Andy Reed
2014-11-23 10:42:37 UTC
There seemed to be some demand for a list like this a little while ago as the bandying around of BR class numbers was spreading confusion among those of our transpondial cousins who follow this group :)
The original version of this list was posted to misc.transport.rail.europe by
Dave Cromarty a couple of weeks ago. I revised and extended it and posted it
to misc.transport.rail.europe and uk.railways on 1995/06/10.
Since then I've had a positive flood of corrections, additions and annotations.
Thanks, everyone.
I'm going to post the revised list to the same groups and also to uk.transport
and rec.railroad (as some of the original queries had been cross-posted there).
After that I shall try & keep it up to date in whatever time I have left....
If I ever get a web page up I'll put a link to it from there. In the mean time
mail me if you want a copy or have some more information.
Thanks
Hwyl Fawr
Andy
*******************************************************************************
Revised list: thanks to everyone who posted additions and corrections
The revised BR class list.. I've tried to credit direct contributions
(note: its easier for me to edit them in if they're added directly to
the list & the whole thing e-mailed to me).
There are still bound to be a lot of gaps and errors in this so if you know
better please let me know.
I've started adding early prototypes which never got into TOPS: help needed
with these...
And if anyone is mad^H^H^H keen enough to start adding MUs to the list -
well, feel free :)
******************************* CUT HERE *********************************
Classes 01-13 are shunters (switchers in american terms). Generally
geared for 15mph or so, tho' some can run faster (notably the 09s)
Some were cut down for wriggling into places with restricted
loading gauge. These lasted the longest.
(KIM)Hunslet drive and patent clutch.
Class 06 : (KIM)Barclay 0-4-0: heavier than 03.
(KIM)Engine, gearbox and fluid coupling identical to 03
mounted either under the cab (eg. 03 or ahead of the wheels - I think the
05 may have been like this)
industry too. Very distinctive flatulent exhaust sound.
(KIM)the Crossley.
Classes 08 to 13 all have outside frames and rod-coupled wheels. Traction
motors are mounted within the wheelbase.
Used on the Great eastern section out of Liverpool St.
Short lived, like other NBL designs. Gone by end of 1960s.
(KIM)Saw one once with a 2 foot diameter hole in the side
(KIM)of the crankcase where it had thrown a big end.
(KIM)Cab was enormous, could hold nearly a dozen people.
(KIM)presumeably on account of the way the engine note went
(KIM)up and down.
engines like the 24s & 25s.
Mostly in Scotland at the end. Still a few surviviors a couple
or years ago but almost certainly gone by now.
(KIM)and built by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co
(KIM)(BRCW). 26 and 27 looked similar to 33 (same design
(KIM)team & maker)
Much the same as the 26s but different electricals. Didn't last
quite as long (tho' outlived the 24s & 25s).
Class 28 : (KIM)The famous Metro-Vics !!
Ah, the immortal MetroVic-Crossley Co-Bo. I'd entirly forgotten
about these.. 3 axle bogie under one end (A, I think) &
2 axle under the other. Peculiar depressed-looking cab
windows (think of Marvin the paranoid android). Crossley
diesel engine. Obvious descendents of the class A (A1A-A1A
1200hp) and C (Bo-Bo, 900hp) Metrovicks of CIE, which just
goes to show that some people don't learn from their mistakes.
Hopeless, hapless and helpless they didn't last long. One
survivior in BRs research dept. not only lasted long enough
to become class 28 but even to be preserved.
quickly.
engines (2000hp) as test-beds for class 60.
Some recently rebuilt for use in pairs on chunnel night
connections.
Bogies same as Deltics, 50s and DP2 except for gearing. Recent
suggestion in 'Modern Railways' that chunnel-stock 37s may
get class 50 bogies to allow 100mph running. Not confirmed
though.
Builder & other details not known.
Anyone know where these fitted in?
& will probably get updated Valentias
(KIM)motors, 46 Brush.
(KIM)actually had a different type of engine rated at
(KIM)2800 hp or thereabouts. Only about 6 of them, later
(KIM)rebuilt as standard 47s. Engine used by SNCF on one
(KIM)of their medium sized classes.
(KIM)Seem to remember engine was a Sulzer, but can't
(KIM)remember if it was a derivative of the 12-LDA28C,
(KIM)or a totally new type.
Class 48 is also the tag used for the proposed class 47
replacement for IC cross-country services. Last I heard
the front runners were a Paxman-engined Bo-Bo (think of a
class 43/HST power car with 2 cabs, looking a lot like a
diesel class 90) & a BR'd version of the new Irish GMs.
All depends (like class 38) on someone finding the money
for it though.
(KIM)these but BR wouldn't let them spend the extra
(KIM) so they had the 90 mph ones same as all other BR hydraulics
(KIM)No idea how true it is. Would be interesting to know if
(KIM)it was true and if it was simply the amount or 'We
(KIM)don't need 100 mph' !!
Some of the Romanian ones have been cannibalised for spares
I believe. They don't seem to have lasted too well.
(KIM)'Ruston Paxman 16RK3CT' or 'GEC 16RK3CT' engine.
(KIM)Was once told they were a 56 with a cheaper to
(KIM)build body shell (no complex pressings).
(KIM)and count 43 100-ton bogie hoppers hung on!
GM V16 2-stoke engine. Packed full of anti-slip gadgetry.
(70-74) or 1500V DC (76, 77)
Classes 81-85 were the original 25kV AC electrics.
Similar in size and power but with electrical equipment
from different manufacturers.
Some were originally were dual-voltage (25kV and 6.25kV) with
automatic switch-over.
Class 81 : (AC)Built by AEI (?) at Smethwick (?). 81001-022, although
(AC)a couple were withdrawn much earlier.
(AC) By the mid 80s these had a tendency to go on fire.
(AC)First withdrawals came with 81001/15/16 in the early
(AC)80's with the rest following between 87 and 89.
(AC)They were allocated to Glasgow Shields Road and
(AC)from about 1984 onwards appeared with a leaping salmon
(AC)stencilled on the side. They therefore got the nickname
(AC)'fish'
(AC)81002 is preserved by Waterman.
Class 82 : (AC)Built by Metrovick/Beyer Peacock at Stockton (?).
(AC)82001-008, and were based at Longsight Electric, Manchester.
(AC)They all went into store around 1983, although a couple were
(AC)used on ECS duties around Euston till about 1988. 82008
(AC)is preserved by Waterman.
Class 83 : (AC)Built by English Electric. 83001-015.
(AC)Had slopier fronts than the 81's or 82's.
(AC)These were also based at Longsight.
(AC)Their history is parallel with the 82's. A load of
(AC)these were stored in the early 70's at Bury for some
(AC)reason or another. 83015 is preserved by Waterman.
(AC)EE built 20 similar locos for Polish Railways (PKP)
(AC)which are now the PKP Cl. EU06 all 17 survivors
(AC) based at Krakow. These formed the basis of the Polish
(AC)built EU07 of which there are hundreds, and an
(AC)articulated version too.
Class 84 : (AC)Built by North British, Glasgow. With the grooviest
(AC)slopiest front of all. 84001-010. Based at Crewe Electric.
(AC)These were the first withdrawals, in the late 70's.
(AC) 84001 found its way into the NRM, supposedly as a temporary
(AC)measure until the 86's went (but I think they may have
(AC)changed their minds).
(AC)84009 was used as a load bank for years but is currently
(AC)up for tender.
Class 85 : (AC)Built by BR Doncaster? or Crewe? 85001-040, based at
(AC)Crewe electric.
