GBRf begins crew training on newly acquired Class 60s

Crew training with Class 60s has begun for GB Railfreight.

The company is using three of the ten Type 5s for testing and training at locations across its network. So far, GBRf has sent 60047 to Liverpool, 60085 to Port of Tyne, and 60095 to Whitemoor.

GBRf bought the Type 5s from Colas Railfreight earlier this summer ( RAIL 858), and has agreed a sale and long-term leaseback of the ‘60s’ with the rolling stock leasing company.

The company says the purchase supports its growth in handling commodities such as biomass and aggregates.

Because of their power, the ‘60s’ will allow GBRf to operate heavier trains, enabling growth on contracts including the deal with waste company Biffa that started in March.

The locomotives have been allocated to a GBTG pool, which so far contains 60047/076/085/ 087/095. Those not being used for training as this issue of RAIL went to press remain at Doncaster Decoy Yard.

Also at Doncaster are 60021/ 026/056/096. These have also been bought from Colas by GBRf, but have not yet been reallocated from their previous owner. One locomotive (60002) remains in use with Colas.

GBRf wants the ‘60s’ for use on heavy bulk freights, releasing Class 66s for other duties.

However, it is also targeting more work, including HS2 construction trains where the increased power of a ‘60’ will be useful.

GBRf Managing Director John Smith said: “The move is demonstrative of why GBRf is the UK’s fastest-growing freight company, and this rate of development will only continue.”

The company is also planning to introduce re-engined Class 56s into traffic, and work has begun on this project, with long-withdrawn former testbed 56009 being measured internally at Electro-Motive Diesel Longport for the potential new EMD engines that will be fitted to the locomotives.

So far GBRf has moved 56009/031/032/037/069, 56311 to Longport, while 56081/098, 56104, 56312 have been moved to Castle Donington freight terminal for storage.

Still at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester depot are 56007/018/038/ 060/065/077 and 56106.

The latter is not thought to have a future, while 56007/038/065 have all had their engines examined or lifted out of the locomotive.

PAUL GASH. Unbranded 60047 was the first Class 60 to enter traffic with GB Railfreight. Currently it is based at Tyne Dock for use on a new biomass contract from Tyne Dock to Lynmouth. On August 20, the ‘60’ leaves Lynmouth power station with the 1914 empty biomass to Tyne coal terminal.