These locos would have been a lot more reliable had EWS maintained them properly.
As for container trains, they are not suitable, having a max speed of 60mph, container trains run as class 4, 75mph.

Well it seems to me that a "Lott A Lotta" money is being wasted somewhere within the modern railway !!!

But perhaps it is just me.

48111

So, if a class 60 has a max speed of 60mph, are they geared down for increased tractive effort ?

Is that why they are more powerful (in terms of freight tons hauled) than the more common class 66 ?

From my spotting book:-

Class 60. Max. T.E. 500 kN (106500 lbf)
Continuous T.E. 336 kN (71570 lbf @ 17.4 mph)

Class 66. Max. T.E. 409 kN (92000 lbf)
Con. T.E. 260 kN (58390 lbf @15.9 mph.)
Class 66/6 Max. T.E. 467 kN (105080 lbf)
Con. T.E. 296 kN (66630 lbf @ 14.0 mph)

Hope this helps.

Regards. 62440.

60074 has spent the last fortnight on driver refresher between carlisle/ Dumfries and Falkland yard, so perhaps there is still hope for the tugs yet

60074 is the usual on the mid cheshire line. I was wondering where it went. Why they chose this engine is beyond me as there are plenty of others stored. This one was busy being useful. Now all I've got is a grubby 66 to look at. :(

I've heard that gearing the Class 60's at 60MPH was a political decision within BR. At the time, BR knew they wanted a new freight loco and they went to all the different freight sections to ask them to help pay for it. All the different sections agreed to help foot the bill except Freightliner, but the other sections figured that Freightliner would still make use of the loco's even if they didn't help to pay for them. To make it unviable for Freightliner to use the 60's, they geared them to run at just 60MPH because they knew that all Freightliner trains were booked to run at 75MPH.

Yes to your second question though. The lower gearing is the reason why they can pull heavier loads.