(AC)Some got renumbered when it became trendy in the late 80's.
(AC)85030 ran around with the unofficial name 'Fellrunner'
(AC)at this time, and very fine it looked too.
(AC)The first ones to go were 85027/033 in 1983-4 with
(AC) fire/crash damage, and the rest petered out through
(AC)to about 1991. A few again served their time on Euston
(AC)ECS duties to replace
(AC)the 82's and 83's. Waterman rescued 85006.
Fitted for push-pull working.
management lunacy the freight division has disconnected the
push-pull gear & the electric train heating equipment from 'their'
engines to stop them being used as substitutes on passenger
trains. So the expresses battle on with 86s while these sit idle.
Class 97 is BR's odds & sods department. The computer systems used to path
trains insist on a class number so anything which isn't obviously anything
else becomes a 'class 97' for the purpose of entering its movements (or
so I'm told). This does not explain why the tag was applied to the VoR
engines...
'Class 97': BR's name for whatever doesn't fit anywhere else. Originally
battery-electric locos but has included the Vale of Rheidol
2-6-2T narrow gauge steam engines, assorted diesels rated
down to 30mph & demoted to ballast hauliage and any preserved
steam engine passed for main line use. Lots of sub-classes!
Essentially a way of putting things which wouldn't normally
fit into BRs computers.
Only the battery-electrics and (some of) the old diesels
have ever carried the 97xxx numbers.
Early prototypes & oddities which never made it into TOPS..
10000 & 10001 : LM&S 1500hp Co-Co diesel-electric prototypes. English Electric
I think. Certainly used an early version of the EE CVST engine
(V12 form?). Used as a pair on anglo-scottish expresses for a
while. Broken up in the early 1970s, having stood idle for
a number of years
10002-10006(?): Southern Railway 1Co-Co1 prototypes. V16 EE engine. Originally
designed by Bullied as Do-Do's but maintainance would have
been impossible (the bogie design was described as "looking
as if it had been through a bailing machine').
Ancestors of the class 40.
18000 : Great Western Railway Gas-turbine/Electric Co-Co (?).
MetroVick electricals & body, Rolls-Royce or Bristol turbine?
Ended up as a dynamic load for loco testing (motors working as
generators, dumping power to resistors) in France, I believe.
May be preserved.
18001 : Second GWR gas-turbine prototype. Brown-Bovari design.
3500 hp!
Completed after nationalisation. Fell rather into limbo
as there were no services on the western region which
needed so much power & G-Ts are notorious fuel-guzzlers at
anything but full power.
Don't know if it was ever tried on Shap.. pity if not
as the results could have been remarkable for the time.
Eventually converted to A1A-A1A 25kV AC electric prototype.
Have seen it referred to as 'Class 80' in this form but
don't think there is any justification for this.
GT3 : Western Region gas-turbine prototype. Bristol turbine (I
think) and mechanical transmission.
Single-ended 2-C-0+3 hood unit, with the cab just ahead
of the articulation point... OK, so it was really a 4-6-0
with a tender carrying the kerosine. 6'8.5" driving wheels,
rod coupled.
Needed to be turned to point its long nose in the direction
of travel, which presented problems in seeing out of the
thing. Worked well enough mechanically but somehow seemed
to miss the whole point of modernisation. A sort of science
-fiction 'Castle' class.
DP1 : English Electric Co-Co prototype. 2*1600 hp Napier Deltics.
The Deltic engine. Ran on class 37 bogies & so originally
geared for 90mph. Re-geared for 105 mph after trials over
Shap & before trials on the east coast main line (after
protests from the drivers).
Body design adapted from EE export designs with large
headlight sat each end.
Revolting blue/white pajama-stripe paint job. Preserved.
DP2 : English Electric Co-Co prototype. Deltic bodyshell &
bogies with V16 CVST engine (2650 hp).
Basis of the class 50. Destroyed in a very nasty smash
on the ECML late in the 1960s in which several
passengers were killed (the express hit steel plate
overhanging from the wagons on a freight train which had
de-railed.
Falcon : Brush type 4 prototype (Falcon works being Brush's home)
(DC)Falcon was built by Brush - I think essentially it was
(DC)a beefed up'47'. Certainly looked that way.
(DC) It was taken into BR stock eventually as (D)1200.
(DC) and ended its days at Ebbw Junction shed. I'm
(DC)fairly sure it had a TOPS code.
I believe that Falcon consisted of the bodyshell of DP3
(see below) mated with Brush bogies (47 type) and a
prototype Sulzer engine.
Lion : Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. type 4 prototype.
(DC)Lion was built by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon
(DC)Co at Smethwick in the early 60s.
(DC) It was around 2700 bhp Co-Co diesel electric, and
(DC)was painted white. I remember seeing it on (and from)
(DC)Paddington - Wolverhampton trains in that era but I
(DC)haven't the slightest idea what happened to it.
(DC) Unless they were still building 33s and 27s at
(DC)that stage I suppose it may have been BRCW's last loco.
Kestrel : AKA HS4000
4000hp Hawker-Siddley Co-Co prototype. Single engine
(Sulzer experimental V24?)
Considerably overweight & so not acceptable in its
intended role as a 125mph express loco on BR.
Sold to USSR & scrapped mid 70s after tests.
A remarkably good-looking device. The same body design
was proposed in about 1972 for a 4500-5000hp fast
freight engine with 2 Paxman Valentias. This came
to nothing.
DP3 : Partially built but never finished.
English Electric Co-Co prototype with 2 enlarged & improved
deltics. 5000-6600hp, depending on state of tune. The "Super
Deltic".
Intended for 125 mph service on the ECML. With 6000hp
at the rail & a weight of under 120 tons, performance
should have been somewhat dramatic.
Eastern region wanted it, Euston wouldn't pay.
The body & bogies were sold & ended up as either Falcon
or Lion. Falcon I think.
And some early surviviors....
Ex-NER electrics: BR inherited some early DC electric locos from the L&NER,
who had inherited them from the North Eastern in 1923.
No. 13 2-C-2 centre cab electric express engine. 1500V DC overhead.
3 motors, driving the (large) wheels via gears & quill drives.
Designed by Sir Vincent Raven in 1921 for the York-Newcastle
electrification (which was completed in 1993..). Spent the
1920s, 30s and 40s in store. It was proposed to re-motor
13 & use her on the Manchester-Sheffield route but this came
to naught. Broken up about 1950.
1200 - 1600 hp?
26xxx Can't remember the number. Ex NER Bo-Bo from the Shildon
1500V DC line (which was de-electrified in the 30s). One
of the 1200hp Bo-Bos was retained & rebuilt as a banking
engine (Wellingborough?). Didn't last long in BR ownership.
Scrapped in the 1950s
26001-6(?) Small Bo-Bo's for the Newcastle quayside branch. Built
around 1918 or so, lasted until the end of the 1960s.
About 600V DC, third rail & overhead collection. One
preserved.
################################## CUT HERE ##############################
I can't think of any others. I've not included the LM&S shunters
as I really don't know enough about them. Some (the EE 350hp type)
were virtually the same as the 08s & probably vanished into that class. Information welcome.
Thanks all of you. All contributors wil be credited.
