] The locomotives received the standard liveries of their respective sectors.

60 033 Tees Steel Express in British Steel blue at Flitwick in 1999

After coming into EWS's ownership, the Class 60 locomotives were repainted in the red and yellow EWS livery as and when repainting was necessary. Many others carried vinyl stickers on their sides over the former BR sector liveries, demonstrating EWS's ownership. A few locos received new names including 60 033: Tees Steel Express, painted in British Steel blue, and 60 081, repainted in a mock Great Western Railway green livery and renamed Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 2000.

In 2007/08, two locomotives received special liveries: 60 074 received a 'powder blue' livery and was named Teenage Spirit at the National Railway Museum in York as part of a charity event for the Teenage Cancer Trust. 60 040 was repainted in a red livery and named The Territorial Army Centenary as part of the celebration of that event. Both of these locos have since been repainted into standard DB Schenker livery.

In 2010 class 60 number 60 099 was repainted into a Tata Steel silver livery and logo at Toton TMD and unveiled at Tata's Scunthorpe plant on 27 September.[34][35]

In January 2011 60 011 became the first member of the class to receive the standard DB Schenker livery, after a repaint at Toton TMD.[36]

In late May 2014 60 087 emerged from Toton TMD in Colas livery. It was joined by 60 002, 021, 026, 047, 056, 076, 085, 095 and 096.

In 2019 DCR Cappagh acquired four former DB Cargo Class 60s, from store, which were overhauled and repainted by DB Cargo at Toton TMD. 60 046 and 60 055 were repainted in the DC Rail Freight corporate grey livery. 60 046 regained its original name, William Wilberforce, whilst 60 055 regained its original name, Thomas Barnardo. 60 028 was turned out in a blue livery, with large CAPPAGH logo. On 18 February 2020 the final locomotive of the quartet, 60 029, emerged from a repaint, at Toton TMD, in DC Rail Freight grey and carrying its original name, Ben Nevis.

Scrapping

On 20th January 2020 work began scrapping locomotive 60 006 at Toton depot, the first Class 60 to be dismantled.

Fleet summary

Fleet summary 2020.

Owner Number Numbers Notes
DB Cargo 81 60 001, 003-005, 007-015, 017-020, 022-025, 030-045, 048-049, 051-054, 057-059, 061-075, 077-080, 082-084, 088-094, 100, 500* Around 14 locomotives are operational at any one time all of which have received 'Super 60' upgrades. The remainder are stored, many in unserviceable condition at Toton. *Renumbered from 60 016

Stored in Toton Yard (32); 60 003, 005, 023, 025, 027, 030, 031, 032, 037, 041, 042, 043, 048, 051, 053, 058, 067, 068, 069, 072, 078, 083, 088, 089, 093, 094, 097.[37] (*Sold August 2019)

DCRail 4 60 028, 029, 046, 055. Sold by DB Cargo UK in 2019 with 'Super Sixty' upgrade.
GB Railfreight 10 60 002, 021, 026, 047, 056, 076, 085, 087, 095, 096 Acquired from Colas
Metal recyclers 1 60 060 60 060 to private scrap merchants, following component recovery at Toton TMD.
Scrapped 1 60 006 60 006 broken-up on site at Toton TMD, January 2020.
Preserved 3 60 050, 60 081, 60 086 60 050 and 60 086 initially purchased by Ron Hull (scrap merchants) before being resold for preservation.[38] 60 081 purchased by Locomotive Services Limited for static exhibit at their Margate facility.
Total 100 (99 extant)

