Class 60 Gallery

Images of Class 60 Locomotives taken in the Taunton Area. Following the successful use of the General Motors Class 59s in 1986, British Rail became aware just how far behind the times its own operation was in terms of heavy-haul diesel power. Its fleet was old, and getting unreliable. Railfreight's Trainload divisions all wanted to invest in new locos and, with this in mind, funding was authorised to develop a new Type 5 diesel loco, this was designated the Class 60. The preferred bidder for the Class 60 contract was Brush Traction at Loughborough. The locomotives were fitted with a is a 8 cylinder, 145 litre Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275T diesel traction engine. The locos were painted in standard BR triple grey livery, with Trainload sector locos added as the locos were rolled through the production line. The first loco, No. 60001, carrying the name 'Steadfast' , was handed over to Railfreight on June 30, 1989 and driven under its own power to Toton. In 1989 Railfreight named the Class 60s in a traditional fashion; those locomotives 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. The original division between operating sectors was around 35 of the Class to Trainload Coal, 25 to Trainload Construction, 22 to Trainload Metals and 18 to Trainload Petroleum, but soon the Trainload businesses gave way to shadow privatisation and the formation of Loadhaul, Transrail and Mainline Freight. Most of the Class 60s had lost their Trainload sub-sector decals by the mid-1990s, in favour of business branding. As part of the privatisation of Britain's railways, all the Trainload operations were purchased by American controlled English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS). The company's distinctive maroon and gold livery was first applied to No. 60019 at Brush in May 1996, and by the end of 2001 around 40% of the fleet had been repainted. Many of the original historical names applied to the fleet have now been removed. The Class 60 has wondered far and wide around the UK since it's introduction, Taunton has been a regular haunt for the locomotives, and many have even made it to Penzance!. The Class 60's have become a much loved locomotive despite their hard and dirty work which they are asked to do. In recent years many have become 'celebrity' locomotives, the holy grail for photographers. We felt that as the first 20 Class 60's have now been put up for sale by DB Schneker, it was time to delve into the archives and record all 100 of the Class in the Taunton area.

21st March 2022 Owing to the failure of DC Rail Class 60 No. 60055 'Thomas Barnardo' at Hackney Yard with flat batteries, the company sent sister locomotive No. 60046 'William Wilberforce ' south on Monday 21st March 2022. The loco is pictured passing Taunton light engine operating as 0V60 04:20 Willesden Sidings - Hackney Yard. (Photo: Paul Finnimore)

21st March 2022 DC Rail Class 60 No. 60046 'William Wilberforce ' powers through Norton Fitzwarren on the 21st March 2022. The loco collected the loaded aggregate train from Hackney Yard with No. 60055 'Thomas Barnardo' remaining on the rear of the train. The 6Z60 13:36 Hackney Yard - Willesden Sidings loaded aggregate is pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

17th March 2022 Making its first appearance in Somerset and Devon in fifteen years, DC Rail Class 60 No. 60055 'Thomas Barnardo' passes Whiteball on the 17th March 2022 operating 6Z53 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road - Hackney Yard for loading with aggregate. (Photo: Simon Harling)

17th March 2022 DC Rail Freight Class 60 No. 60055 'Thomas Barnardo' makes it's first visit to Taunton almost 15 years to the day when it last operated a freight train through Taunton. The DR Rail Class 60 is pictured at Bathpool operating 6Z53 11:18 Oxford Banbury Road - Hackney Yard (Newton Abbot) for loading with aggregate. (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

5th September 2019 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60044 'Dowlow' made an incredibly rare appearance in the South West on Wednesday 4th September 2019. It was the first time the locomotive had visited the Taunton since being towed out of Cornwall into eventual storage at Toton Depot in 2013 an absence of six years. The locomotive is a very rare visitor to the South West and is seen hauling the return 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside Yard back to Whatley Quarry on Wednesday 4th September 2019, pictured near the small hamlet of Wick on the Somerset Levels. (Photo: S A Ginn)

5th September 2019 For the second time in as many days for DB Cargo Type 5 No. 60044 'Dowlow' worked the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry. The returning empties are pictured at Oath on the Somerset Levels, Thursday 5th September 2019. (Photo: S A Ginn)

