British Rail Class 60
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| British Rail Class 60 | |
 |
|
| Also called: | Brush Type 5 |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Brush Traction |
| Years Built: | 1989-1993 |
| Number Built: | 100 (51 Stored) |
| Replaced: | British Rail Class 20 British Rail Class 37 British Rail Class 47 British Rail Class 50 British Rail Class 56 |
| Replaced By: | Still In Use British Rail Class 66 |
| Engine: | Mirrlees MB275T |
| Transmission: | Diesel Electric |
| Wheel Arrangement: | Co-Co |
| Brakes: | Air |
| Length: | 21.34m |
| Width: | 2.64m |
| Height: | 3.95m |
| Weight: | 129 Tonnes - 130 Tonnes |
| Maximum Speed: | 60mph |
| Engine Horsepower: | 3,100hp |
| Tractive Effort: | 106,500 lb |
| Fuel Capacity: | 4,500 Litres - 5,228 Litres |
| Operators: | EWS |
The British Rail Class 60 is a class of Co-Co diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight work.
[edit] History
In the mid 1980s British Rail was faced with an aging fleet of freight locomotives which required overhaul or replacement. As most were low-powered, BR decided to take the replacement option, inviting tenders for a fleet of 100 type 5 freight locomotives. Part of the specification was an advanced traction control package, in response to the highly successful privately-owned GM EMD Class 59s.
[edit] Delivery and use
Brush Traction of Loughborough won the contract, and deliveries commenced in 1989. All carried names from new, being named after landmarks and historical figures, though many names were removed after privatisation. After some protracted teething troubles which saw locomotives not being accepted onto BR's books until three years after completion, the class settled down to be the backbone of the Trainload Freight Sectors' operations. Reliability problems have persisted, especially when contrasted with the GM EMD Class 66s, though the class 60s do have the advantage of being more powerful. Due to this they are mainly seen on heavy tanker, steel and stone trains, which the 66s would struggle to handle. From 2003 EWS began to store class 60s and cut back on maintenance of the remaining fleet, leading to increasingly poor reliability, but this didn't last and most have now been reinstated.
Upon privatisation the fleet passed via sectors to EWS. Now, 10 years after privatisation, 51 of the 100 built are stored.
Class 92 electric locomotives also built by Brush shared a similar body shell.
