DCRail has celebrated the return to service of Class 60 locomotive 60099, Ben More Assynt, following an extensive overhaul at Loughborough undertaken jointly with UKRL. This marks the first of four heavy freight Class 60s that will re-enter active duty over the coming months, strengthening DCRail’s ability to meet rising demand for its aggregates and bulk rail freight solutions.
Although other UK rail freight operators, DB Cargo UK and GB Railfreight, have more Class 60s on their books, the majority of those locomotives remain in storage, rarely seeing mainline action. DCRail has consistently demonstrated a commitment to keeping the class operational, highlighting its reliability and heavy-haul capabilities for construction and bulk freight movements.
Short-haul, heavy-haul history
The Class 60s were built between 1989 and 1993 by Brush Traction, initially intended to replace ageing diesel marques on heavy freight services. Powered by a 3,100 hp Ruston-Paxman engine, they quickly earned a reputation for raw pulling power, albeit with a sometimes challenging reliability record in early years. Over the decades, the fleet has seen widespread withdrawal, with only a few operators maintaining them for active duty.
The fleet was built with the intention of taking on duties serving the power generation industry. Primarily, they were designed to haul heavy coal trains from Britain’s collieries to power stations around the country. On the relatively short hauls on “merry-go-round” workings, the class 60 proved an adequate workhorse. For modern use, it has taken a significant investment by DCRail to make the ageing units perform over longer distances, serving the construction industry.
Back to the future
DCRail, part of the Cappagh Group, specialises in moving construction materials, aggregates, and other bulk commodities by rail. The operator has a relatively small fleet, primarily based on a handful of Class 60 locomotives. Its expertise in heavy-haul operations, particularly with the Class 60s, allows DCRail to support large-scale construction projects and respond quickly to rising demand.
With DCRail breathing new life into 60099 and its sister units, the Class 60 may yet see a renaissance. In the niche for heavy-haul and construction traffic, strength and reliability remain unmatched. “Ben More Assynt” has proved the former for decades. It now has a renewed opportunity to prove the latter.