NOTE: Regarding DP3 .... There was no such project started as a Super Deltic with an enlarged body. Falcon and Lion were nothing at all to do with English Electric and so any body would not have been used for either. Falcon was bespoke bodywork built by Brush with Class 31 cabs (but having modified front panels). The bogies were also of Class 31 origin. Lion was built by BRC&W to a design nearer to BR's original spec for a new type 4 (later Class 47). BRC&W would have got the Class 47 contract but went bust building the Lion and Class 33/2's and so Brush got the contract even though their Falcon design wasn't the idea chosen. Lion was scrapped to claw back some capital for BRC&W's receivers whilst Falcon was leased to BR as a Class 53.The original version of this list was posted to misc.transport.rail.europe by
Dave Cromarty a couple of weeks ago. I revised and extended it and posted it
to misc.transport.rail.europe and uk.railways on 1995/06/10.
Since then I've had a positive flood of corrections, additions and annotations.
Thanks, everyone.
I'm going to post the revised list to the same groups and also to uk.transport
and rec.railroad (as some of the original queries had been cross-posted there).
After that I shall try & keep it up to date in whatever time I have left....
If I ever get a web page up I'll put a link to it from there. In the mean time
mail me if you want a copy or have some more information.
Thanks
Hwyl Fawr
Andy
*******************************************************************************
Revised list: thanks to everyone who posted additions and corrections
The revised BR class list.. I've tried to credit direct contributions
(note: its easier for me to edit them in if they're added directly to
the list & the whole thing e-mailed to me).
There are still bound to be a lot of gaps and errors in this so if you know
better please let me know.
I've started adding early prototypes which never got into TOPS: help needed
with these...
And if anyone is mad^H^H^H keen enough to start adding MUs to the list -
well, feel free :)
******************************* CUT HERE *********************************
Classes 01-13 are shunters (switchers in american terms). Generally
geared for 15mph or so, tho' some can run faster (notably the 09s)
Class 01 : (KIM)Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 diesel mechanical shunter.
(KIM)153hp Gardner 6L3 engine. Extinct.Class 02 : Not sure - another 0-4-0 DM. Jackshaft drive.
Class 03 : (DC) 204 bhp 0-6-0 diesel mechanical shunter, Baguley Drewry
Rod drive from a jackshaft under the cab. 1/2 ht. nose
& generally a mock-chimmney over the exhaust. North-East
region ones had a stovepipe chimney, rather Fletcher-era
North-Eastern Railway. Western region ones an odd sort of
pipe which was wide at the base & narrow at the top.
(KIM)Engine was Gardner again, 8L3 this time, 204 b.h.p.Class 03 : (DC) 204 bhp 0-6-0 diesel mechanical shunter, Baguley Drewry
Rod drive from a jackshaft under the cab. 1/2 ht. nose
& generally a mock-chimmney over the exhaust. North-East
region ones had a stovepipe chimney, rather Fletcher-era
North-Eastern Railway. Western region ones an odd sort of
pipe which was wide at the base & narrow at the top.
Some were cut down for wriggling into places with restricted
loading gauge. These lasted the longest.
Class 04 : Much the same as O3. Different gearing I think. Long gone.
Class 05 : (KIM)Hunslet design 0-6-0, 8L3 powered again.(KIM)Hunslet drive and patent clutch.
Class 06 : (KIM)Barclay 0-4-0: heavier than 03.
(KIM)Engine, gearbox and fluid coupling identical to 03
Class 07 : Southern region I think.
Classes 01 to 07 had drive through side-rods, generally from a jackshaftmounted either under the cab (eg. 03 or ahead of the wheels - I think the
05 may have been like this)
Class 08 : (DC) 400 bhp 0-6-0 diesel electric shunter, English Electric
350hp, outside-framed with fly cranks. Descendents of the
pre-war LM&S shunters. Once as common as fleas on a dog, still
a lot of them about.
Archaic machines. I'm sure some of them never move. Popular with350hp, outside-framed with fly cranks. Descendents of the
pre-war LM&S shunters. Once as common as fleas on a dog, still
a lot of them about.
industry too. Very distinctive flatulent exhaust sound.
Class 09 : (DC)Ditto, geared for slightly higher speed
Originally Southern region (mostly)
Class 10 : Another 0-6-0 DE shunter, very similar in looks to a elongated 08
(KIM)Blackstone engined, but otherwise much the same as the 08.
(KIM)Clearly the Blackstone fell into the same category asOriginally Southern region (mostly)
Class 10 : Another 0-6-0 DE shunter, very similar in looks to a elongated 08
(KIM)Blackstone engined, but otherwise much the same as the 08.
(KIM)the Crossley.
Class 11 : Another variation on the same theme. Crossley engined?
Class 12 : They existed - another 0-6-0 DE?
Class 13 : (DC)Tinsley yard master/slave hump shunters, made from two
(DC)08s, one with a cab and one without
'Cow & calf'Class 12 : They existed - another 0-6-0 DE?
Class 13 : (DC)Tinsley yard master/slave hump shunters, made from two
(DC)08s, one with a cab and one without
Classes 08 to 13 all have outside frames and rod-coupled wheels. Traction
motors are mounted within the wheelbase.
Class 14 : 900 hp 0-6-0 diesel-hydraulic. Western Region. Intended for
slow freight work on branch lines. Paxman engine?Too slow even when new (1960-ish). Most went to the
coal board. A few lasted until recently. One preserved?
Class 15 : (KIM)NBL type 1. Hood unit with the cab about 3/4 of the way
(KIM)alongcoal board. A few lasted until recently. One preserved?
Class 15 : (KIM)NBL type 1. Hood unit with the cab about 3/4 of the way
Used on the Great eastern section out of Liverpool St.
Short lived, like other NBL designs. Gone by end of 1960s.
Class 16 : (KIM)BTH type 1. Very similar in appearance to class 15.
Class 17 : BR's second attempt at a standard type-1, after the class 20.
900 hp Clayton: 2*450 hp engines under low bonnets with a big
greenhouse of a centre cab. Complete failures in BR service,
all gone by early 70s. Mostly in Scotland while they lasted.
Like the 14s, some went ot the coal board.
(KIM)Had strong tendency to burst into flames.Class 17 : BR's second attempt at a standard type-1, after the class 20.
900 hp Clayton: 2*450 hp engines under low bonnets with a big
greenhouse of a centre cab. Complete failures in BR service,
all gone by early 70s. Mostly in Scotland while they lasted.
Like the 14s, some went ot the coal board.
(KIM)Saw one once with a 2 foot diameter hole in the side
(KIM)of the crankcase where it had thrown a big end.
(KIM)Cab was enormous, could hold nearly a dozen people.
Class 20 : (DC)1000 bhp single cab Bo-Bo diesel electric, English
(DC)Electric
V8 version of the normal EE diesel. Long hood (full height)
with the cab at one end. Now normally used in pairs coupled
nose-to-nose. Numbers are dwindling..
(KIM)Also known as spin-driers in some areas early on,(DC)Electric
V8 version of the normal EE diesel. Long hood (full height)
with the cab at one end. Now normally used in pairs coupled
nose-to-nose. Numbers are dwindling..
(KIM)presumeably on account of the way the engine note went
(KIM)up and down.
Class 21 : North British Loco compamy (NBL) type 2 diesel-electric.
NBL-built MAN engines which didn't work. About half of these
went to the Great North of scotland section - these ones had
Manson tablet-catchers (alarming things!) on the cab sides.
The rest were eastern region, southern section. The scottish
ones were scrapped very early. The eastern region ones were
rebuilt with Paxman engines & sent to scotland as class 29.
Class 22 : Western region diesel hydraulic version of class 21. Another
NB turkey. Died young.
Class 23 : English Electric's bite at the type 2 cherry. Single 1550hp
Deltic 2-stroke in a short-nosed body on class 20 bogies.
