PART 17: Class 60s British Rail turned the Class 60 out in the two-tone grey Railfreight livery, complete with cast metal double arrow logos at opposite ends and freight sub-sector vinyls. 60010, wearing Construction sub-sector markings, is seen at Leices
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Faced with an increase in heavy freight traffic during the late 1980s, British Rail moved to create a superior Type 5 diesel locomotive. With classes 56 and 58 struggling to cope with the gruelling demands of bulk aggregate, mineral and steel traffic, an all-new purpose-built locomotive was intended to serve BR well into the 21st Century.
The Class 60 has the dubious honour of being the last main line diesel electric locomotive to be designed, built and operated in the UK. Introduced between 1990‑93, they worked for BR for only a short time before privatisation. The 100-strong fleet was spread across the three ‘shadow’ freight franchises during the latter days of BR, before the class was bought wholesale by English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS).
Here, we’ll examine some of the livery variants that appeared before EWS was bought out by DB in 2007. EWS had begun withdrawing Class 60s in the early 2000s, holding many of them in store. However, the Class 60’s superior haulage power, even compared to the new Class 66, led to an operational fleet being maintained. Furthermore, DB began an overhaul programme in the 2010s. However, sales and disposals of surplus ‘60s’ soon began.
While we’re concentrating on the paint schemes, care needs to be taken to match the livery to the name(s) carried. BR endowed the class with a mix of names, commemorating well-known mountains or peaks, along with notable people. When ownership passed to EWS, almost all of the original names were removed. Some gained new identities, often linked to EWS’ business customers, with varying styles and colours of nameplates employed.
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D. PYE/COLOUR RAIL
The second of the three ‘shadow’ companies, Loadhaul, was quick to impose its name on locomotives, pending repaints into a new livery, although the company’s short tenure meant that only a handful of Class 60s were treated to the full works. Although owned by EWS since 1997, 60064 is still carrying Loadhaul markings at Peak Forest in 2004. T. OWEN/COLOUR RAIL
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Below: Carrying what became the ‘standard’ EWS livery, 60023 is also heading through Newport with a steel coil train. The small yellow ‘Three Beasties’ logo, featuring a lion, stag and dragon, can be seen below the rear cab windows.
Below: One of the early repaints into the house colours of EWS’ parent company, Wisconsin Central, 60004 is seen at Newport in 2006. Of note is the use of EW&S lettering – later changed to EWS – and a lack of yellow ‘Three Beasties’ logo beneath the rear cab window. B. PERRYMAN/COLOUR RAIL
Charles Darwin, COLOUR RAIL
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Above: promoting A few major class business members customers acquired such one-off as British special Steel liveries, and, usually later, Corus and Tata. Repainted as part of Old Oak Common depot’s open day in August 2000, 60081 Sir Isambard Kingdom Brunel wears fully-lined GWR green, complete with ‘brass’ air horns and cast metal ‘Three Beasties’ logos and numberplates. Sadly, this locomotive suffered a major engine failure in 2005 and has not worked since, being acquired for preservation in 2020.
K. FAIREY/COLOUR RAIL
Above: Aside from complete repaints, it took EWS several years before applying its branding to locomotives, in the form of large ‘Three Beasties’ vinyls, designed to cover any existing logos from previous operators. Many ‘60s’ received these vinyls, applied during the late Noughties, as seen on 60068 passing Toton in 2007.
Above: Only five Class 60s gained the striking black and orange Loadhaul colour scheme. While 60059 is seen at Derby in March 1997, the locomotive retained this livery well into the 2000s.
Above: Mainline Freight also introduced a temporary vinyl to stick on its locomotives, but three ‘60s’ did gain full repaints into the handsome Aircraft blue shade, including 60044, as seen at Newport in September 1999. Note that the Ailsa Craig nameplates have been recently removed, leaving a rough area of bodywork. COLOUR RAIL