British Rail Class 60 Locomotives

During the mid 1980s, in a drive for greater efficiency, British Rail required another heavy freight locomotive. The new Class 60 locomotive was to be constructed using lessons learned from the Classes 56 and 58. Six organisations were invited to tender but only three did so.

The contract was awarded to Brush Electrical Machines (today, Brush Traction, part of the Wabtec Rail Group) for a powerful 60mph Type 5 Co-Co design, which resulted in an order being placed for one hundred Class 60 diesel-electric locomotives. Using original research from the National Archives, British Rail Class 60 Locomotives is a high illustrated guide that explores the commissioning of the Class 60s and their construction, testing and running.

Edward Gleed was born in Shropshire and spent most of his childhood with a grandstand view of the Cardiff-Crewe main line from his garden. Working presently as a signalman, he spends both his working and leisure time in some way connected with railways. He has received a long service award for his service in the Operations Department of the Railway industry, and is a member of a local model railway club and a keen railway photographer.