371-358ASFClass 60 60096 Colas Rail Freight

The Graham Farish Class 60 is back and better than ever before and we are delighted to present this model of No. 60096 in the eye-catching Colas Rail Freight livery.

Capturing the strong, angular looks of the Class 60 to a tee, the highly detailed Graham Farish model has been treated to a new chassis which incorporates a Next18 DCC decoder socket and speaker, making it possible for us to offer this model with SOUND FITTED – providing more realism than ever before. Not only have we added sound, but the lighting features have been upgraded too, and now include directional head- and tail-lights which can be switched on/off at each end independently – on DCC or via the PCB-mounted microswitches when used on analogue – and, when used on DCC, cab lights which can also be turned on/off independently of each other via two separate DCC functions. The icing on the cake is the sublime livery application, replicating the colourful Colas Rail Freight livery in all its glory.

MODEL FEATURES:

• Graham Farish N Scale
• Era 9
• Pristine Colas Rail Freight livery
• Running No. 60096
• Accessory pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Powerful Coreless Motor
• Directional lighting, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control
• Cab lighting*, assigned to two DCC functions for separate switching of each (*when used on DCC)
• SOUND FITTED – Fitted with a Zimo MS590N18 Sound Decoder – See below for the function list
• Length 144mm

SOUNDS

F0 – Directional Lights

F1 – On – Warm Engine Start / On, Off – Failed Engine Start / On, Off, On – Cold Engine Start

F2 – Brake

F3 – Single Horn (Speed Related)

F4 – Two Tone Horn

F5 – Light Engine / Heavy Train Mode

F6 – Engine Idle / Coasting

F7 – Speed Lock

F8 – Engine Speed-up

F9 – Flange Squeal (Speed Related)

F10 – Guard’s Whistle (When Stationary) / Speed Related Detonators (When Moving)

F11 – Parking Brake (Functional)

F12 – Coupling

F13 – Compressor

F14 – Spirax Valves Venting

F15 – Cooler Group Fan

F16 – Driver’s Telephone Test

F17 – Fire Bell

F18 – On – Cab Door Open / Off – Cab Door Closed

F19 – Fade All Sounds

F20 – Directional Lighting Off (No. 1 End)

F21 – Directional Lighting Off (No. 2 End)

F22 – Cab Light (No. 1 End)

F23 – Cab Light (No. 2 End)

F24 – Station Ambience

F25 – On – ‘Morning’ / Off – Driver’s Response

F26 – Shunting Mode

F27 – Volume Down

F28 – Volume Up

Analogue Users: Directional lights and basic Prime Mover (engine) sounds, which vary with speed, plus any other automated sounds, can be enjoyed when using this model on analogue control (DC) straight from the box!

CLASS 60 HISTORY

The British Rail Class 60 is a Class of Diesel-Electric Locomotive built by Brush Traction in Loughborough, Leicestershire between 1989 and 1993. Affectionately known as ‘Tugs’ by enthusiasts due to their Mirrlees marine-derived powerplant, 100 locomotives were built and the first entered service in late-1990 – more than a year after the first example had been ceremoniously handed over to BR – after various technical issues were uncovered during testing of the first locos. Designed for heavy freight trains, the Class 60s entered service at a time when BR’s Railfreight operations had been split into various sub-sectors and locomotives were assigned to the Coal, Metals, Construction and Petroleum divisions of BR Railfreight, with each carrying the triple-grey base livery with the addition of the relevant graphics for the sub-sector and depot plaques.

In 1994 and in the runup to the Privatisation of British Rail, the Class 60 fleet was split between three of the shadow freight operators – Loadhaul, Mainline and Transrail – that had been created to handle BR’s freight business. All three operators were purchased by EWS in 1996, resulting in the entire class falling under EWS ownership. With the introduction of the Class 66s at the end of the century and coupled with a decline in EWS heavy freight traffic, several Class 60s were put into store and the future of the fleet was uncertain at times. However, a number of locomotives were retained as the heaviest trains could not be hauled by a single Class 66 and instead required the superior power of a Class 60. EWS was acquired by DB Schenker in 2007 (later renamed DB Cargo) and the new owners put several Class 60s up for sale, however they also announced overhauls for some 60s, giving the class glimmers of hopes for the future.

In 2014 Colas Rail purchased ten Class 60s and these remained with the company until 2018 when they were replaced by Class 70s. These ten Class 60s were subsequently sold to GB Railfreight who still operate the fleet which includes No. 60002 that was named ‘Graham Farish – 50th Anniversary 1970 – 2020’ to mark 50th anniversary of production of British N scale models by the brand which is now owned by Bachmann Europe.

Despite their ups and downs, the Class 60s continue to serve DB Cargo, GB Railfreight and other private operators including DC Rail and the class remains a popular sight across the UK where they can be found hauling the heavy freight trains for which they were originally designed.