Class list
NumberOriginal nameSubsequent namesNotes
60 001SteadfastThe Railway Observer
60 002Capability Brown1) High Peak
2) Tempest
60 003Christopher WrenFreight Transport Association
60 004Lochnagar
60 005SkiddawBP Gas Avonmouth
60 006Great GableScunthorpe Ironmaster Scrapped at DBC Toton depot, on the 20th and 21st Jan 2020.
60 007Robert AdamThe Spirit of Tom Kendall
60 008Moel FammauSir William McAlpine
60 009Carnedd Dafydd
60 010Pumlumon/Plynlimon
60 011Cader Idris
60 012Glyder Fawr
60 013Robert Boyle
60 014Alexander Fleming
60 015Bow Fell
60 016Langdale PikesRail MagazineRenumbered 60 500, in November 2004, to commemorate 500th issue of Rail Magazine[39]
60 017Arenig FawrShotton Works Centenary Year 1996
60 018Moel Siabod
60 019Wild Boar Fell1) Port of Grimsby & Immingham
2) Pathfinder Tours
30 Years of Railtouring 1973-2003
60 020Great WhernsidePride of Colnbrook
60 021Pen-y-Ghent1) Star of the East
2) Bustler		Original name restored by GB Railfreight, in Class 44 style, as of 21 May 2019.
60 022Ingleborough
60 023The Cheviot
60 024Elizabeth FryClitheroe Castle
60 025Joseph ListerCaledonian Paper
60 026William Caxton1) Jupiter
2) Helvellyn
60 027Joseph Banks
60 028John Flamsteed
60 029Ben NevisClitheroe CastleOriginal name restored, upon refurbishment for DC Rail.
60 030Cir Mhor
60 031Ben LuiABP Connect
60 032William Booth
60 033Anthony Ashley CooperTees Steel Express
60 034Carnedd Llewelyn
60 035Florence Nightingale
60 036Sgurr na CicheGEFCO
60 037HelvellynAberthaw/Aberddawan
60 038Bidean nam BianAvestaPolarit
60 039Glastonbury TorDove Holes
60 040Brecon BeaconsThe Territorial Army Centenary
60 041High Willhays
60 042Dunkery BeaconThe Hundred of Hoo
60 043Yes Tor
60 044Ailsa CraigDowlow
60 045Josephine ButlerThe Permanent Way Institution
60 046William WilberforceOriginal name restored, upon refurbishment for DC Rail.
60 047Robert Owen
60 048SaddlebackEastern
60 049Scafell
60 050Roseberry ToppingPreserved, currently at the Wensleydale Railway.
60 051Mary Somerville
60 052Goat FellGlofa Twr The last deep mine in Wales Tower Colliery
60 053John ReithNordic Terminal
60 054Charles Babbage
60 055Thomas BarnardoOriginal name restored, upon refurbishment for DC Rail.
60 056William Beveridge
60 057Adam Smith
60 058John Howard
60 059Samuel PlimsollSwinden Dalesman
60 060James Watt
60 061Alexander Graham Bell
60 062Samuel JohnsonStainless Pioneer
60 063James Murray
60 064Back Tor
60 065Kinder LowSpirit of Jaguar
60 066John Logie Baird
60 067James Clerk-Maxwell
60 068Charles Darwin
60 069Humphry DavySlioch
60 070John Loudon McAdam
60 071Dorothy GarrodRibblehead Viaduct
60 072Cairn Toul
60 073Cairn Gorm
60 074BraeriachTeenage Spirit
60 075Liathach
60 076SuilvenDunbar
60 077Canisp
60 078Stac Pollaidh
60 079Foinaven
60 080Kinder Scout1) Stanley Common
EWS Rail Safety Competition Winners 2003
2) Bispham Drive Junior School,
EWS Rail Safety Competition Winners 2004
60 081Bleaklow HillIsambard Kingdom Brunel Preserved, for static display only, currently at Locomotive Storage Limited, Margate.
60 082Mam Tor
60 083Mountsorrel
60 084Cross Fell
60 085Axe EdgeMini - Pride of Oxford
60 086Schiehallion Preserved, currently at the Wensleydale Railway.[40] First class 60 to be preserved
60 087Slioch1) Barry Needham
2) CLIC Sargent]
60 088Buachaille Etive Mor
60 089ArcuilThe Railway Horse
60 090Quinag
60 091An TeallachBarry Needham
60 092Reginald Munns
60 093Jack StirkAdrian Harrington 1955-2003
Royal Navy/BurgesSalmon
60 094TryfanRugby Flyer
60 095Crib Goch
60 096Ben MacduiImpetus
60 097PillarPort of Grimsby and Immingham
60 098Charles Francis Brush
60 099Ben More Assynt
60 100Boar of Badenoch1) Pride of Acton
2) Midland Railway Butterley

Preservation

Presently three members of the class have been preserved.

Number Name Livery Status Location Notes
60050 Roseberry Topping N/A Wensleydale Railway
60081 Bleaklow Hill N/A Static Display Crewe Diesel TMD Purchased by Locomotive Services Limited, for display at the Locomotive Storage Limited facility at Margate. Will undergo a cosmetic overhaul before being placed on display. At a later date it will be overhauled for use on LSL run railtours.
60086 Schiehallion N/A Under Overhaul Wensleydale Railway The first class 60 to be preserved, arriving at the Wensleydale Railway on 10 February 2020, for restoration. 60 086 is notable, as it hauled the last limestone train on the Wensleydale Railway in 1992. It is currently unknown if the engine will stay after restoration.[40]

Models

The locomotives have been reproduced in scale model form by Heljan in O scale, Lima and Hornby in OO scale [41] and Graham Farish in British N scale.

