William Booth Locomotive

The William Booth in Transrail Livery

The William Booth is one of 100 Class 60 diesel locomotives that came into service with British Rail in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The original allocation was for 35 locomotives for Coal,25 to Construction, 22 to Metals and 18 for Petroleum. It is believed that the William Booth was allocated to coal haulage. The locomotive was named at a ceremony at Nottingham Station on the 3rd. November 1990. The William Booth was at times used in passenger service. On the 26th May 1991, along with 60057, it worked the first double-headed passenger train for the class. Both locos were on the 08.30 St. Pancras – Coalville ‘Coalville Salute’ rail tour for the open day.

The pair then worked the Caolville – Nuneaton leg of the 22.00 Ayr – Bristol ‘Coal Scuttler’ tour, before working the ‘Caolville Salute’ back to St. Pancras (15:20 ex-Calville). On the 6th June 1994, the William Booth went to the aid of the 1E37 14:30 Paignton - Newcastle HST, which had suffered a major mechanical failure on the Lickey Incline. Unable to move it at first, progress was finally made, only for the emergency coupling to break. New Street was eventually reached by which time the HST was eight hours late. The livery of the locomotive was changed when the railways were privatised, and the William Booth now bears the grey livery of Transrail. The nameplate and Salvation Army Crest are still born by the locomotive which can still be found hauling freight around the country.