#4730· Class 60

British Rail Class 60

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Brush Traction· from 1989· class of 100 Co′Co′ 3100hp diesel-electric locomotives

🛤️ diesel locomotive diesel ✓ in service

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. 60024 - Eastleigh (10983039095): Jim· CC BY 2.0
2. 60068 by Castleton East Junction: David Ingham· CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Stopped Class 60's at Loughborough Brush 31 08 23 (53155246076): Foulger Rail Photos from Basingstoke, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
4. 60 003 Freight Transport Association Toton 071022: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
5. 60 033 Tees Steel Express Toton 071022: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
6. 60 036 Gefco Toton 071022: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
7. 60 045 The Permanent Way Institution Toton 071022: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
8. 60 052 Tower Colliery: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
9. Class 60 engine bay refurbished Toton 071022: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0
10. Class 60 Roof Fan Toton 071022: kitmasterbloke· CC BY 2.0

what is it?

The British Rail Class 60 is a class of Co-Co heavy freight diesel-electric locomotives built by Brush Traction. They are nicknamed Tugs by rail enthusiasts. During the 1980s, it became increasingly apparent that British Rail required a more capable Type 5 locomotive for its heavy freight trains.

who runs it

British Rail DB Cargo UK Devon & Cornwall Railways GB Railfreight LHD DB Cargo Transrail Freight Mainline Freight

base stats

speed 97 km/htop speed
power 2.3 MWpower output
weight 129 tin working order
built 100made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 37 years ago, in 1989.
2.3 MW is about 27 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
Weighs about as much as 22 African elephants (~6 t each).
21.3 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
Still in service after 37 years.

diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).

spec sheet

built: 1989–1993
in service from: 1989
status: in service
number built: 100
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Brush Traction
operators: British Rail, DB Cargo UK, Devon & Cornwall Railways, GB Railfreight, LHD, DB Cargo, Transrail Freight, Mainline Freight
top speed: 97 km/h
power: 2.3 MW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: Co′Co′
length: 21.3 m
weight: 129 t
Dutch name: Class 60

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q2975723, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 60 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.