European Railroad Discussion > 60074 Luke

In August DBC turned out one of their class 60s in a special gunmetal blue livery for major shipper Puma Energy, it was also named Luke at a special ceremony at the Westerleigh Oil Terminal near Bristol. DBC move 12 or more trainloads of oil products a week for Puma from Robeston in West Wales to terminals at Westerleigh and Theale, the latter some 40 miles west of London. Since 60074 appeared in its new guise on 12th August it's been used on both oil and steel services here in South Wales. I read somewhere that the name Luke is related to a charity supported by Puma Energy.

1: This is 60074's inaugural run after its refit on 12th August, with the nameplate covered up. It seems churlish to mention but Luke disgraced itself by sitting down about 30 minutes after I took this shot with a loss of power, it eventually arrived at Westerleigh over two hours late.
2: Since then it seems to have behaved itself, here it is on Saturday 26th September with the train from Theale, climbing out of the Severn Tunnel
3: And this was taken yesterday at Portskewett on the original South Wales Mainline, with the 6B41 Westerleigh to Robeston. The towers in the background are of the first Severn Crossing, today the M48 motorway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/20 07:20 by 86235.

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Always liked the Class 60s (at least in looks if not performance) - good solid looking locos.   Shot #2 spectacular!

Certainly much cleaner lines than the Class 59/66s, but operationally . . . .

Gordon

Your Class 60 photos are super excellent.
Thanks for your posting.
ALLEN

Totally - I was wondering why one was still active! ;)

gbmott Wrote:
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> Certainly much cleaner lines than the Class
> 59/66s, but operationally . . . .
>
> Gordon

Operationally the 60s are perfectly serviceable, DBC and GBRf operate about 30 at present on trains which are beyond the capability of the 66s, the oil trains from Robeston max at 30 wagons, which loaded gives a train weight of about 3000 tonnes, the 66s can't manage more than about 2700 tonnes. GBRf use 60s on biomass trains from Liverpool Bulk Terminal and Tyne Dock to Drax power station, both of which include some steep gradients, for which the lugging capability of the 60 is perfectly suited. 

We get a wide variety of DBC's operational 60s down here in Wales

On September 9th 60062 on 6B13 to Westerleigh along the River Severn at Gatcombe
The following day 60044 approaching Cardiff Central station on empty coil carriers from Newport Docks to Margam
September 29th and another shot of the 6B41 empty oil from Westerleigh to Robeston with 60010

30+ years after entering service there's no sign of the 60s reaching the end of the road.
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/20 03:12 by 86235.

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Really nice shots. As mentioned, the performance of a 60 exceeds that of 66s (and some 59s), mainly due to the class 60's individual axle control wheelslip system. In the past the reliability of the 60s has been an issue, but after recent refurbishments the reliability appears improved.