'Baby Deltic'. Very light but (like all Deltics) touchy about
driving techique and maintainance. Prone to catching fire.
Used mainly out of Kings Cross. Didn't last long.
Class 24 : Bo-Bo diesel electric with Sulzer engine.
BR design.NBL-built MAN engines which didn't work. About half of these
went to the Great North of scotland section - these ones had
Manson tablet-catchers (alarming things!) on the cab sides.
The rest were eastern region, southern section. The scottish
ones were scrapped very early. The eastern region ones were
rebuilt with Paxman engines & sent to scotland as class 29.
Class 22 : Western region diesel hydraulic version of class 21. Another
NB turkey. Died young.
Class 23 : English Electric's bite at the type 2 cherry. Single 1550hp
Deltic 2-stroke in a short-nosed body on class 20 bogies.
'Baby Deltic'. Very light but (like all Deltics) touchy about
driving techique and maintainance. Prone to catching fire.
Used mainly out of Kings Cross. Didn't last long.
Class 24 : Bo-Bo diesel electric with Sulzer engine.
Class 25 : (DC)1250 (? correct me somebody) bhp Bo-Bo diesel electric,
(DC)Britsh Railways/Sulzer engine. Known by some as Rats
Very similar to 24 but with different electrical equipment(DC)Britsh Railways/Sulzer engine. Known by some as Rats
Class 26 : (DC)Now I'm getting out of my depth - Bo-Bo diesel electrics
(DC)of similar power to 25s
Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. (BRCW) design. Sulzer(DC)of similar power to 25s
engines like the 24s & 25s.
Mostly in Scotland at the end. Still a few surviviors a couple
or years ago but almost certainly gone by now.
Class 27 : (DC)And again
(KIM)Classes 24 & 25 were BR designs, 26 and 27 designed(KIM)and built by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co
(KIM)(BRCW). 26 and 27 looked similar to 33 (same design
(KIM)team & maker)
Much the same as the 26s but different electricals. Didn't last
quite as long (tho' outlived the 24s & 25s).
Class 28 : (KIM)The famous Metro-Vics !!
Ah, the immortal MetroVic-Crossley Co-Bo. I'd entirly forgotten
about these.. 3 axle bogie under one end (A, I think) &
2 axle under the other. Peculiar depressed-looking cab
windows (think of Marvin the paranoid android). Crossley
diesel engine. Obvious descendents of the class A (A1A-A1A
1200hp) and C (Bo-Bo, 900hp) Metrovicks of CIE, which just
goes to show that some people don't learn from their mistakes.
Hopeless, hapless and helpless they didn't last long. One
survivior in BRs research dept. not only lasted long enough
to become class 28 but even to be preserved.
Class 29 : NBL class 21 rebuilt with Paxman engine. Scottish region.
Replaced by 24s in the early '70s. Not a howling success.
(KIM)Classes 21, 22 and 29 visually almost identical.Replaced by 24s in the early '70s. Not a howling success.
Class 30 : Brush/Mirrlees A1A-A1A type 2. About 1400hp but very heavy
at about 112 tons. Very odd body structure to allow access
to the engine from both sides & from the top. Not a success
in their original form. Rebuilt as class 31at about 112 tons. Very odd body structure to allow access
to the engine from both sides & from the top. Not a success
Class 31 : (DC)1200 bhp-ish, A1A-A1A diesel electrics, Brush Traction
(DC)Sometimes known as Toffeeapples
1350 hp I think. Not sure if the engines are EE or Sulzer
(both were tried in re-building the class 30s).
Class 32 : Short-lived class 30 derivative?? If so, rebuilt as 31s very(DC)Sometimes known as Toffeeapples
1350 hp I think. Not sure if the engines are EE or Sulzer
(both were tried in re-building the class 30s).
quickly.
Class 33 : (DC)1500 bhp-ish, Bo-Bo diesel electrics, Birmingham Railway
(DC)Carriage & Wagon Co, Sulzer engine. Known by some as
(DC)Cromptons after the electrical equipment
Very much a 27 without the steam heating boiler but with two
more cylinders on the (Sulzer) engine. Came in a three flavours.
33/0 was the standard one, 33/1 had Southern region MU equipment
to work with electric multiple units, 33/2 had a narrow body
to fit through tunnels on the Hastings line. Not many (if
any) left.
Class 35 : (DC)Magnificent 1700 bhp B-B diesel hydraulic with scrumptious
(DC)Maybach engine, built I think by BR Swindon and Beyer
(DC)Peacock (did I dream this?) and known as 'Hymeks' which
(DC)was something to do with the transmission (Mekydro?)
Western region only. Beyer Peacock / Maybach. Didn't last very
long. All gone by early '70s.
Class 37 : (DC)1750 bhp Co-Co diesel electric, English Electric. Known
(DC)by some as Tractors and not as interesting IMHO
EE type 3. The descendent of the original LM&S diesel express
engines. V12 EE engine. Too many varieties to list. Usual EE
body with longish noses (& originally with doors in the nose).
Some have been given low gearing & ballast for heavy freight,
others used for express passenger trains. Heavy (109 tons) but
with 6 axles the axleload is OK for the West Highland or the
Cambrian system. Goes everywhere, does everything.
Some (37/9) rebuilt with in-line 6 cyl Ruston or Mirrlees(DC)Carriage & Wagon Co, Sulzer engine. Known by some as
(DC)Cromptons after the electrical equipment
Very much a 27 without the steam heating boiler but with two
more cylinders on the (Sulzer) engine. Came in a three flavours.
33/0 was the standard one, 33/1 had Southern region MU equipment
to work with electric multiple units, 33/2 had a narrow body
to fit through tunnels on the Hastings line. Not many (if
any) left.
Class 35 : (DC)Magnificent 1700 bhp B-B diesel hydraulic with scrumptious
(DC)Maybach engine, built I think by BR Swindon and Beyer
(DC)Peacock (did I dream this?) and known as 'Hymeks' which
(DC)was something to do with the transmission (Mekydro?)
Western region only. Beyer Peacock / Maybach. Didn't last very
long. All gone by early '70s.
Class 37 : (DC)1750 bhp Co-Co diesel electric, English Electric. Known
(DC)by some as Tractors and not as interesting IMHO
EE type 3. The descendent of the original LM&S diesel express
engines. V12 EE engine. Too many varieties to list. Usual EE
body with longish noses (& originally with doors in the nose).
Some have been given low gearing & ballast for heavy freight,
others used for express passenger trains. Heavy (109 tons) but
with 6 axles the axleload is OK for the West Highland or the
Cambrian system. Goes everywhere, does everything.
engines (2000hp) as test-beds for class 60.
Some recently rebuilt for use in pairs on chunnel night
connections.
Bogies same as Deltics, 50s and DP2 except for gearing. Recent
suggestion in 'Modern Railways' that chunnel-stock 37s may
get class 50 bogies to allow 100mph running. Not confirmed
though.
Class 38 : Off again, on again. The long mooted, never built class 37
replacement. Mirlees engine (as in 37/9) the perennial favourite.
May be re-incarnated if anyone wants it enough & can pay for it.
Class 40 : (DC)2000 bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric, English Electric. Known
(DC)by some (only magazine journos I suspect) as Whistlers
(DC)because of their distinctive turbocharger whine
Big brother to the 37. V16 EE engine. The original BR passenger
diesel, used on the WCML in the early 60s. Lasted until the
start of the 80s (I think). Quite a few preserved
Early ones named after atlantic liners.replacement. Mirlees engine (as in 37/9) the perennial favourite.
