Hornby R3266, BR Sub-Sector Co-Co Diesel Electric ‘Quinag' Class 60

Description

R3266,
BR Sub-Sector Co-Co Diesel Electric ‘Quinag' Class 60
The Class 60 was British Rail’s final attempt to produce an indigenous heavy haul freight locomotive. The Class 60 followed the introduction in 1986 of the American built Class 59 which had haulage capabilities way above existing BR locomotives. Their success made Railfreight’s Trainload sectors – Coal, Construction, Metals and Petroleum press BR for replacement of their ageing, inefficient and unreliable locomotive stock. Funding was authorised to develop a new Type 5 diesel designated Class 60 with the contract for 100 locomotives being awarded to Brush Traction on 17th May 1988.
The design specification took many features from the Class 59 with Sepex anti wheel slip systems being also installed to improve adhesion. The locomotive bodies were built by Procor and equipped with power units by Mirrlees, which delivered a maximum output of 3,100HP and a speed of 60mph.
The first Class 60 locomotive was handed over to Railfreight on time in June 1989 but extensive teething problems (many involving computer software) meant that it took 16 months before the first of the Class were accepted and nearly 4 years to introduce all 100 Class 60 locomotives.
By the time the Class 60 fleet entered service Trainload’s Sector businesses had given way to “shadow” privatisation and the formation in 1994 of Loadhaul, Transrail and Mainline Freight with the Class 60 fleet split equally between them. Five locomotives were repainted in Loadhaul’s distinctive black and orange livery, while 3 were finished in the aircraft blue colour scheme of Mainline Freight, however Transrail did not adopt a new livery.
English, Welsh and Scottish Railway bought the whole Class 60 fleet as part of BR’s privatisation and during 1996 began painting the locomotives into its new red and gold livery. Originally all 100 locomotives were allocated to Toton but today the Class can be seen all over the UK rail network on most freight workings.
Entering BR service in February 1992, 60090 “Quinag” was first liveried in the BR Sub-Sector two tone grey livery carrying the Railfreight Coal insignia. After privatisation “Quinag” became part of the Loadhaul fleet and since then it has been stored and reinstated twice, however the locomotive was placed in store on final time in April 2008 at Toton TMD where it presently remains.
Suitable rolling stock: General freight stock of the period.