British Rail Class 60: Difference between revisions
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== Fuel consumption == |
== Fuel consumption == |
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Class 60's average 1-2 miles per gallon on a 3000 tonne freight train making them very economical compared with lorries, if a |
Class 60's average 1-2 miles per gallon on a 3000 tonne freight train making them very economical compared with lorries, if a lorry were to match this it would have to average around 150-200 miles per gallon, that meaning, 1 freigh train doing the work of 69 44tonner lorries in the UK and the rest of the world. But on aggregates trains the class 60(and 59'and 66's) can do the work of 120 lorries. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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Revision as of 10:33, 10 May 2009
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The British Rail Class 60 is a class of Co-Co diesel electric locomotives built by Brush Traction for heavy freight work.
Fuel consumption
Class 60's average 1-2 miles per gallon on a 3000 tonne freight train making them very economical compared with lorries, if a lorry were to match this it would have to average around 150-200 miles per gallon, that meaning, 1 freigh train doing the work of 69 44tonner lorries in the UK and the rest of the world. But on aggregates trains the class 60(and 59'and 66's) can do the work of 120 lorries.
History
In the 1980s, British Rail 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,[citation needed] 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 Motors Electro Motive. They offered a state-of-the-art Class 59, built in the UK, probably at BREL Crewe Works, which had an existing partnership for construction of the Class 91 electric locos
- Brush Traction - offered a locomotive powered by either a Mirrlees or Ruston engine, and used separately-excited (Sepex) traction control, as previously tested on the Class 58
Of the three bidders, Brush was selected, and an order placed for 100 locomotives in a deal worth around £120 million.[1]
Brush sub-contracted parts construction, with final construction at Brush's erecting shops at Loughborough. The bodyshells, shared with the similar Class 92 electric locomotives, were fabricated by Procor of Wakefield. The engine was a development of the Mirrlees previously experimentally fitted to 37901-37903, being of higher power.[2]
The first locomotive was delivered in June 1986 and sent to Derby for testing, which revealed a number of teething problems (in contrast to the recently introduced and private-development driven Class 59s which had entered service on day one).[1] Parts requiring modifications included the axle box suspension and the Mirlees engine cylinder head.[2]
Design
Unlike the Classes 59 and 66 (solid girder underframe) or Classes 47 and 56 (trussed side panels) the Class 60s have a true monocoque stressed skin construction - with the external bodywork providing support for the internal components.[3]
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 amonst others. The main and auxiliary alternators are both driven by the main engine.[4]
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 microprocessos controlled power supply (SEPEX in Brushes designation - from "Separately Excited"), a system that was first trialed 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.[4]
The engine is a 8 cylinder, 145 litre Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275T diesel traction engine (275 mm cylinder diameter).[5]
Operations
By 1990, locomotives had started to be introduced onto the mainline, replacing previously double headed Class 33 Type 3s in the South East region, as well as Classes 20, 26, 27, 31 and 73.[2] The locomotives primarily worked on aggregate (specifically: stone) traffic also replacing Class 56s and Class 58s - some of which were withdrawn, others transfered.[1]
The one hundred locomotives had their base at Toton and were split between Load-Haul, Trans-Rail and Mainline Freight. Their introduction not only replaced much double heading, but also allowed longer or heavier trains to be worked.[2]
Following the privatisation of British Rail all 100 of the units came under the management of the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS).
Initially it was EWS's policy not to reduce the 100 strong fleet, with both fire and collision damaged locomotives receiving repairs.[6] The policy changed in 2003/4 with a number of the fleet stored as being surplus to requirements.[7] Between 2004 and 2007 typically roughly around 50-75%[8] of the fleet would be out of action at a given time.[2][6]
Whilst working for EWS, Class 60s have been typically employed on the stone, aggregate and ballast traffic, petroleum traffic, and also on steel trains. As of 2009, many of the class 60's have been stored with 15 at the most in operation at a time,DB schenker uk were palnning on storing all of the 60's in the fleet but realised that that 60's were needed on heavy aggregates, steel and oil trains, for Example stone trains from Peak forest and oil trains from Robeston-westerleigh were the load can exceed 3,000 tones, the class are also used on hevy steel trains, specialy in S Wales, this tonage not being within the haulage capability of a class 66, but class 59's would be able to operate these trains.
Saturday 19th April 2009, saw the lowest operational number of the class on record. The lucky few were on this occasion, 60011/18/24/40/63/65/74 and 91, and now perhaps is particularly prevalent to look towards the future of the class, outside of the ownership of DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd.
The Class 60 Preservation Group, created on the 11th February 2008, aims to preserve a member of the every popular class for future generations. Currently comprising of roughly 50 devoted and enthusiastic members, the group has gained much positive publicity through the organising of fund raising walks, creative media and word of mouth. The current 'desperate' situation of the class, has elevated the position of the group within the enthusiast fraternity, and they now attend several yearly functions advertising the cause of the venerable 'Big Brush'. The uncertainty of DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd plans, have created a positive reaction within the group, with many fund raising initiatives coming to the fore. Particularly noteworthy, was a sponsored walk by several members, on a four counties circular to raise awareness, and money for the group. The walk was covered throughout and sponsored by Rail Express Magazine.
Naming and liveries
In 1989 Railfreight named the Class 60s in traditional fashion; those locomoties 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.[9] 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 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". In 60040 was repainted in a red livery and named "The Territorial Army Centenary" as part of a celebration of the same event.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Class 60 kentrail.co.uk
- ^ a b c d e Rolling stock library : Class 60 thejunction.org.uk
- ^ Class 60 Body tugtracker.co.uk
- ^ a b Class 60 electrical tugtracker.co.uk
- ^ Class 60 engine tugtracker.co.uk
- ^ a b Class 60 History and Background tugtracker.co.uk
- ^ At the same time the Class 47, 56 and 58 fleets were withdrawn and the Class 37 fleet reduced ([1] see 2000 to present day)
- ^ During this period the Class 60s saw more work during the winter, and higher numbers available for work - due to the seasonal demand for fuel (oil)
- ^ Class 60 original names: tugtracker.co.uk
Sources
- The Class 60 Diesel Data Site, Logs of Class 60 workings and other fleet information.
- Class 60 page at Brush Traction
- History of the Class 60
- [2] The Class 60 Preservation Group