May be re-incarnated if anyone wants it enough & can pay for it.
Class 40 : (DC)2000 bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric, English Electric. Known
(DC)by some (only magazine journos I suspect) as Whistlers
(DC)because of their distinctive turbocharger whine
Big brother to the 37. V16 EE engine. The original BR passenger
diesel, used on the WCML in the early 60s. Lasted until the
start of the 80s (I think). Quite a few preserved
Class 41(1)NBL/Maybach A1A-A1A. Named after warships. Only 5 of them and
they went early. The 'class 41' designation was reserved for
them but I doubt if they were ever referred to in that way.
Big heavy beasts (125 tons). Another nail in NBL's coffin.
Class 41(2)(DC)Prototype HST power car if I remember rightly
Single-ended streamlined Bo-Bo with 2500hp Paxman Valentia.
The whole of the HST prototype was referred to as class 252.
Class 42(1)(DC)Hideous 2200 bhp B-B diesel hydraulic, BR Swindon/North
Class 43(1)(DC)British Loco Co (???), Maybach engines, Voith
(DC)transmission, known as 'Warships' because of their names.
(DC)Derived from the DB V200 class.
Classes 42 & 43 were the second type of 'Warship'. Virtually
the DB V200 cut down to fit the UK loading gauge. Another
Western region diesel-hydraulic. Very light (78 tons) for
their power but didn't last long (maintainance costs, I guess).
All gone by the early 70s. The only difference between the two
classes was the builder: 42s were Swindon & 43s NBL I think.
Am also informed there were 3 non-standard B-B 'Warships'they went early. The 'class 41' designation was reserved for
them but I doubt if they were ever referred to in that way.
Big heavy beasts (125 tons). Another nail in NBL's coffin.
Class 41(2)(DC)Prototype HST power car if I remember rightly
Single-ended streamlined Bo-Bo with 2500hp Paxman Valentia.
The whole of the HST prototype was referred to as class 252.
Class 42(1)(DC)Hideous 2200 bhp B-B diesel hydraulic, BR Swindon/North
Class 43(1)(DC)British Loco Co (???), Maybach engines, Voith
(DC)transmission, known as 'Warships' because of their names.
(DC)Derived from the DB V200 class.
Classes 42 & 43 were the second type of 'Warship'. Virtually
the DB V200 cut down to fit the UK loading gauge. Another
Western region diesel-hydraulic. Very light (78 tons) for
their power but didn't last long (maintainance costs, I guess).
All gone by the early 70s. The only difference between the two
classes was the builder: 42s were Swindon & 43s NBL I think.
Builder & other details not known.
Anyone know where these fitted in?
Class 42(2)(DC)Production HST power cars
Class 43(2)Class 42 were western region HSTs, 43s Eastern region (units
were classes 253 and 254). No difference between them. All
may have ended up in 43xxx series.
Some re-engined with Ruston or Mirrlees power. Not successfulClass 43(2)Class 42 were western region HSTs, 43s Eastern region (units
were classes 253 and 254). No difference between them. All
may have ended up in 43xxx series.
& will probably get updated Valentias
Class 44 : (DC)2500 (?) bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric, BR built, Sulzer
(DC)engines. I can remember the names, though : Scafell Pike,
(DC)Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Great Gable, Cross Fell, Whernside,
(DC)Ingleborough, Penyghent, Snowdon, Tryfan :)
(KIM)Class 44 was 2300 b.h.p only.(DC)engines. I can remember the names, though : Scafell Pike,
(DC)Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Great Gable, Cross Fell, Whernside,
(DC)Ingleborough, Penyghent, Snowdon, Tryfan :)
Class 45 : (DC)2600 (?) bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric, BR built, Sulzer
(DC)engines. Very similar to 44s and known as Peaks (this
(DC)name actually came from the 44s as will be obvious from
(DC)their names).
Class 46 : (DC)2600 (?) bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric, BR built, Sulzer
(DC)engines. Indistinguishable by me from class 45 and also
(DC)known as Peaks
(KIM)Classes 45/46 2500 b.h.p. 45 had Crompton Parkinson(DC)engines. Very similar to 44s and known as Peaks (this
(DC)name actually came from the 44s as will be obvious from
(DC)their names).
Class 46 : (DC)2600 (?) bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric, BR built, Sulzer
(DC)engines. Indistinguishable by me from class 45 and also
(DC)known as Peaks
(KIM)motors, 46 Brush.
Class 47 : (DC)2750, then 2650 bhp Co-Co diesel electrics, Brush
(DC)Traction, Sulzer engines. Known by some as Duffs. 508
(DC)built, and still a mainstay of all sorts of things. My
(DC)last one, 47643, has been stored unserviceable in
(DC)Inverness Millburn yard for several years. Not that I'm
(DC)interested in diesels of course. Why couldn't the bloody
(DC)thing fail at Bescot...
BRs second try at the type 4 (after the 40s and the 44-46 series)
Like the 37s, a good general purpose job. Like the 37s getting
old & no replacement in sight.
Class 48 : Variation on class 47. Brush again.
(KIM)Read something recently which stated that they(DC)Traction, Sulzer engines. Known by some as Duffs. 508
(DC)built, and still a mainstay of all sorts of things. My
(DC)last one, 47643, has been stored unserviceable in
(DC)Inverness Millburn yard for several years. Not that I'm
(DC)interested in diesels of course. Why couldn't the bloody
(DC)thing fail at Bescot...
BRs second try at the type 4 (after the 40s and the 44-46 series)
Like the 37s, a good general purpose job. Like the 37s getting
old & no replacement in sight.
Class 48 : Variation on class 47. Brush again.
(KIM)actually had a different type of engine rated at
(KIM)2800 hp or thereabouts. Only about 6 of them, later
(KIM)rebuilt as standard 47s. Engine used by SNCF on one
(KIM)of their medium sized classes.
(KIM)Seem to remember engine was a Sulzer, but can't
(KIM)remember if it was a derivative of the 12-LDA28C,
(KIM)or a totally new type.
Class 48 is also the tag used for the proposed class 47
replacement for IC cross-country services. Last I heard
the front runners were a Paxman-engined Bo-Bo (think of a
class 43/HST power car with 2 cabs, looking a lot like a
diesel class 90) & a BR'd version of the new Irish GMs.
All depends (like class 38) on someone finding the money
for it though.
Class 50 : (DC)2750, Co-Co diesel electrics, English Electric.
EE's second type 4. Lost out to the 47 for the big orders but
50 (or so) were bought for the west coast main line to accelerate
services in advance of electrification. Often used in pairs at
that time. Only EE design (apart from the 20 & DP3) to not
have nose ends.
they were meant as "universal locomotives" capable of express
passenger or heavy freight.
Had a lot of gadgets (traction control etc) which got unreliable
in later years. Went to the western region & finally worked out
their dotage on the southern region.
One was rebuilt with class 37 bogies (as class 50/1)EE's second type 4. Lost out to the 47 for the big orders but
50 (or so) were bought for the west coast main line to accelerate
services in advance of electrification. Often used in pairs at
that time. Only EE design (apart from the 20 & DP3) to not
have nose ends.
they were meant as "universal locomotives" capable of express
passenger or heavy freight.
Had a lot of gadgets (traction control etc) which got unreliable
in later years. Went to the western region & finally worked out
their dotage on the southern region.
for freight haulage. Engine was the final development of the V16
EE from the 40s. 750 hp more at the same thermal rating.
