RailRoad ‘Tugs’ Uncovered

Announced in the January range launch, the brand-new Hornby RailRoad Class 60 will occupy an important place in the OO gauge freight locomotive roster as a detailed, reliable and affordable option. In this issue of Engine Shed, we delve deeper into the research, development and reasoning as to why we chose to produce the industrious Tugs in RailRoad.

The CAD is complete and we are expecting engineering samples later this year.

The Class 60 has been a perennial feature of the Hornby OO gauge range ever since it was first introduced in the mid-2000’s. Such was its success (winning Model of the Year in 2007) and enduring design that the model continues to be produced 20 years later, albeit with a tweak to the PCB to allow for a more modern 21-pin decoder socket and sound-fitted capability.

However, we know that beginners to the hobby are a vitally important part of our customer base, and a high-definition, highly detailed Class 60 adorned with separately fitted parts may be out of their reach. That’s where the RailRoad 60 comes in.

The bogies, although designed to be durable, still feature separate cab steps and sandboxes, and a high level of moulded-on detail.

Designed with accessibility, durability and functionality in mind, this newly tooled 'Tug' fills the vital role of current diesel traction, and has possibilities for over 35 years' worth of liveries, making it a model both parents and children will love. It features a proven and stress-tested three-pole motor, complete with flywheel, to provide reliable and long-lasting operability. All six axles have electrical pick-ups, and both sound and non-sound versions feature a 21-pin decoder socket.

Even though the model is adorned with separately fitted parts like handrails, roof horns and windscreen wipers, they are firmly affixed and customers should rest assured that their layout won’t be strewn with loose bits. On top of that, the RailRoad 60 will have a robust design, capable of withstanding plenty of handling - and the odd accident too!

A close-up shot of the cab ends, showing the separate roof horns, windscreen wipers, handrail and detailed cab interior.

Directional and cab lighting are present, with the option to independently switch off the rear marker lights for prototypical operation when hauling wagons or coaches.

The sound-fitted variants come with a sugar cube speaker set up and the same high-fidelity sound file which features on the main range class 60. For those wishing to fit additional speakers, there is a large cavity underneath the exhaust.

Three Tugs make up the launch release of this new RailRoad model, covering the longstanding history of the class. First up, and harking back to the early days of the Class 60s, is No.60069 in Train Load Freight Coal Sector Triple Grey livery. Built in 1991, 60069 was one of 42 60s allocated to coal traffic and would’ve been a common sight on Merry-Go-Round coal trains across the country, from the Valleys in South Wales to the rolling hills of North-East England. Following the convention of naming Class 60s after British mountains, scientists, and engineers, 60069 carried ‘Humphry Davy’ nameplates, after the inventor of the oil-powered Davy Safety Lamp.

Development Artwork for 60069.

Next up is 60038 ‘Avesta Polarit’, in the ever-popular English, Welsh & Scottish maroon and gold scheme. Painted in 2002 and, although it was named after a steel plant in Sheffield, 60038 could be seen on several different traffic flows as part of the EWS common locomotive pool, such as aggregate, fuel, engineers, iron ore, and even the occasional rail tour.

Development Artwork for 60038.

Lastly, and representing the latter day operations of the Class 60, is 60039 ‘Dove Holes’ in DB Schenker cherry red. The name comes from the area in the Peak District synonymous with the extensive quarries that continue to provide freight traffic for all manner of diesel locomotives, including the 60s.

Development Artwork for 60039.

The RailRoad 60 will become a staple part of our range and future releases will cover different liveries, including present day operators, and maybe the odd celebrity scheme too!

Priced at £104.99 RRP for DCC-ready versions and £159.99 RRP for TXS sound-fitted versions, these models offer fantastic value for money for a newly tooled, feature-packed designs. Available for pre-order now, they are due to arrive in late 2026/early 2027.

That’s all for this Engine Shed, but come back next month for another look at the development of our Hornby models.

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Until next time, happy modelling!