60081 Aberdare 13th February 2001
Operated by EWS at the time, 60081 "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" waits at Aberdare with 6C45, the 10:49 Tower to Aberthaw MGR service on 13th February 2001. Once I discovered this loco was up at Tower being loaded I drove up to the former colliery sidings and then chased it back down to Aberthaw. The train had just dropped off the travelling shunter who was based at the old station at the time. The current Aberdare station is a few 100 yards in front of the loco and this section is now out of use since coal loading at Tower finished in February 2017.
Entering service in early November 1991, 60081 and originally named "Bleaklow Hill" was built by Brush at their Loughborough plant as a steel sector locomotive for British Rails Trainload Freight arm. For the Old Oak Common open day on 5th August 2000 it was repainted into GWR Brunswick Green and fitted with brass number plates and named IKB to the surprise of many. Unfortunately whilst working 6L55, a Llandudno Junction to Crewe engineers train on 3rd April 2005 the popular green machine suffered a major engine failure which was rumoured to have been a thrown piston. Once towed to Toton it was stored and has never run again.
Luckily in 2020 it entered preserved as a static exhibit and is currently located at Locomotive Storage Limited, Margate.
Mamiya 645 Slide Scan
60081 Aberdare 13th February 2001
Operated by EWS at the time, 60081 "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" waits at Aberdare with 6C45, the 10:49 Tower to Aberthaw MGR service on 13th February 2001. Once I discovered this loco was up at Tower being loaded I drove up to the former colliery sidings and then chased it back down to Aberthaw. The train had just dropped off the travelling shunter who was based at the old station at the time. The current Aberdare station is a few 100 yards in front of the loco and this section is now out of use since coal loading at Tower finished in February 2017.
Entering service in early November 1991, 60081 and originally named "Bleaklow Hill" was built by Brush at their Loughborough plant as a steel sector locomotive for British Rails Trainload Freight arm. For the Old Oak Common open day on 5th August 2000 it was repainted into GWR Brunswick Green and fitted with brass number plates and named IKB to the surprise of many. Unfortunately whilst working 6L55, a Llandudno Junction to Crewe engineers train on 3rd April 2005 the popular green machine suffered a major engine failure which was rumoured to have been a thrown piston. Once towed to Toton it was stored and has never run again.
Luckily in 2020 it entered preserved as a static exhibit and is currently located at Locomotive Storage Limited, Margate.
Mamiya 645 Slide Scan