Class 52 : (DC)Utterly magnificent 2700 bhp (2x1350) C-C diesel
(DC)hydraulics, BR Swindon and some other place in Cheshire
(DC)built, Maybach engines and Voith transmission. Quite the
(DC)best looking diesel ever to run anywhere in the world and
(DC)until you've seen and heard one of these beasts start a
(DC)heavy train, preferably uphill, you ain't lived. Not that
(DC)I'm in any way prejudiced in favour of these spectacular
(DC)locos. Known to the cognoscenti as 'Westerns', all being
(DC)named 'Western xxxxxx'. The first was Western Enterprise.
Exterior design was by BR's design panel - their first bit of
work. Originally painted a rather odd yellow. Gone by the mid
70s. Some preserved.
(KIM)Heard a tale that WR wanted the 100 mph transmissions forEE from the 40s. 750 hp more at the same thermal rating.
Class 52 : (DC)Utterly magnificent 2700 bhp (2x1350) C-C diesel
(DC)hydraulics, BR Swindon and some other place in Cheshire
(DC)built, Maybach engines and Voith transmission. Quite the
(DC)best looking diesel ever to run anywhere in the world and
(DC)until you've seen and heard one of these beasts start a
(DC)heavy train, preferably uphill, you ain't lived. Not that
(DC)I'm in any way prejudiced in favour of these spectacular
(DC)locos. Known to the cognoscenti as 'Westerns', all being
(DC)named 'Western xxxxxx'. The first was Western Enterprise.
Exterior design was by BR's design panel - their first bit of
work. Originally painted a rather odd yellow. Gone by the mid
70s. Some preserved.
(KIM)these but BR wouldn't let them spend the extra
(KIM) so they had the 90 mph ones same as all other BR hydraulics
(KIM)No idea how true it is. Would be interesting to know if
(KIM)it was true and if it was simply the amount or 'We
(KIM)don't need 100 mph' !!
Class 55 : (DC)3300 bhp Co-Co diesel electrics, English Electric. 2x1650
(DC)bhp Napier Deltic engines hence their general name of
(DC)'Deltics'. Mostly named after regiments (Royal Scots Grey
(DC)etc), or racehorses (Crepello, St. Paddy, Shergar - oops
(DC)sorry, just my opinion). Very highly rated by those not
(DC)besotted by Westerns, and even I would admit not a bad
(DC)noise when trying; also more clag than you've ever seen
(DC)from a diesel when they revved up from idling.
Magnificent beasts... 3300 hp on 99 tons. Geared for 105 mph
but often went faster, particularly at the end of their careers
when substituting for HSTs.
The Deltic engine was 2-stroke, 18 cylinders, 36 (opposed) pistons
and 2-stage (mechanical and turbo-) supercharged. Complex!
Sadly missed ;) but quite a few preserved.
Class 56 : (DC)3250 (???) bhp Co-Co diesel electric freight locos,
(DC)Electroputere Romania/BR built.
V16 Ruston/Paxman engine. Look very much like a 47 with more
ventilation holes in the sides. Coal haulers in the main.(DC)bhp Napier Deltic engines hence their general name of
(DC)'Deltics'. Mostly named after regiments (Royal Scots Grey
(DC)etc), or racehorses (Crepello, St. Paddy, Shergar - oops
(DC)sorry, just my opinion). Very highly rated by those not
(DC)besotted by Westerns, and even I would admit not a bad
(DC)noise when trying; also more clag than you've ever seen
(DC)from a diesel when they revved up from idling.
Magnificent beasts... 3300 hp on 99 tons. Geared for 105 mph
but often went faster, particularly at the end of their careers
when substituting for HSTs.
The Deltic engine was 2-stroke, 18 cylinders, 36 (opposed) pistons
and 2-stage (mechanical and turbo-) supercharged. Complex!
Sadly missed ;) but quite a few preserved.
Class 56 : (DC)3250 (???) bhp Co-Co diesel electric freight locos,
(DC)Electroputere Romania/BR built.
V16 Ruston/Paxman engine. Look very much like a 47 with more
Some of the Romanian ones have been cannibalised for spares
I believe. They don't seem to have lasted too well.
(KIM)'Ruston Paxman 16RK3CT' or 'GEC 16RK3CT' engine.
Class 58 : (DC)??? bhp bhp Co-Co diesel electric freight locos, BR
(DC)Doncaster built. Can't remember their engines either (but
(DC)either 56 or 58 have Paxman engines).
Paxman engined (V16). Unique among big BR engines in
being built on an underframe instead of monocoque. Cab at each
end with a long high narrow hood in between. Rather american
to look at. Coal trains mostly.
(KIM)Engine is Paxman RK3ACT. Sound very like 56s.(DC)Doncaster built. Can't remember their engines either (but
(DC)either 56 or 58 have Paxman engines).
Paxman engined (V16). Unique among big BR engines in
being built on an underframe instead of monocoque. Cab at each
end with a long high narrow hood in between. Rather american
to look at. Coal trains mostly.
(KIM)Was once told they were a 56 with a cheaper to
(KIM)build body shell (no complex pressings).
Class 59 : (DC)Imported Co-Co diesel electrics from GM. American persons
(DC)will know all about these. More impressively quiet than
(DC)impressively noisy!
(KIM)Doubly impressive when you look at the train following(DC)will know all about these. More impressively quiet than
(DC)impressively noisy!
(KIM)and count 43 100-ton bogie hoppers hung on!
GM V16 2-stoke engine. Packed full of anti-slip gadgetry.
Class 60 : (DC)3??? bhp Co-Co diesel electric freight locos, Brush
(DC)Traction. Don't know the engines, again. Too new fangled
(DC)for me.
Brush/Mirrlees (in-line 8). Heavy freighter like the 59s.
Full of gadgets for traction control. Very distinctive
slow exhaust beat, bit like a Vincent motorbike.
Class 7x on BR denotes a DC electric locomotive, whether 750V third rail(DC)Traction. Don't know the engines, again. Too new fangled
(DC)for me.
Brush/Mirrlees (in-line 8). Heavy freighter like the 59s.
Full of gadgets for traction control. Very distinctive
slow exhaust beat, bit like a Vincent motorbike.
(70-74) or 1500V DC (76, 77)
Class 70 : Co-Co 3rd rail electics, ex-Southern railway. Designed
by Bullied as prototypes for later development. Later
development went another way... Gone by about 1970.
Class 71 : Bo-Bo 3rd rail electrics with a rather odd motor.generator
set up in which a big flywheel was spun up by a motor when
the engine was cruising along or standing still, but over
dead sections or when extra power was needed the flywheel
turned a generator to feed the traction motors. Used on
the Dover boat trains among other things. Rebuilt as
class 74s.
(KIM)Some, not all were rebuilt.by Bullied as prototypes for later development. Later
development went another way... Gone by about 1970.
Class 71 : Bo-Bo 3rd rail electrics with a rather odd motor.generator
set up in which a big flywheel was spun up by a motor when
the engine was cruising along or standing still, but over
dead sections or when extra power was needed the flywheel
turned a generator to feed the traction motors. Used on
the Dover boat trains among other things. Rebuilt as
class 74s.
Class 73 : (DC)1600/600 bhp electrodiesels (the 600 bhp is third rail
(DC)electric. Don't know anything about these. I think they're
(DC)Bo-Bos. If you take Gatwick Express from LGW to Victoria
(DC)you'll get one.
1600 hp 3rd rail, 600 hp diesel. EE diesel & traction motors,
parts common to other southern region stock (diesel engine
V4 same as in DEMUs, traction motors same as in the REPs
& 5-WES). A compact box-shaped Bo-Bo.