Notes
  1. At the same time the Class 47, 56 and 58 fleets were withdrawn and the Class 37 fleet reduced ("Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 2014-12-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) see 2000 to present day)
  2. During this period the Class 60s saw more work during the winter, and higher numbers available for work - owing to the seasonal demand for fuel oil.
gollark: I don't *think* so.
gollark: You also probably can't retroactively change the password the copies on the disks are encrypted with.
gollark: Not stored unencrypted on some web service with password protection only.
gollark: No, I mean, generally the actual passwords will be stored locally, encrypted.
gollark: I doubt that would help.

References
  1. Gleed, Edward (15 July 2016). British Rail Class 60 Locomotives. Ramsbury, Marlborough: The Crowood Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78500-150-5.
  2. Glasspool, David. "Class 60". Kent Rail. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  3. "Railspot Reloaded". Gloucester Transport History. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  4. "rolling stock : class 60". thejunction.org.uk. 25 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  5. "Body". tugtracker.co.uk. November 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  6. Modern Locomotives Illustrated (206): 5–6. April–May 2014. ISSN 1756-8188. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Electrical Systems". tugtracker.co.uk. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  8. "Engine and Engine Systems". tugtracker.co.uk. December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  9. Sources:
  10. Modern Locomotives Illustrated (206): 16. April–May 2014. ISSN 1756-8188. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "Background". tugtracker.co.uk. July 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  12. "Items for disposal - New Items for September 2010". www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010.
  13. "First 60s to be sold by DB Schenker" (PDF). Railway Herald (238): 5. 23 September 2010.
  14. Rail Express (175). News, p.4. December 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. "DB Schenker Rail invests in 'Super 60' high power locomotives" (Press release). DB Schenker Rail UK. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  16. "Class 60 Locomotive - Overhauled Loco Fleet List". Tugtracker.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  17. https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/current-trains/making-the-class-60s-super-again
  18. "Heavy Haul Freight Locomotives for Sale or Lease". www.locomotives-for-sale.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012.
  19. Milner, Chris (12 September 2013). "DB Schenker puts 20 Class 60s up for sale". The Railway Magazine.
  20. Modern Locomotives Illustrated (206): 3. April–May 2014. ISSN 1756-8188. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. Class 60s sold to Wabtec Railways Illustrated 8 August 2017
  22. DB Cargo to Dispose of 3 Class 60s DB Cargo UK 28 November 2018
  23. DB Cargo to Dispose of 8 Class 60s DB Cargo UK 04 December 2018
  24. https://uk.dbcargo.com/rail-uk-en/what-we-offer/additional_services/Disposals-1926106
  25. "60006 cut up". RailUK Forums. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  26. Holden, Michael (11 February 2020). "Class 60 locomotive arrives at the Wensleydale Railway". RailAdvent. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  27. "GB Railfreight buys more locomotives".
  28. DCRail gets first Class 60 - William Wilberforce] The Railway Magazine issue 1425 December 2019 page 105
  29. Railways Illustrated (136): 15. June 2014. ISSN 1479-2230. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. Rail Express (218): 3. July 2014. ISSN 1362-234X. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/gb-railfreight-buys-more-locomotives
  32. "Derailment of a freight train near Langworth, Lincolnshire 30 June 2015" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  33. "Original Names". tugtracker.co.uk. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  34. "Tata Steel's arrival into the UK celebrated by DB Schenker". www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk. 27 September 2010.
  35. KBRAILVIDEOS (26 September 2009). Ex-Works 60099 NEW LIVERY - TATA STEEL - DB Schenker - Toton TMD. YouTube.
  36. Mark Thomas (12 January 2011). "60011 in DB Schenker livery at Margam Knuckle Yard". fotopic.net. Outshopped at Toton just days earlier 60 011 was released and ran overnight via Newport ADJ to Margam to work the Robeston oil trains. This is the first of the class to receive DB Schenker livery.
  37. "Fleet Review". Railways Illustrated. keypublishing. July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  38. Holden, Michael (11 February 2020). "Class 60 locomotive arrives at the Wensleydale Railway". RailAdvent. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  39. A new 60 Rail issue 500 10 November 2004 page 25
  40. Holden, Michael (11 February 2020). "Class 60 locomotive arrives at the Wensleydale Railway". RailAdvent. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  41. "Hornby BR Class 60". Hornby Railways Collector Guide. Retrieved 1 February 2020.

Further reading
  • "Class 60 - Brush gets the order". RAIL. No. 82. EMAP National Publications. July 1988. p. 8. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
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