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!