4th September 2019 With significant amounts of undergrowth removal and weed killing having taken place at Taunton Station, the platform ends are slightly more presentable than they were. A clear view of DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60044 'Dowlow' is availible at the west end of Platform 3/4, the loco is pictured on the 4th Septmeber 2019 working the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry aggregate empties. (Photo: Paul Clarke)

4th September 2019 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60044 'Dowlow' passes under Silk Mills Road Bridge and over the former road crossing on the 4th September 2019 hauling the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Whatley aggregate empties. (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

3rd September 2019 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60039 'Dove Holes' passes Nynehead on the 3rd September 2019 hauling 6C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Whatley aggregate empties. (Photo: Simon Harling)

3rd September 2019 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60039 'Dove Holes' passes Nynehead on the 3rd September 2019 hauling the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry aggregate empties. (Photo: Simon Harling)

3rd September 2019 With the days counting down to the end of the DB Cargo Mendip contract, Type 5 Class 60 No. 60039 'Dove Holes' makes another unusual appearance on the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry empties on Tuesday 3rd September 2019, pictured passing the lush green fields of the Somerset Levels at Oath. (Photo: S A Ginn)

27th August 2019 DB Cargo Class 60 No. 60039 'Dove Holes' ventured back to Devon on Tuesday 27th August 2019 hauling the 7C27 06:14 Westbury - Exeter Riverside loaded Mendip Aggregate. The loco is pictured here exiting from Whiteball Tunnel entering Devon. (Photo: Simon Harling)

23rd August 2019 DB Cargo liveried Class 60 No. 60039 'Dove Holes' makes a rare appearance on the Exeter Stones on Friday 23rd August 2019, pictured passing West Lyng whilst returning with a mixture of 22 empty KEA, JYA & JNA's in tow running as the 7C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry aggregate empties. (Photo: S A Ginn)

26th September 2018 Just three days into the latest operation of the Exeter stone supply from the Mendip Hills, DB Cargo provided a Class 60 to haul the train. No.60062 makes a rare appearance on the 6C28 13:44 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry on Wednesday 26th September 2018. The locomotive is pictured hauling the empty wagons near the small village of Wick on the Somerset Levels. (Photo: S A Ginn)

25th January 2017 The periodic flow of aggregate to Exeter Riverside Yard restarted on Monday 23rd January 2017. DB Cargo at long last has been able to provide their own crew for their own contact. Class 60 No.60054 is seen powering up the grade at Whiteball with the empty wagons hauling the return 7C28 13:45 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry (Photo: Simon Harling)

24th January 2017 The use of Class 60s in the South West has always been periodic in recent years so the appearance of DB Cargo Class 60 No.60054 on the Aggregate Industries stone flow for a few days was a rather notable change to the normal traction. On the 24th January 2017 the 7C28 13:45 Exeter Riverside - Whatley Quarry stone empties pass Norton Fitzwarren in some late afternoon winter light. (Photo: Thomas Courtney)

24th January 2017 DB Cargo provided British motive power for the return to the Exeter stones in the form of Class 60 No.60054. The locomotive is pictured on the second day passing Oath with 7C28 13:45 Exeter Riverside to Whatley Quarry on Tuesday 24th January 2017. (Photo: S A Ginn)

20th July 2016 DB Schenker Class 60 No.60017 paid Taunton another visit on the 20th July 2016 having dropped onto the Exeter Riverside stone workings. Having already made an appearance on Tuesday 19th July 2016, No.60017 was in charge of the stone for the second day in a row on Wednesday 20th July 2016, it is seen arriving into Taunton with the 6C28 13:45 Riverside to Westbury. (Photo: Nathan Williamson)

14th July 2016 DB Schenker provided the much liked Class 60 for an appearance on the Exeter Riverside stone trip on Thursday 14th July 2016. Having already unloaded at Exeter Riverside Yard, the colourful Class 60 No.60017 returns North through Norton Fitzwarren with he 6C28 13:45 Exeter Riverside - Westbury return empties. (Photo: Thomas Courtney)

17th June 2016 Colas Rail Freight sent a light engine Class 60 into Devon on the 17th June 2016. Colas liveried Class 60 No.60047 runs light engine through Taunton working 0Z76 18:20 Hinksey Yard to Exeter Riverside, in order to take the RailVac to Devonport on the evening of the 18th. (Photo: Chay Farzaneh)

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