Class 60 Preservation Group

The Class 60 Preservation Group was formed out of a sense of urgency around the uncertain future of the Brush Traction Class 60 fleet, particularly locomotives standing out of use and vulnerable to disposal. On its own website, the group explains that enthusiasts came together with the aim of preserving at least one member of the class before more were lost, creating an organisation focused not just on admiration for the locomotive, but on securing a practical future for it in preservation. That origin is important, because it places the group firmly within a newer generation of railway preservation bodies: organisations created to protect relatively modern diesel traction that once seemed too recent to need saving, but is now increasingly recognised as a vital part of British railway and industrial history. The group’s wider historical mission is tied closely to the significance of the Class 60 itself. As the site notes, these locomotives were the last wholly new locomotives ordered and commissioned by British Rail before privatisation, developed in the late 1980s as a powerful heavy-freight design and built with lessons learned from earlier classes. That status gives the preservation effort a meaning beyond a single machine: it is about conserving the end point of a particular phase in British locomotive design, when BR was still investing in advanced home-built freight traction with a clear long-term purpose.

From that starting point, the organisation has developed into a structured preservation group with a defined restoration ambition, a membership base, fundraising channels and a volunteer-led working model. The group states that all money raised goes back into locomotive purchase, restoration, maintenance and operation, while working members contribute directly to progress and help shape ideas for the project. Its stated ambition is not merely cosmetic preservation, but the return of a Class 60 to full working order, with aspirations for main line-capable restoration and even the development of dual braking compatibility so the locomotive could work more flexibly in the heritage sector. That tells you a great deal about how the organisation has evolved: it is not a passive supporters’ club, but a technically minded preservation effort built around long-term engineering, documentation, fundraising and public engagement. For a website that features videos of locomotives, that history provides the real foundation. The footage may show movement, sound and presence, but behind it sits a much larger story of enthusiasts organising themselves into a company-backed preservation group, building support through memberships and donations, and trying to secure a future for one of the most historically important late-BR diesel classes. In that sense, every image of a Class 60 in action connects to the group’s broader development from an appeal-driven rescue idea into a serious preservation project with historical purpose and operational ambition.

The Fishplate playlist titled *Class 60 Preservation Group* features a collection of videos focusing on the Brush Traction Class 60 diesel locomotives, many of which are preserved or still in active service. The footage highlights various units such as 60001, 60003, and 60008 appearing at locations including Bromsgrove, Longbridge, Carstairs, and others. These locomotives have been used in a range of roles, from freight operations to railtours, across multiple operators and regions. The videos also include appearances by other classes such as Class 50, Class 66, and Class 68, indicating the broader context of diesel traction in the UK.

The playlist reflects the efforts of the Class 60 Preservation Group, a volunteer-run organisation dedicated to restoring and operating a preserved Class 60 locomotive. This group was formed due to concerns over the future of the Class 60 fleet, with an aim to ensure at least one member of the class is preserved for future generations. The videos provide visual context to this mission, showing both operational and historical aspects of the Class 60, which were the last new locomotives ordered by British Rail before privatisation. The footage supports the group’s long-term goal of restoring a Class 60 to full working order, highlighting its significance as an important part of late-BR diesel history.