British Rail Class 60

British Rail Class 60
EWS 60068 passing through Castleton East Junction
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Brush Traction
Build date 1989–1993
Total produced 100
Specifications
Configuration:
 ​
 • UIC Co′Co′
 • Commonwealth Co-Co
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum curve 80 metres (4.0 chains)[1]
Wheelbase 15.3 m (50.2 ft)[2]
Length 21.34 m (70 ft 0 in)[2]
Width 2.64 m (8 ft 8 in)[2]
Height 3.95 m (13 ft 0 in)[2]
Loco weight 129 t (127 long tons; 142 short tons) or
131 t (129 long tons; 144 short tons)[2]
Fuel capacity 5,900 litres (1,300 imp gal; 1,560 US gal)
Prime mover Mirrlees MB275T[2]
MU working Within own class only
Train heating None
Train brakes Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed 60 mph (97 km/h)[2]
Power output Engine: 3,100 bhp (2,300 kW)
at rail: 2,415 bhp (1,801 kW)[2]
Tractive effort Maximum: 106,500 lbf (474 kN)[2]
Brakeforce 62 kN (13,900 lbf) or 74 kN (16,600 lbf)[2]
Career
Operators
Numbers 60001-60015, 60017-60100, 60500
Axle load class RA 7

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.

History

In the 1980s, British Rail decided it had 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 British Rail Class 37 nos. 37901-37904.[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

Operational history

British Rail

60024 (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 60017 and 60018 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]

English, Welsh and Scottish Railway

60019 (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]

DB Schenker

60079 (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 annonuced 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 60099 and electrical upgrades trialled on 60011. Tugtracker also gives a list of eighteen locomotives upgraded between 1 September 2011 and 1 October 2013.[16]

In 2012 some Class 60s were offered for sale through Romic-Ace International Pte Ltd.[17] In late 2013 DB Schenker Rail UK offered 20 units for sale.[18] 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.[19]

In August 2017 DB Cargo UK 20 (60003, 004, 005, 006, 008, 013, 014, 018, 022, 023, 025, 027, 030, 031, 032, 037, 042, 050, 051, and 052) were sold to Wabtec Rail.[20]

Colas Rail

60076 (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.[21] The first one to appear in the Colas yellow and orange livery was 60087, which was photographed at Burton-on-Trent on 2 June 2014.[22]

GB Railfreight

In July 2018 Colas Rail sold all ten of its Class 60 locomotives to GB Railfreight, having replaced them with a further seven orders for Class 70 locomotives.[23]

Accidents and incidents

Naming and liveries

60054 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 60001 and 60098 were exceptions, being named Steadfast and Charles Francis Brush respectively.[25] The locomotives received the standard liveries of their respective sectors.

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 60033: Corus Tees Steel Express and 60081: repainted in a mock Great Western Railway green livery and renamed Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 2000.

In 2007/08, two locomotives received special liveries: 60074 received a 'powder blue' livery and was named Teenage Spirit at the NRM in York as part of a charity event for the Teenage Cancer Trust. 60040 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 60099 was repainted into a Tata Steel silver livery and logo at Toton TMD and unveiled at Tata's Scunthorpe plant on 27 September.[26][27]

In January 2011, 60011 became the first member of the class to receive the standard DB Schenker livery, after a repaint at Toton TMD.[28]

In late May 2014, 60087 emerged from Toton TMD in Colas livery. It has now been joined by 60002, 021, 026, 047, 056, 076, 085, 095 and 096.

