A NEW name in rail haulage, Enviro Skip Hire Rail Services, has bought all but one of DB Cargo’s remaining 52 Class 60s, and the first to be resurrected for its new owner by DBC, 60063, has been released.
Now sporting a two-tone grey livery, just like the old BR Trainload Freight colour scheme, and with yellow ESH Rail Services branding, it ran light from Toton to Longport on May 11. It has been named Robert Leech after a family member of the new owners.
ERS has now bought 21 ‘complete’ Class 60s from DB Cargo, 60001/007/010/015/017/019/020/024/039/040/044/054/059/062/063/065/066/074/079/092/100. These were withdrawn in 2022/23 mostly as operational locos as DBC ran down its Class 60 fleet to avoid major expenditure on them. It regeared ten Class 66/0s as 66/6s to replace them. The sale leaves DBC with just 60011, and the future of this loco is not clear.
From the history of steam through to 21st century rail transport news, we have titles that cater for all rail enthusiasts. Covering diesels, modelling, steam and modern railways, check out our range of magazines and fantastic subscription offers.
ESH is owned by DBI Holdings (formerly known as Land Recovery Enterprises), a company set up by Dan and Dave Beecroft shortly after Land Recovery was sold to Aggregate Industries.
In 2023, LR bought 12 Class 60s, 60012/032/036/037/048/052/068/077/078/084/089/093, from DBC but all were in a poor condition. They were all moved by road to LR’s Radway Green site at Alsager – which is not rail connected – in the summer of 2024. They were not included in the sale to AI and have not been worked on and look set to be stripped of spares and possibly sent for scrap.
In 2025, DBI bought 60003/005/023/025/027/030/031/033-035/041-043/045/049/051/053/058/067/069/071-073/082/083/088/094/097/500 from DBC, but again these are also in a poor condition and will most likely be spares donors prior to disposal.
At the time LR bought its first dozen Class 60, it was suggested that it was looking to gain a train operating licence, and it is possible ESH could also look to gain its own FOC licence. Colas and GBRf have been used to operate its aggregates trains out of Alsager.
DBI has also bought the stripped remains of 60050/086 from Tractor Factor and these were moved from Kinsley by road on May 15 to Colwick for further component recovery.
The 100-strong Class 60 fleet was inherited by DBC’s predecessor, EWS. It sold ten to Colas Rail and later sold to GBRf. Since then locos have been offered for sale, although some were then withdrawn from the tender lists. However, over recent years Cappagh has bought 19 locos, DBI has bought 63 and 17 of the other 18 have been sold to GBRf, LSL, Tractor Factor and 60006 has been sent for scrap.
