Toton disused class 60s

[TimboM]

Other enthusiasts who were there today tell me that there is no way of viewing those ten from public land now as anything that was visible from over the other side of the tracks has apparently been fenced off specifically to prevent people photographing things from that side...

It's almost like they're embarrassed at the state of them...!

 

[BestWestern]

It's almost like they're embarrassed at the state of them...!

Might be to discourage the metal fairies?

 

[Crawley Ben]

Alas! There is no footpath on the A52 bridge!

I did, however, discover that the signposts to "Erewash Valley Trail - Shortcut" do provide a way there to the bank at the south end of the depot, so mission accomplished except for the ten hidden by wagons.

Other enthusiasts who were there today tell me that there is no way of viewing those ten from public land now as anything that was visible from over the other side of the tracks has apparently been fenced off specifically to prevent people photographing things from that side...

Oops.. apologies Peter for the misinformation. Hope you had a good day anyhow? I'm heading up that way later on in the summer to see bro-in law again. Will ask him what's happening with the 60's that GBRF are said to be interested in...

Cheers

Ben

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Oops.. apologies Peter for the misinformation. Hope you had a good day anyhow?

Photos will follow once I've put them in order ( two downloads - I need to number the ones from my wife's camera in the middle of the sequence from my own camera! ).

I'll also need to adjust them down a bit - the ones from her camera are 7Mb in size compared to 2.5Mb from my camera...!!

 

[BestWestern]

Photos will follow once I've put them in order ( two downloads - I need to number the ones from my wife's camera in the middle of the sequence from my own camera! ).

I'll also need to adjust them down a bit - the ones from her camera are 7Mb in size compared to 2.5Mb from my camera...!!

Were you taking pictures of bigger locos with the wife's camera?

 

[CosherB]

The report that Wabtec/Brush are going to be involved to help restore the potential GBRf (hired) 60s suggests the answer - as expected - is "no".

Looks like GBRf are at 'preferred customer' status with Wabtec.

It'll be interesting to see how the Wabtec refurb compares to the DBC 'Super 60' program. The fact that DBC are involved (as they are not selling the 60s) tends to suggest it's going to be a cosy friendly collaborative effort, as DBC could end up using them again themselves one day. Here's to progress!

And cue the paint froth, of course!

 

[433N]

Newbie, so please excuse any breeches of netiquette.

I've been following this discussion on the 60s and how they would never be used owing to lack of heavy coal traffic but then reading the FT yesterday (an unusual occurrence in itself), I came across the quite advanced plans for opening up a deep mine for metallurgical coal in Cumbria - a coking coal required for steel making whose price has gone through the roof owing to a world shortage - making the mine extremely viable even at prices around a third of what they are today.

(http://www.westcumbriamining.com/lo...ication-successfully-submitted-press-release/)

Obvs, this would be the first deep coal mining since Kellingley closed and the first to open since I were knee high to a grasshopper.

IIRC, there was an intimation that the coal would be taken from there to Redcar (I can't remember if rail was mentioned unfortunately) docks for export.* I wonder if these 'new' rumblings about GBRF and 60s are connected in any way to this.

Incidentally, there was also mention of an Australian exploration firm assessing the viability of another mine near Gretna - so perhaps coal, and the 60s, might make a comeback yet on the railways.


*ON EDIT :
Yes, rail is proposed...
http://www.westcumbriamining.com/what-is-the-plan/how-will-materials-be-transported/
although I'm not sure 60s are 'latest design diesel locos'.

DISCLAIMER : This is me putting together disparate pieces of information with a healthy dose of wishful thinking.

 

[Harbornite]

We of little faith (ish)... WNXX are reporting today that there's a project to look at GBRf hiring 5 or 6 Class 60s from DB Cargo, with DBC and Brush (Wabtec) involved in restoring the locos involved.

No indications as to what the intended use is for, or whether this is a tester for more to come.

Also will almost certainly be some of the recently stored examples/ones in better condition and not those in a bad way on "condemned row". But still, a glimmer of light...?

https://flic.kr/p/poD51w
(sorry, couldn't resist hunting out a mock-up of a 60 in GBRf colours!)

Interesting, let's hope it goes ahead.

 

[najaB]

Newbie, so please excuse any breeches of netiquette...

There has been some discussion of this already on another thread, here's a link: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=148611

 

[TimboM]

There has been some discussion of this already on another thread, here's a link: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=148611

The new Cumbria coking coal working is on this other thread, but like 433N, I too was wondering if there was any link between that and the possible GBRf 60s - which I think is fair game for this thread (just about...!)

Or more broadly, what demand do GBRF have (or are anticipating) that makes this stack up for them? General increase in their business and unable to purchase 66s anymore? ...or something that needs 60 capability?

A few of the last batch of 66s they bought (6677x) aren't doing a lot currently, which would suggest they have spare 66 capacity, so perhaps it's the latter reason?

 

[RichmondCommu]

The new Cumbria coking coal working is on this other thread, but like 433N, I too was wondering if there was any link between that and the possible GBRf 60s - which I think is fair game for this thread (just about...!)

Or more broadly, what demand do GBRF have (or are anticipating) that makes this stack up for them? General increase in their business and unable to purchase 66s anymore? ...or something that needs 60 capability?

A few of the last batch of 66s they bought (6677x) aren't doing a lot currently, which would suggest they have spare 66 capacity, so perhaps it's the latter reason?

Anticipated HS2 work? Class 66s have proved in the past that they can haul coal trains.

 

[Roast Veg]

The 60s could end up on work akin to whatever 59003 was brought back for? They're similar in their intended purposes and I'm sure GBRF know what the plan is.