DB Cargo offers 14 Class 60s for disposal

DB CARGO is offering 14 long-stored Class 60s for disposal from Toton Depot in Nottinghamshire.

The freight operator was asking for expressions of interest in the locomotives by August 20, as it seeks to offload some of its fleet, although the operator has stated it reserves the right to withdraw them from sale at any point.

Out of the 100 Class 60s, there are currently 58 members of the fleet in the ownership of DB Cargo stored out of use. DBC is still the largest user of the active fleet, although GB Railfreight also operates 10 of the 60s, while DC Rail has five in its fleet, although 60060 is believed to be for spares only.

Two Class 60s have been previously purchased for preservation, while another, former ‘celebrity’ 60081 Isambard Kingdom Brunel belongs to Locomotive Services Ltd and is expected to move to the One:one Collection museum at Margate after cosmetic restoration, although this has yet to take place and it remains in store at Toton. To date, only 60006 has been scrapped.

All but one of the locomotives, 60099, have been stored out of use for over a decade, with 60070 and 60098 having the dubious distinction of being out of service for over 17 years. Most have been stripped to keep operational members of the fleet in service, while some were stored with faults and failures. It is expected most are likely to be sold for scrapping due to their condition. 60099 was used as the testbed for the DB Cargo ‘Super 60’ project, which saw several members of the fleet refurbished. However, it has also been out of service for almost six years, despite being the most recent of the 14 locomotives offered for sale to be stood down. 60098 was once named Charles Francis Brush and carried a plaque above its nameplate declaring it was the 1000th locomotive to be built at Brush Falcon Works in Loughborough. Ironically, Wabtec is now winding down activities at Brush Works in preparation for the closure of the plant at the end of the year, bringing down the curtain on the iconic plant which was an integral part of the Class 60 story.

Terry Eyres 60098 Charles Francis Brush is within sight of its destination at Red Bank, while working a Knockshinnock to Fiddler’s Ferry loaded MGR train on July 8, 1997. One of the first Class 60s to be stored, it is now more than 17 years since 60098 last hauled a train.

Terry Eyres Carrying its Tata Steel silver livery, 60099 heads a train of empty coal hoppers past Crosfields signalbox near Warrington, while working the late running 6F78 11.30 Fiddler’s Ferry to Liverpool Bulk Terminal on January 14, 2012. 60099 is one of the locomotives recently offered by DB Cargo for disposal and is also the most recent of those on offer to be stood down from service.