Description
R30026 Hornby GBRF, Class 60, Co-Co, 60026 “Helvellyn” – Era 11
By 2003/4, a number of locomotives were stored as surplus to operational requirements. In 2007 EWS became part of DB Schenker and at the end of October 2010, the entire Class 60 fleet was mothballed, with the exception of 60040 The Territorial Army Centenary and 60074 Teenage Cancer Trust. By the end of 2011, two more locomotives were returned to service, followed by an announcement that 21 further Class 60s were to be overhauled in 2012, this being completed by the end of 2013. Since then, the fortunes of the Class 60 Fleet have ebbed and flowed, with locomotives being sold, re-sold and leased, but in 2019 the majority of locomotives are owned by DB Cargo (UK), with Beacon Rail and GBRf also owning vehicles. Of the 100 locomotives in operation, 71 are in storage; DB Cargo (UK) preferring to rotate its operational Class 60s, with around fourteen being in service at any one time.
Following their acquisition of ten Class 66 locomotives from DB Cargo and a further sixteen Class 56 locomotives, in June 2018 GBRf continued the expansion of their heavy rail fleet by reaching an agreement with Colas Rail to take over the operation of that company’s fleet of ten Class 60 units. On 2 October 2019, in partnership with Beacon Rail Leasing, GBRf released the newly named 60026 Helvellyn into traffic wearing Beacon Rail’s Royal Blue livery, with GBRf branding. 60026 was named Helvellyn after one of the original Class 44 Peak locomotives and the style of the locomotive’s new nameplate reflected that heritage.
- Length: 28cm
- Scale: 1:76/OO Gauge
- Finish: Painted
- Colour: Blue
- DCC Status: DCC ready (8 pin socket)
- Operator: GBRf
- Designer: Brush
- Livery: GBRf Blue
- Minimum Curve: Radius 2
- Motor: 5 Pole Skew Wound
- Class: Class 60
