20 Class 60s for sale

[Oswyntail]

I still wonder if this isn't an accounting exercise, used as a means of getting the locos refurbished quicker than DB capacity could manage.

 

[CockneySparrow]

This may be true for many examples, but virtually all of those on this tender are known to be fairly well intact and in a decent state - probably the best of the stored locos. Most, including all of the Crewe ones, were simply turned off with minor faults or out of hours for overhaul and have not been robbed as they have been in secure (hopefully!) storage inside the depot.

IMHO, it adds credence to the comments about a costing exercise and that they won't be sold.

Surely if they stored that lot in sheds it would cause disruption to DBS daily business of repairing other engines

I would imagine they are sat in sidings

 

[507 001]

This may be true for many examples, but virtually all of those on this tender are known to be fairly well intact and in a decent state - probably the best of the stored locos. Most, including all of the Crewe ones, were simply turned off with minor faults or out of hours for overhaul and have not been robbed as they have been in secure (hopefully!) storage inside the depot.

IMHO, it adds credence to the comments about a costing exercise and that they won't be sold.

Surely if they stored that lot in sheds it would cause disruption to DBS daily business of repairing other engines

I would imagine they are sat in sidings

That entirely depends in whether that shed is actually needed for anything else.

It's a well known fact that there are a lot of locos stored at Crewe diesel. Inside and outside

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

I think it would be a good thing if Brush/Wabtec rebuild them from the ground up inside as they would introduce many new upgrades into those locomotives that weren't probably thought of.

But then you're getting to the point where you might as well just buy a new loco. The more extensively you upgrade the 60s, the more you run into problems of compatibility between old tech and new tech = more time and money needed to make the whole thing work. And once it is working, reliability may be a problem - unproven new systems plus ageing original parts/systems is rarely a happy marriage!

Or they could end up heading abroad...

Quite likely IMHO - why not ship them out to somewhere less bothered by obsolescence/reliability issues? Clears some space in and out of the shed., makes a quick buck...I'm not saying that's what I want to happen, but it's certainly a plausible option.

 

[60008]

To be honest. The Class 60's still have a usable amount of life left in them which would be a much cheaper alternative to buying brand new locomotives outright, not to mention that the availability would be quicker hence that you already have the locomotive "shell" to work from rather than building a complete locomotive.

Tongue in cheek saying this but the Class 60's were ahead of their time when they were built anyway as the Mirrlees MB275 had emission standards to that of "Euro 1" specifications which didn't exist at the time these were built (I am open to correction on this matter) .

I think the logical method to work around the compatibility issues between the old and new technology may be to replace the computer with a brand new upgraded version which is more "future-proof" than the ones that were developed in 1987/1988 before the actual locomotives were built .

Hack, even these candidates could be built with adjustable wheel sets (I know the Talgo trains have them and Hitachi also make them as well), so if Iarnrod Eireann (Ireland) or RENFE (Spain) wanted them for freight/passenger use (latter subject to installing HEP equipment!). Those aforementioned wheelsets would allow those reconditioned 60's to work almost anywhere in Europe if not further afield. If broader ratio gearboxes are installed for faster top speed, they would be more appealing for passenger work (again if HEP and Push-Pull equipment is installed for this requirement).

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that BR standardised on air con in their locomotives that were built post Class 56 which was from 1976? So I am assuming that there is no air-con inside the Class 60's then? .

GBRF might well take 10 of them but Network Rail might also want a couple for their engineering trains as well. Also the last remaining ones could be gobbled up by Freightliner for the heavy haul work. Especially with the disappointing outcome of what has become of one Class 70 going up in smoke and also one being dropped off the crane (though the latter is not GE or FL's fault).

As to comment further from the last post. Using the MTU power pack could be a viable option and successful choice if the HST's that have the V4000 unit in them (excluding the EMT ones that have VP185's) are anything to go by. I know the MTU units won't be everyones cup of tea because we (well most of us over 30) are grown up to the lovely sounds of the Mirrlees "chug" and that includes me .

But on the positive side, new equipment gives these locomotives a longer life in service even if the new power units sing differently to the older units. I can happily live with that . Also the Class 60 design doesn't look much out of place when parked alongside a Class 67, Class 70 and most of the new modern passenger stock. To add to the record, the Class 60 is a way better looking locomotive than what a Class 70 ever will be. Even the Class 68 looks a bit like the offspring to a Rhino. But then that is just my personal preferences and opinion .

 

[Boothby97]

That entirely depends in whether that shed is actually needed for anything else.

It's a well known fact that there are a lot of locos stored at Crewe diesel. Inside and outside

There are less locos stored at Crewe DMD now. 11 Class 60s (of which only one, 60082, has not been sold to Brush) and 1 Class 58 are stored at Crewe Diesel. As far as I'm aware, all the 60s are inside, and 58022 is dumped at the back of the depot.

