The Class 60 was British Rails last attempt at a heavy duty Type 5 freight locomotive. On 30 June 1989, 60001 "Steadfast" was handed over to Railfreight and drvien under its own tower to Toton TMD. Many delivery faults included computer software; suspension issues resulting in poor ride quality of the bogies; and structural defects, including problems with the front end mock-snowploughs not being strong enough to withstand damage. This resulted in part-finished locomotives being stored at Loughborough, and the build almost being cancelled.
Soon after being accepted into traffic, privatisation came, with the class split between Load-Haul, Mainline freight, and Transrail. In 1996, the class was renited under the EWS banner, with EWS having purchased all of the former British Rail freight operations that year. The class began recieving the Marron and Gold livery, first applied to 60019 at Brush in May 1996.
Today, 60s face threat from the EMD Class 66 locomotives, though EWS still considers them an integral part of the locomotive fleet. They find use on the heavier traffic flows, like cement, stone, steel and petroleum trains. Curently, around 60 Class 60s are in use, and as more Class 66s are sent abroad by EWS to work in France, the number of 60s gradually increases.
Enjoy!
Class 60 60021 "Star of the East" pauses at Barnetby.
All pictures Copyright © 2007 Raj Thandi. Images for personal use only. Not to be reproduced under any circumstances without permission of the owner.
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