British Rail Class 60
Encyclopedia
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.
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 Rail 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:
Of the three bidders, Brush was selected, and an order placed for 100 locomotives in a deal worth around £120 million.
Brush sub-contracted parts construction, with final construction at Brush's erecting shops at Loughborough
. The bodyshells, shared with the Class 92
electric locomotive
s, 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.
The first locomotive was delivered in June 1989 and sent to Derby for testing, which revealed a number of teething problems. Parts requiring modifications included the axle box suspension
and the Mirlees engine cylinder head.
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, lubricating 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.
Each of the six axles are 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 the Class 58
. One feature of this system is that if one set of wheels/axle/motor starts to wheelslip the speed can be reduced on this device without affecting the other motors.
The engine is an 8 cylinder, 145 litre Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275T diesel traction engine (275 mm cylinder diameter).
Type 3s in the South East region, as well as Classes 20, 26, 27, 31 and 73. The class 60s primarily worked on aggregate
(specifically stone) traffic also replacing Class 56s and Class 58s, some of which were withdrawn, others transferred.
Initially operations were split between British Rail Load-Haul
, Trans-Rail
and Mainline Freight
divisions. Their introduction replaced double-heading
and also allowed longer and/or heavier trains to be worked.
Following the privatisation of British Rail
all 100 units came under the management of the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS), which in June 2007 was itself acquired by DB Schenker
, a wholly owned subsidiary of the German railway company, Deutsche Bahn AG.
It was EWS's policy not to reduce the 100 strong fleet, with both fire and collision damaged locomotives receiving repairs. In 2003/4 a number of the fleet were stored, surplus to requirements.At the same time the Class 47, 56 and 58 fleets were withdrawn and the Class 37 fleet reduced (http://www.thejunction.org.uk/cl60.html see 2000 to present day) Between 2004 and 2007 typically between 50–75%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. of the fleet would be out of action at a given time. In 2007 the operational fleet was estimated to be 60 locomotives.
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.
DB Schenker UK have in November 2010 said that they are to overhaul 20 of the class.
In January 2011 DB Schenker announced that seven units would undergo an overhaul, with an option of an overhaul on a further fourteen units.
After coming into EWS's ownership, the Class 60 locomotives were repainted in the yellow and red 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 names including 60033: Corus (60033) and 60081: repainted in a mock Great Western Railway
green livery and renamed Isambard Kingdom Brunel
in 2000.
In 2007/8, 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.
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 the 27 September.
In January 2011, 60011 became the first member of the class to receive the standard DB Schenker livery, after a repaint at Toton TMD.
and Hornby
in OO scale and Graham Farish
in British N scale.
Brush Traction
This article is about a British rail-locomotive maker. For the Detroit auto-maker, see Brush Motor Car CompanyBrush Traction is a manufacturer and maintainer of railway locomotives, part of the FKI group , based at Loughborough in Leicestershire, England situated alongside the Midland Main Line.-...
. They are nicknamed Tugs by Rail Enthusiasts.
History
In the 1980s, British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
decided it had a requirement for a high powered Type 5 diesel locomotive for use on its Trainload Freight
Trainload Freight
Trainload Freight was the sector of British Rail responsible for trainload freight services. It was formed in 1987 as a further development of the single Railfreight division created by BR in 1982, and existed until the onset of privatisation in 1994. The sector was subdivided according to the...
sector. On 10 August 1987, the British Rail 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:
- Metro-Cammell - offered a MetroCammell body with an option of traction packages, many untried, and could not offer performance guarantees as stipulated by the tender
- GEC - a partnership with General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Electro Motive. They offered a state-of-the-art Class 59, built in the UK, probably at BREL Crewe WorksCrewe WorksCrewe railway works is a British railway engineering facility built in 1840 by the Grand Junction Railway. It is located in the town of Crewe, in the county of Cheshire....
, which had an existing partnership for construction of the Class 91British Rail Class 91The British Rail Class 91 is a class of , electric locomotives ordered as a component of the East Coast Main Line modernisation and electrification programme of the late 1980s. The Class 91s were given the auxiliary name of InterCity 225 to indicate their envisaged top speed of...
electric locos - Brush TractionBrush TractionThis article is about a British rail-locomotive maker. For the Detroit auto-maker, see Brush Motor Car CompanyBrush Traction is a manufacturer and maintainer of railway locomotives, part of the FKI group , based at Loughborough in Leicestershire, England situated alongside the Midland Main Line.-...
- offered a locomotive powered by either a Mirrlees or Ruston engine, and used separately-excited (Sepex) traction control, as previously tested on the Class 58British Rail Class 58The British Rail Class 58 is a class of Co-Co diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight. Introduced in 1983, they followed American practice of modularisation. From new they were painted in grey Railfreight Sector livery, instead of BR blue...
.
Of the three bidders, Brush was selected, and an order placed for 100 locomotives in a deal worth around £120 million.
Brush sub-contracted parts construction, with final construction at Brush's erecting shops at Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
. The bodyshells, shared with the Class 92
British Rail Class 92
The British Rail Class 92 is a dual-voltage electric locomotive which can run on 25 kV AC from overhead wires or 750 V DC from a third rail. It was designed specifically to operate services through the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France...
electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s, were fabricated by Procor (UK) of Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
. The engine was a higher-powered development of the Mirrlees
MAN B&W Diesel
MAN Diesel SE was a provider of large-bore diesel engines for marine propulsion systems and power plant applications. MAN Diesel employs over 7,700 staff, primarily in Germany, Denmark, France, the Czech Republic, India and China...
engine previously fitted experimentally to British Rail Class 37
British Rail Class 37
The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
nos. 37901-37904.