Class list

NumberOriginal nameSubsequent namesNotes
60001SteadfastThe Railway Observer
60002Capability BrownHigh Peak
60003Christopher WrenFREIGHT TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
60004Lochnagar
60005SkiddawBP Gas Avonmouth
60006Great GableScunthorpe Ironmaster
60007Robert AdamThe Spirit of Tom Kendall
60008Moel FammauSir William McAlpine
60009Carnedd Dafydd
60010Pumlumom/Plynlimon
60011Cader Idris
60012Glyder Fawr
60013Robert Boyle
60014Alexander Fleming
60015Bow Fell
60016Langdale PikesRail MagazineRenumbered 60500
60017Arenig FawrShotton Works Centenary Year 1996
60018Moel Siabod
60019Wild Boar Fell1) Port of Grimsby & Immingham
2) Pathfinder Tours
30 Years of Railtouring 1973-2003
60020Great WhernsidePride of Colnbrook
60021Pen-y-GhentStar of the East
60022Ingleborough
60023The Cheviot
60024Elizabeth FryClitheroe Castle
60025Joseph ListerCaledonian Paper
60026William Caxton
60027Joseph Banks
60028John Flamsteed
60029Ben NevisClitheroe Castle
60030Cir Mhor
60031Ben LuiABP Connect
60032William Booth
60033Anthony Ashley CooperTees Steel Express
60034Carnedd Llewelyn
60035Florence Nightingale
60036Sgurr na CicheGEFCO
60037Aberthaw/Aberddawan
60038Bidean nam BianAvestaPolarit
60039Glastonbury TorDove Holes
60040Brecon BeaconsThe Territorial Army Centenary
60041High Willhays
60042Dunkery BeaconThe Hundred of Hoo
60043Yes Tor
60044Ailsa CraigDowlow
60045Josephine ButlerThe Permanent Way Institution
60046William Wilberforce
60047Robert Owen
60048SaddlebackEastern
60049Scafell
60050Roseberry Topping
60051Mary Somerville
60052Glofa Twr The last deep mine in Wales Tower Colliery
60053John ReithNordic Terminal
60054Charles Babbage
60055Thomas Barnardo
60056William Beveridge
60057Adam Smith
60058John Howard
60059Samuel PlimsollSwinden Dalesman
60060James Watt
60061Alexander Graham Bell
60062Samuel JohnsonStainless Pioneer
60063James Murray
60064Back Tor
60065Kinder LowSpirit of JAGUAR
60066John Logie Baird
60067James Clerk-Maxwell
60068Charles Darwin
60069Humphry DavySlioch
60070John Loudon McAdam
60071Dorothy GarrodRibblehead Viaduct
60072Cairn Toul
60073Cairn Gorm
60074BraeriachTeenage Spirit
60075Liathach
60076SuilvenDunbar
60077Canisp
60078Stac Pollaidh
60079Foinaven
60080Kinder Scout1) Stanley Common
EWS Rail Safety Competition Winners 2003
2) Bispham Drive Junior School,
EWS Rail Safety Competition Winners 2004
60081Bleaklow HillIsambard Kingdom Brunel
60082Mam Tor
60083Mountsorrel
60084Cross Fell
60085Axe EdgeMini - Pride of Oxford
60086Schiehallion
60087Slioch1) Barry Needham
2) CLIC Sargent
WWW.CLICSARGENT.ORG.UK
60088Buachaille Etive Mor
60089ArcuilThe Railway Horse
60090Quinag
60091An TeallachBarry Needham
60092Reginald Munns
60093Jack StirkAdrian Harrington 1955-2003
Royal Navy/BurgesSalmon
60094TryfanRugby Flyer
60095Crib Goch
60096Ben Macdui
60097PillarPort of Grimsby and Immingham
60098Charles Francis Brush
60099Ben More Assynt
60100Boar of BadenochPride of Acton

Preservation

The Class 60 Preservation Group aims to secure a Class 60 for preservation, when one becomes available.[29]

Models

The locomotives have been reproduced in scale model form by Heljan in O scale, Lima and Hornby in OO scale 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. 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.

References

  1. ↑ Gleed, Edward. British Rail Class 60 Locomotives. Ramsbury, Marlborough: The Croewood Press Ltd. ISBN 978 1 78500 150 5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Glasspool, David. "Class 60". Kent Rail. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Railspot Reloaded". Gloucester Transport History. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 "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:
    • "Дизельные двигатели для тяги поездов". ЖДМ08-1999: Железные дороги мира. www.css-rzd.ru (in Russian). Железные дороги мира. 1999.
    • Modern Railways (295): 254, 256–7. 1998. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ Modern Locomotives Illustrated (206): 16. April–May 2014. ISSN 1756-8188. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. 1 2 3 "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 2014-04-21.
  16. ↑ "Class 60 Locomotive - Overhauled Loco Fleet List". Tugtracker.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  17. ↑ "Heavy Haul Freight Locomotives for Sale or Lease". www.locomotives-for-sale.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012.
  18. ↑ Milner, Chris (12 September 2013). "DB Schenker puts 20 Class 60s up for sale". The Railway Magazine.
  19. ↑ Modern Locomotives Illustrated (206): 3. April–May 2014. ISSN 1756-8188. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ Class 60s sold to Wabtec Railways Illustrated 8 August 2017
  21. ↑ Railways Illustrated (136): 15. June 2014. ISSN 1479-2230. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ↑ Rail Express (218): 3. July 2014. ISSN 1362-234X. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/gb-railfreight-buys-more-locomotives
  24. ↑ "Derailment of a freight train near Langworth, Lincolnshire 30 June 2015" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  25. ↑ "Original Names". tugtracker.co.uk. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  26. ↑ "Tata Steel's arrival into the UK celebrated by DB Schenker". www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk. 27 September 2010.
  27. ↑ KBRAILVIDEOS (26 September 2009). Ex-Works 60099 NEW LIVERY - TATA STEEL - DB Schenker - Toton TMD. YouTube.
  28. ↑ Mark Thomas (12 January 2011). "60011 in DB Schenker livery at Margam Knuckle Yard". fotopic.net. Outshopped at Toton just days earlier 60011 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.
  29. ↑ "Home - The Class 60 Preservation Group". C60pg.co.uk. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 2014-06-30.

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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