Super 60's - any news?

[truckman060473]

Just wondering if there's any news on the selected 60's that are meant to be upgraded into "super" status? will they have a new engine?

 

[Smudger105e]

Just wondering if there's any news on the selected 60's that are meant to be upgraded into "super" status? will they have a new engine?

No new engine, but the power unit will be rebuilt, the first one is just a crank case at Toton, so they are getting a real good job done. There are some mods to improve emissions, different turbo (which has been a bit of an achilles heel for the 60s) and uprated maximum speed. All air reservoirs are being tested, new paint inside and out, cab improvements, rusty bits in the bodysides cut out and welded, overhauled bogies, paint etc. etc.

This project is not half hearted, and is also not cheap. DBS are trying to design out the 60s weaknesses (operational and engineering) to make them a loco fit for the 21st Century, both in performance and reliability.

I suspect (my own views) are that if successful, more will be done, but all 100? More chance of Sarah palin becoming President!

 

[truckman060473]

Will they uprate the maximum speed via gearing on the bogies? and if so, that will surely affect the performance on the heaviest of trains. You wanna see one crawling up through Johnston with fully loaded Murcos from Robeston, it pushes the loco to its limit.

 

[junglejames]

Will they uprate the maximum speed via gearing on the bogies? and if so, that will surely affect the performance on the heaviest of trains. You wanna see one crawling up through Johnston with fully loaded Murcos from Robeston, it pushes the loco to its limit.

I was wondering this as well.
Never realised it was so thorough, but good to hear that it is. Shame its come a bit late. But hey.
Anyway, increased speed? How are they going about this? The whole point was to have a loco that could compete with the 70, so i cant see them reducing the haulage capabilities of the 60.

 

[Smudger105e]

I am led to understand that the motor gearing will remain unaltered, the 60s were restricted to 60 mph rather than not being able to go faster, so a speed increase can be acheived electrically rather than mechanically.

 

[junglejames]

I am led to understand that the motor gearing will remain unaltered, the 60s were restricted to 60 mph rather than not being able to go faster, so a speed increase can be acheived electrically rather than mechanically.

Well i never. Very good to hear. Lets hope this doesnt cause them to become anymore unreliable!!!
I would have thought this could be quite succesful. If it can hit at least 70mph (if), then you have a loco that is stronger than a 66, uses less fuel than a 66 (i believe), and is only 5mph slower.
If this is possible, one wonders why they ordered so many 66s, and never tried something like this with the 60s sooner.
How many locos are they looking at overhauling now?

 

[tirphil]

The design maximum speed for a 60 was 62mph. Limited to 60 for operational reasons.

It was good to hear the initial news about the up grade of some members of this class but the details mentioned by loco fitter are very encouraging.

Without doubt the BEST machine it has been my pleasure to drive. Quiet cab with logically laid out controls and seats designed for good posture and they were nowhere near as unreliable as EWS management would have people believe. One or two have proved a bit dodgy recently though.