The first locomotive was delivered in June 1989 and sent to Derby for testing, which revealed a number of teething problems. Parts requiring modifications included the axle box suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
and the Mirlees engine cylinder head.
Design
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.The main alternator
Alternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
is a Brush BA1006A type, providing power for the traction motors (via rectification
Rectifier
A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current , which periodically reverses direction, to direct current , which flows in only one direction. The process is known as rectification...
circuits to DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
, the auxiliary alternator is Brush BAA 702A Auxiliary Alternator, providing power for the radiator fans, lubricating 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.
Each of the six axles are 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 the Class 58
British Rail Class 58
The British Rail Class 58 is a class of Co-Co diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight. Introduced in 1983, they followed American practice of modularisation. From new they were painted in grey Railfreight Sector livery, instead of BR blue...
. One feature of this system is that if one set of wheels/axle/motor starts to wheelslip the speed can be reduced on this device without affecting the other motors.
The engine is an 8 cylinder, 145 litre Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275T diesel traction engine (275 mm cylinder diameter).
Operational history
By 1990, the class had started to be introduced onto the mainline, replacing previously double headed Class 33British Rail Class 33
The British Rail Class 33 also known as the BRCW Type 3 or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered in 1957 and built for the Southern Region of British Railways between 1960 and 1962....
Type 3s in the South East region, as well as Classes 20, 26, 27, 31 and 73. The class 60s primarily worked on aggregate
Construction Aggregate
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world...
(specifically stone) traffic also replacing Class 56s and Class 58s, some of which were withdrawn, others transferred.
Initially operations were split between British Rail Load-Haul
Load-Haul
Loadhaul Ltd. was a railfreight operator based in the north-east of the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1994, prior to the privatisation of British Rail...
, Trans-Rail
Trans-Rail
Transrail Freight Ltd. was a trainload railfreight operator based in South West England, Wales, the North West and Scotland. It was formed in 1994 prior to the privatisation of British Rail...
and Mainline Freight
Mainline Freight
Mainline Freight was a trainload railfreight operator based in Islington, London England with operations extending to Yorkshire in the north and Somerset in the west...
divisions. Their introduction replaced double-heading
Double-heading
In railroad terminology, double-heading or double heading indicates the use of two locomotives at the front of a train, each operated individually by its own crew. The practice of triple-heading involves the use of three locomotives....
and also allowed longer and/or heavier trains to be worked.
Following the privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
all 100 units came under the management of the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS), which in June 2007 was itself acquired by DB Schenker
DB Schenker
DB Schenker is a logistics company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG. The company, created by reorganisation and rebranding of various Deutsche Bahn subsidiaries, comprises a logistics division encompassing air, land and sea freight, and a rail division made up from a variety of...
, a wholly owned subsidiary of the German railway company, Deutsche Bahn AG.
It was EWS's policy not to reduce the 100 strong fleet, with both fire and collision damaged locomotives receiving repairs. In 2003/4 a number of the fleet were stored, surplus to requirements.At the same time the Class 47, 56 and 58 fleets were withdrawn and the Class 37 fleet reduced (http://www.thejunction.org.uk/cl60.html see 2000 to present day) Between 2004 and 2007 typically between 50–75%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. of the fleet would be out of action at a given time. In 2007 the operational fleet was estimated to be 60 locomotives.
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.
DB Schenker UK have in November 2010 said that they are to overhaul 20 of the class.
In January 2011 DB Schenker announced that seven units would undergo an overhaul, with an option of an overhaul on a further fourteen units.
Naming and liveries
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. The locomotives received the standard liveries of their respective sectors.After coming into EWS's ownership, the Class 60 locomotives were repainted in the yellow and red 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 names including 60033: Corus (60033) and 60081: repainted in a mock Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
green livery and renamed Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
in 2000.
In 2007/8, two locomotives received special liveries: 60074 received a 'powder blue' livery and was named "Teenage Spirit" at the NRM
NRM
NRM is a three letter acronym that can refer to:* National Railway Museum, York, UK* National Railway Museum - in general* National Resistance Movement, a political organisation in Uganda...
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.
In 2010 class 60 number 60099 was repainted into a Tata Steel
Tata Steel
Tata Steel is a multinational steel company headquartered in Jamshedpur, India and part of Tata Group. It is the world's seventh-largest steel company, with an annual crude steel capacity of 31 million tonnes, and the largest private-sector steel company in India measured by domestic production...
silver livery and logo at Toton TMD and unveiled at Tata's Scunthorpe plant on the 27 September.
In January 2011, 60011 became the first member of the class to receive the standard DB Schenker livery, after a repaint at Toton TMD.
Preservation
The Class 60 Preservation Group was formed in February 2008 with a view to preserving at least one member of the class.Models
The locomotives have been reproduced in scale model form by LimaLima (models)
Lima S.p.A was a brand of railway models made in Vicenza, Italy, for almost 50 years, from the early 1950s until the company ceased trading in 2004...
and Hornby
Hornby
- Australia :* Hornby Lighthouse, third oldest lighthouse in Australia on south head of Sydney Harbour,- Canada :* Hornby, Ontario, community in Halton Hills* Hornby Island, Canadian island in the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver Island- England :...
in OO scale and Graham Farish
Graham Farish
Graham Farish is a company that produces large quantities of British outline model railway equipment in N gauge.-History:The Poole, Dorset based manufacturer of radio parts and kits entered the model railway business in the late 1940s, after the need for radio sets reduced post World War II...
in British N scale.
External links
- Class 60 page at Brush Traction website www.brushtraction.com
- History of the Class 60 www.therailwaycentre.com
- The Class 60 Preservation Group