Class 74 : Rebuilds of the 71s, losing the motor-generator sets in
favour of a 650hp Paxman diesel. All gone.(DC)electric. Don't know anything about these. I think they're
(DC)Bo-Bos. If you take Gatwick Express from LGW to Victoria
(DC)you'll get one.
1600 hp 3rd rail, 600 hp diesel. EE diesel & traction motors,
parts common to other southern region stock (diesel engine
V4 same as in DEMUs, traction motors same as in the REPs
& 5-WES). A compact box-shaped Bo-Bo.
Class 74 : Rebuilds of the 71s, losing the motor-generator sets in
Class 76 : (DC)Bo-Bo electrics, 1500v DC overhead. Better known for their
(DC)exploits in Holland - I photographed one in Kijfhoek yard
(DC)last weekend.
Freight engines for the Manchester-Sheffield route. Ultimatly
of Gresley parentage. Went to Holland in the early 70s.
Class 77 : Co-Co passenger development of the 76. Went to Holland when
the Woodhead route shut.
Classes 81-92 are 25kV AC electrics.(DC)exploits in Holland - I photographed one in Kijfhoek yard
(DC)last weekend.
Freight engines for the Manchester-Sheffield route. Ultimatly
of Gresley parentage. Went to Holland in the early 70s.
Class 77 : Co-Co passenger development of the 76. Went to Holland when
the Woodhead route shut.
Classes 81-85 were the original 25kV AC electrics.
Similar in size and power but with electrical equipment
from different manufacturers.
Some were originally were dual-voltage (25kV and 6.25kV) with
automatic switch-over.
Class 81 : (AC)Built by AEI (?) at Smethwick (?). 81001-022, although
(AC)a couple were withdrawn much earlier.
(AC) By the mid 80s these had a tendency to go on fire.
(AC)First withdrawals came with 81001/15/16 in the early
(AC)80's with the rest following between 87 and 89.
(AC)They were allocated to Glasgow Shields Road and
(AC)from about 1984 onwards appeared with a leaping salmon
(AC)stencilled on the side. They therefore got the nickname
(AC)'fish'
(AC)81002 is preserved by Waterman.
Class 82 : (AC)Built by Metrovick/Beyer Peacock at Stockton (?).
(AC)82001-008, and were based at Longsight Electric, Manchester.
(AC)They all went into store around 1983, although a couple were
(AC)used on ECS duties around Euston till about 1988. 82008
(AC)is preserved by Waterman.
Class 83 : (AC)Built by English Electric. 83001-015.
(AC)Had slopier fronts than the 81's or 82's.
(AC)These were also based at Longsight.
(AC)Their history is parallel with the 82's. A load of
(AC)these were stored in the early 70's at Bury for some
(AC)reason or another. 83015 is preserved by Waterman.
(AC)EE built 20 similar locos for Polish Railways (PKP)
(AC)which are now the PKP Cl. EU06 all 17 survivors
(AC) based at Krakow. These formed the basis of the Polish
(AC)built EU07 of which there are hundreds, and an
(AC)articulated version too.
Class 84 : (AC)Built by North British, Glasgow. With the grooviest
(AC)slopiest front of all. 84001-010. Based at Crewe Electric.
(AC)These were the first withdrawals, in the late 70's.
(AC) 84001 found its way into the NRM, supposedly as a temporary
(AC)measure until the 86's went (but I think they may have
(AC)changed their minds).
(AC)84009 was used as a load bank for years but is currently
(AC)up for tender.
Class 85 : (AC)Built by BR Doncaster? or Crewe? 85001-040, based at
(AC)Crewe electric.
(AC)Some got renumbered when it became trendy in the late 80's.
(AC)85030 ran around with the unofficial name 'Fellrunner'
(AC)at this time, and very fine it looked too.
(AC)The first ones to go were 85027/033 in 1983-4 with
(AC) fire/crash damage, and the rest petered out through
(AC)to about 1991. A few again served their time on Euston
(AC)ECS duties to replace
(AC)the 82's and 83's. Waterman rescued 85006.
Class 86 : (DC)Ditto but still extant. They're 4000 bhp I believe.
Still infesting the west coast main line. Getting old and
decrepit now. Notorious for hammering the living sh*t out
of the permanent way (axle-hung motors).
(KIM)Some rebuilt with Cl 87 bogies, allowed to do 110 mphStill infesting the west coast main line. Getting old and
decrepit now. Notorious for hammering the living sh*t out
of the permanent way (axle-hung motors).
Fitted for push-pull working.
Class 87 : (DC)Ditto but still extant. They're 5000 bhp I believe.
A development of the 86. Built in '74 for the electrification
to Glasgow. Motors aren't axle hung & the suspension is a lot
more sanitary than in the 86s. Passed for 110 mph.
One of them has thrystor controlled motors.
Fitted for push-pull working.A development of the 86. Built in '74 for the electrification
to Glasgow. Motors aren't axle hung & the suspension is a lot
more sanitary than in the 86s. Passed for 110 mph.
One of them has thrystor controlled motors.
Class 89 : (DC)Unique Co-Co electric, built by Brush and named Avocet. Now a
(DC)stuffed Avocet because it's been withdrawn and preserved.
A lot of the 89 design - notably the bogies - found its way
into the class 92.
Class 90 : (DC)Bo-Bo electrics, 25kv AC overhead. Can't remember much else
(DC)about them. With classes 86 and 87, mainstay of the West
(DC)Coast Main Line.
Developed as class 87/2. Streamlined ends & thrystor control
of the motors. Updated class 87s.
All originally had push-pull equipment. However in a fit of(DC)stuffed Avocet because it's been withdrawn and preserved.
A lot of the 89 design - notably the bogies - found its way
into the class 92.
Class 90 : (DC)Bo-Bo electrics, 25kv AC overhead. Can't remember much else
(DC)about them. With classes 86 and 87, mainstay of the West
(DC)Coast Main Line.
Developed as class 87/2. Streamlined ends & thrystor control
of the motors. Updated class 87s.
management lunacy the freight division has disconnected the
push-pull gear & the electric train heating equipment from 'their'
engines to stop them being used as substitutes on passenger
trains. So the expresses battle on with 86s while these sit idle.
Class 91 : (DC)Well, they're electrics (25 kv AC overhead). Got a sloping
(DC)end at one end and a flat one at the other. Mainstay of
(DC)the East Coast main line and the one that set the record
(DC)this week. Alleged to be capable of 140mph and now we know
(DC)it's true.
Built by GEC. Have a *very* odd drive system with the motors
pointing fore&aft & driving through a 90-degree gearbox. It
all seems to work though.
Were designed to push/pull express trains by day with the pointed
nose at the outer end & haul sleeping car trains at night with
either end facing forward (speed limits are 140 mph if the
pointed end faces outwards, but onlt 90 or so if the flat end
faces out - worries about lift on the pantograph I believe).
Class 92 : (DC)Co-Co freight locos for the Channel Tunnel. 25kv AC
(DC)overhead/750 v DC third rail like the Eurostars. Brush
(DC)built them and they are named after famous figures from
(DC)the arts (Beethoven, Luciano Pavarotti etc).
(KIM)Visually very like Cl 60, especially from front.(DC)end at one end and a flat one at the other. Mainstay of
(DC)the East Coast main line and the one that set the record
(DC)this week. Alleged to be capable of 140mph and now we know
(DC)it's true.
