Yes, I'm still here!

Hi all, just to let you know that the phone I use for this Blog is currently out of action but I'm hoping to resolve this issue and begin posting regularly again soon.

On the 60 front, things have been static with DBS shuffling Tugs in and out of store. The six or so loco's required for duty regularly changes and the TOPS list for today read as follows:

WC pool @ 0537

60010
Immingham TMD no allox

60011
6N03 Lindsey - Jarrow

60040
Immingham TMD no allox

60049
6F02 Tunstead - Oakleigh

60071
6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh
#####################
60039 now at Toton in the WFMU pool out of service. Fault code B/ONE, expect ok 24/6. Is assigned B/ONE 12/6/11 at Toton.

Trainload Petroleum Survivor

I couldn't resist posting another closer perspective view of 60054 taken by Rob Reedman yesterday. Whilst I'm no paint frother, what's notable is the fact the loco is in the same livery as it wore 20 years ago. All that's missing is cast depot plaques and BR arrows.

60054

Another of Rob Reedman's super shots at a sunny Stenson today. This one illustrates why DBS can't do without Tugs!

60039

Rob Reedman made the most of the fine weather in the Midlands and has kindly sent in his results of a good haul of two of today's 60 workings at Stenson Junction.

Six of the Best

60054, sometimes better known as Charles Babbage, recently returned to mainline duties with a go on 6M57/6E59 yesterday. Although nominally still allocated to the tactical reserve pool, this has meant six Tugs out and about doing some decent graft. This is despite 60096 appearing to have been ousted from workings around Merseyside, possibly by introduction of a 59/2 on the jobs. Just lately 096 has been a regular on 6V98/6E41, today being no exception. The six sixties at 06:30 this morning were employed thus:

60009 WCBI IMING TMD IMING TMD F
60039 WCAI IMING TMD 210M57C511 F LINDSEYOR
60040 WCAI LINDSEYOR 216N03C111 7 * JARROWTML
60054 WNTR HUMBER OR 216M35C111 7 * KNGSBYCHN
60074 WCAK TUNSTEAD 346F02C311 4 * OAKLEGHSG
60096 WCAI LINDSEYOR 216V98C810 7 * WESTRLEGH

Toton Trundle Video

A run-past the back of Toton depot hauled by 60040 on the "Pye Bridge Pie-Man" railtour.

Harringworth Video

View from the window as 56312 takes the "Pye Bridge Pie-Man" railtour over one of Britain's most impressive railway structures.

Now That You've Gone, We'll Get On With It

Class 60's future just may have got a little brighter with the recent retirement from DB Schenker of one Mr. Keith Heller. A lengthy chat with my industry source revealed the only reason the Class 60s in traffic have been whittled down recently to a paltry 5% of the locos built, is that Heller was so enthusiastic for the products of General Motors (i.e. 66s & 67s). Regardless, it would seem, of Class 66's inability to actually do the job that was required! He then continued to inform me that as many as twenty Tugs could be on the cards for "Super E" exams, which should eradicate any unreliability inherent when a complex machine such as a diesel-electric locomotive is expected to perform after a period in store.

The "double Shedding" hasn't been without incident. One of the oil flows previously in the hands of one 60 went over to 2x66 haulage, but because of siding length the additional loco meant one bogie tanker had to be removed from the train. As the customer required the requisite number of tankers for the flow this had to be tripped in and out when the siding was empty, meaning all sorts of mucking about for the sake of one man's preference of locomotive manufacturer!

A pair of 66s on 6V98/6E41 didn't last long, 60009 has been doing the honours over the last few days, although very occasionally a couple of Sheds will be turned out to do the working. The most likely time this will happen is when I go out to get a picture of a Tug on it!

023 & 088

Rob Reedman has recently sent in a number of pics to TT, including this portrait of two of Toton's inmates.

60074

Rob Reedman has been kind enough to send in the above pic of 074 at Willington working last Thursday's 6M57 (see "Five Alive"). Typical January weather serves to emphasise the gloom hanging over the Class in a phot full of atmosphere, thanks Rob.

Five Alive

Class 60 returned to 6E41 on Tuesday, 60051 doing the honours and again the following day. I wonder if even two 66s at the head wasn't satisfactory for the working?

DBS seems to have settled down to a small fleet of five locomotives, today these were allocated thus:

WN pool @ 0715 60063 Doncaster TMD no allox

WC pool @ 0718 60009 6N03 Lindsey - Jarrow

60040 Immingham TMD no allox

60074 6M57 0715 Lindsey - Kingsbury dep Lindsey right time

60096 6G61 0321 Liverpool BT - Ironbridge passed Madeley Jn @ 0712, 39 late. Next allox 6F96 1100 Ironbridge - Walton Old Jn MSC Sdgs

(thanks to "TRAIN ON LINE" on 60-Gen for this info)Tug Tracker has been added to "Tugs on the Web", a site well worth a lengthy browse.

The Morning Commute

Following a snowy period just before Xmas, Arctic conditions have returned with avengence to the UK in the early part of 2010. Traditionally the driest region in Britain with little snow-fall, East Anglia hasn't been spared, although we've not had it half as bad as elsewhere in the country.
NXEA have managed to get me to work in the mornings though, which is more than they managed on two occasions when it was five degrees warmer and no snow!

6E41 Succumbs

It seems I may well have put a jinx on 6E41. No sooner had I asked my pet Bobby for the times of what I thought was THE solid Class 60 working, than it was reported it had gone over to Class 66 haulage. Fume! As this train often loaded to 2000+ tons with a Tug in charge, I can only assume that DBS have lightened it considerably in order that the 66 can cope. It remains to be seen if E41 will remain with 66s, but I'll keep my hopes up that 60s will return.

Five 60s have apparently been kept in traffic, so there must be work around that requires the superior pulling power. One candidate is the coal traffic between Liverpool docks and Fiddlers Ferry power station, not a job I am familiar with, maybe a trip to Merseyside is in order.

I'll keep my eyes and ears open and as soon as I know for definite which workings will produce a 60, I shall post the times.