 

[cj_1985]

I see its been reported as being confirmed to "the Railway Herald" that "No sale has yet been agreed" .

Although at present RH is the only source reporting this... it does reinforce my previous point that the whole "sale" is just rumours at the moment...

 

[DT611]

even these candidates could be built with adjustable wheel sets (I know the Talgo trains have them and Hitachi also make them as well), so if Iarnrod Eireann (Ireland) or RENFE (Spain) wanted them for freight/passenger use (latter subject to installing HEP equipment!). Those aforementioned wheelsets would allow those reconditioned 60's to work almost anywhere in Europe if not further afield. If broader ratio gearboxes are installed for faster top speed, they would be more appealing for passenger work (again if HEP and Push-Pull equipment is installed for this requirement).

the class 60s are 129 tonnes i believe? is that correct? at that weight i'm afraid they would be to heavy for irish rails, our 201 class is 112 tonnes and has some restrictions to where it can go on the network, our 071 class at 100 tonnes is fine though

 

[60008]

Hello DT611,

I think that's correct which is a shame really as a few of those beefcakes would probably be some of the IE driver's favourites . As most of the DB Schenker crews I have spoken to say that the Class 60's are nicer to drive than the Class 66's as they are quieter inside the cab so I have been told. I dare say that if GM won the order from BR in the late 1980's. I reckon the Class 60's would have looked identical to the GM 201 class locomotives .

I really like the 071 class locomotives are well and I am pleased to see that IE/IR have refurbished/repainted some of them into the new "NS Dutch Grey" livery. They do sound nice when they are notching up and they sound identical to the SD40-2 and the Class 57 in my view. I assume they have the EMD 645T power unit?

 

[84A]

I had the opportunity to look at everything stored at Toton a couple of years ago, one or two have put a "Leg out of Bed" pics to confirm this. If you have the will and the money to throw at them you can turn them out ex works of course. I know from my time on the railways, they were a good puller, very strong and very much preferred to the tin box 66. Testament of time will see who wants them, but the longer they sit still the more it will cost to return them to traffic.

 

[DT611]

Hello DT611,

I think that's correct which is a shame really as a few of those beefcakes would probably be some of the IE driver's favourites . As most of the DB Schenker crews I have spoken to say that the Class 60's are nicer to drive than the Class 66's as they are quieter inside the cab so I have been told. I dare say that if GM won the order from BR in the late 1980's. I reckon the Class 60's would have looked identical to the GM 201 class locomotives .

yes it is a shame but i suppose IE and the government don't see a future for much rail freight so aren't going to bother making all the network strong enough for heavy locos such as the class 60 and others which is unfortunate, all though ireland is small its unfortunate that we don't facilitate companies to have the opportunity to use our network for rail freight if they wish, the option should be there IMO, yes i know by EU law we have to have open access which we do but unless IE allow companies to have access to locomotives and have wagons for different types of freight (which i believe they did at one stage but scrapped much of it as it was elderly anyway possibly) i can't see companies buying locos and stock, maybe in the future we never know though but i won't hold my breath, if IE can get more freight now that would be something, they really need to depend on more then passengers for revenue.

I really like the 071 class locomotives are well and I am pleased to see that IE/IR have refurbished/repainted some of them into the new "NS Dutch Grey" livery. They do sound nice when they are notching up and they sound identical to the SD40-2 and the Class 57 in my view. I assume they have the EMD 645T power unit?

i believe the power unit in both the NIR 111 class and IE 071 class is the EMD 12-645E3C (the class 59 i believe having a 16-645E3C) the class 57 i believe has a EMD 645-F3B power unit which is a newer unit (mind you i can't imagine theirs really much difference) i believe the class 57 power units were reconditioned units so whether the 3b was put on because of that or whether their is actually a 645 f3b unit i don't know, the 071 and 111 class are fine locos the 071 pulling a rake of comfortable mark 2 carriges or the odd time a rake of also comfortable cravens built mark 1 carriges between rosslare and dublin was something i could enjoy for most of my life (shouldn't have wished for the replacement of the carriges dirty as they were but to late now)

 

[CockneySparrow]

That entirely depends in whether that shed is actually needed for anything else.

It's a well known fact that there are a lot of locos stored at Crewe diesel. Inside and outside

Perhaps the ones stored inside are in working order ready to come back into traffic quickly, the ones outside perhaps stored with mechanical issues or in need of a service, just a thought

 

[tadhatter]

Perhaps the ones stored inside are in working order ready to come back into traffic quickly, the ones outside perhaps stored with mechanical issues or in need of a service, just a thought

That would make sense!