Built by GEC. Have a *very* odd drive system with the motors
pointing fore&aft & driving through a 90-degree gearbox. It
all seems to work though.
Were designed to push/pull express trains by day with the pointed
nose at the outer end & haul sleeping car trains at night with
either end facing forward (speed limits are 140 mph if the
pointed end faces outwards, but onlt 90 or so if the flat end
faces out - worries about lift on the pantograph I believe).
Class 92 : (DC)Co-Co freight locos for the Channel Tunnel. 25kv AC
(DC)overhead/750 v DC third rail like the Eurostars. Brush
(DC)built them and they are named after famous figures from
(DC)the arts (Beethoven, Luciano Pavarotti etc).
Class 97 is BR's odds & sods department. The computer systems used to path
trains insist on a class number so anything which isn't obviously anything
else becomes a 'class 97' for the purpose of entering its movements (or
so I'm told). This does not explain why the tag was applied to the VoR
engines...
'Class 97': BR's name for whatever doesn't fit anywhere else. Originally
battery-electric locos but has included the Vale of Rheidol
2-6-2T narrow gauge steam engines, assorted diesels rated
down to 30mph & demoted to ballast hauliage and any preserved
steam engine passed for main line use. Lots of sub-classes!
Essentially a way of putting things which wouldn't normally
fit into BRs computers.
Only the battery-electrics and (some of) the old diesels
have ever carried the 97xxx numbers.
Early prototypes & oddities which never made it into TOPS..
10000 & 10001 : LM&S 1500hp Co-Co diesel-electric prototypes. English Electric
I think. Certainly used an early version of the EE CVST engine
(V12 form?). Used as a pair on anglo-scottish expresses for a
while. Broken up in the early 1970s, having stood idle for
a number of years
10002-10006(?): Southern Railway 1Co-Co1 prototypes. V16 EE engine. Originally
designed by Bullied as Do-Do's but maintainance would have
been impossible (the bogie design was described as "looking
as if it had been through a bailing machine').
Ancestors of the class 40.
18000 : Great Western Railway Gas-turbine/Electric Co-Co (?).
MetroVick electricals & body, Rolls-Royce or Bristol turbine?
Ended up as a dynamic load for loco testing (motors working as
generators, dumping power to resistors) in France, I believe.
May be preserved.
18001 : Second GWR gas-turbine prototype. Brown-Bovari design.
3500 hp!
Completed after nationalisation. Fell rather into limbo
as there were no services on the western region which
needed so much power & G-Ts are notorious fuel-guzzlers at
anything but full power.
Don't know if it was ever tried on Shap.. pity if not
as the results could have been remarkable for the time.
Eventually converted to A1A-A1A 25kV AC electric prototype.
Have seen it referred to as 'Class 80' in this form but
don't think there is any justification for this.
GT3 : Western Region gas-turbine prototype. Bristol turbine (I
think) and mechanical transmission.
Single-ended 2-C-0+3 hood unit, with the cab just ahead
of the articulation point... OK, so it was really a 4-6-0
with a tender carrying the kerosine. 6'8.5" driving wheels,
rod coupled.
Needed to be turned to point its long nose in the direction
of travel, which presented problems in seeing out of the
thing. Worked well enough mechanically but somehow seemed
to miss the whole point of modernisation. A sort of science
-fiction 'Castle' class.
DP1 : English Electric Co-Co prototype. 2*1600 hp Napier Deltics.
The Deltic engine. Ran on class 37 bogies & so originally
geared for 90mph. Re-geared for 105 mph after trials over
Shap & before trials on the east coast main line (after
protests from the drivers).
Body design adapted from EE export designs with large
headlight sat each end.
Revolting blue/white pajama-stripe paint job. Preserved.
DP2 : English Electric Co-Co prototype. Deltic bodyshell &
bogies with V16 CVST engine (2650 hp).
Basis of the class 50. Destroyed in a very nasty smash
on the ECML late in the 1960s in which several
passengers were killed (the express hit steel plate
overhanging from the wagons on a freight train which had
de-railed.
Falcon : Brush type 4 prototype (Falcon works being Brush's home)
(DC)Falcon was built by Brush - I think essentially it was
(DC)a beefed up'47'. Certainly looked that way.
(DC) It was taken into BR stock eventually as (D)1200.
(DC) and ended its days at Ebbw Junction shed. I'm
(DC)fairly sure it had a TOPS code.
I believe that Falcon consisted of the bodyshell of DP3
(see below) mated with Brush bogies (47 type) and a
prototype Sulzer engine.
Lion : Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. type 4 prototype.
(DC)Lion was built by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon
(DC)Co at Smethwick in the early 60s.
(DC) It was around 2700 bhp Co-Co diesel electric, and
(DC)was painted white. I remember seeing it on (and from)
(DC)Paddington - Wolverhampton trains in that era but I
(DC)haven't the slightest idea what happened to it.
(DC) Unless they were still building 33s and 27s at
(DC)that stage I suppose it may have been BRCW's last loco.
Kestrel : AKA HS4000
4000hp Hawker-Siddley Co-Co prototype. Single engine
(Sulzer experimental V24?)
Considerably overweight & so not acceptable in its
intended role as a 125mph express loco on BR.
Sold to USSR & scrapped mid 70s after tests.
A remarkably good-looking device. The same body design
was proposed in about 1972 for a 4500-5000hp fast
freight engine with 2 Paxman Valentias. This came
to nothing.
DP3 : Partially built but never finished.
English Electric Co-Co prototype with 2 enlarged & improved
deltics. 5000-6600hp, depending on state of tune. The "Super
Deltic".
Intended for 125 mph service on the ECML. With 6000hp
at the rail & a weight of under 120 tons, performance
should have been somewhat dramatic.
Eastern region wanted it, Euston wouldn't pay.
The body & bogies were sold & ended up as either Falcon
or Lion. Falcon I think.
And some early surviviors....
Ex-NER electrics: BR inherited some early DC electric locos from the L&NER,
who had inherited them from the North Eastern in 1923.
No. 13 2-C-2 centre cab electric express engine. 1500V DC overhead.
3 motors, driving the (large) wheels via gears & quill drives.
Designed by Sir Vincent Raven in 1921 for the York-Newcastle
electrification (which was completed in 1993..). Spent the
1920s, 30s and 40s in store. It was proposed to re-motor
13 & use her on the Manchester-Sheffield route but this came
to naught. Broken up about 1950.
1200 - 1600 hp?
26xxx Can't remember the number. Ex NER Bo-Bo from the Shildon
1500V DC line (which was de-electrified in the 30s). One
of the 1200hp Bo-Bos was retained & rebuilt as a banking
engine (Wellingborough?). Didn't last long in BR ownership.
Scrapped in the 1950s
26001-6(?) Small Bo-Bo's for the Newcastle quayside branch. Built
around 1918 or so, lasted until the end of the 1960s.
About 600V DC, third rail & overhead collection. One
preserved.
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I can't think of any others. I've not included the LM&S shunters
as I really don't know enough about them. Some (the EE 350hp type)
were virtually the same as the 08s & probably vanished into that class. Information welcome.
Thanks all of you. All contributors wil be credited.
However, there WAS a DP3 for a short time. D5901 was taken to English Electric and re-engined in a similar project to the re-engining project of the Mirlees-Brush Class 31. D5901 became DP3 test bed locomotive but before being tested properly, the rest of the Class 23's had their problems sorted and DP3 was reverted back to D5901 with its original Deltic engine though sporting a few different external modifications. Thereby, D5901 was the last Baby Deltic to be refurbished in life extended form. (Andy Reed).