English Electric Locomotives
Class 08 BR Shunter 0-6-0
The British Rail Class 08 based on an earlier successful LMS design and became the shunter of choice for BR, it is more powerful, reliable and most importantly Diesel Electric, which made it compatible with the BR standardization plan, as opposed to the Electro mechanical or hydraulic as used by others like the class 03 or 04 etc. Production started in 1953 and finished in 1962 The locomotives were built at the BR Works of Crewe, Darlington, Derby and Doncaster and when complete the class had become the most numerous of all British classes, numbering 1193 in total the Original series Nos: D3000-D4192.
A number remain in service today although they are not so numerous now, the ones that remain are to be found in a variety of liveries all over the country.
Some members of the class became a sub-class 08/0, when locomotives from the class were given cut-down cabs for use on the Cwm Mawr Line these became the 08/9 variant.
The locomotive is powered by the English Electric 6 cylinder, 4-stroke, 6KT powering 2 Traction motors with a double reduction gear drive.
Class 20 Type 1 BR Freight Locomotive Bo-Bo
The English Electric Class 20's were known as "choppers". Two hundred and twenty eight engines were built between 1957 and 1968 as part of BR's modernisation plan. The Locomotives are in the Type one power category and are still very successful due to its simple and robust design.
The Class 20's are divided into 3 Sub Classes
20/0 The standard locomotive
20/3 Refurbished for DRS by Brush
20/9 Refurbished for DRS by Hunslet-Barclay
The Class 20 is a single cab locomotive designed as a mixed goods locomotives designed to work with different types of trailing loads, mostly working in tandem to increase their effectiveness. Although they mainly worked freight services due to their lack of train heating the class that saw service on every region of BR. During the 80's they were regular performers on summer weekend passenger services over top the east coast, where capable of a maximum speed of 75 they acquitted themselves well hauling lengthy trains of holidaymakers complete with buckets and spades!
The remaining members of the class are now owned by various privatized outfits including DRS who employ them in pairs on Nuclear Waste Trains, Railhead treatment trains and other duties.
Class 37 Type 3 BR Mixed Traffic Locomotive Co-Co
The British Rail Class 37 diesel locomotives or (Tractors) were another of the classes commissioned as a part of the 1955 BR Modernisation Plan. In total 309 were built, with such a high volume construction was split between English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn in Darlington .
As with such a large class of locomotive there have been various changes in locomotive build and specification as they have been adapted for new roles over the years, they have been divided into 7 sub-classes:
37/0 - The standard locomotive
37/3 - Re-geared CP7 bogies
37/4 - ETH, generator replaced by alternator, re-geared CP7 bogies
37/5 - Generator replaced by alternator, re-geared CP7 bogies
37/6 - Generator replaced by alternator, re-geared CP7 bogies, UIC jumpers
37/7 - Generator replaced by alternator, re-geared CP7 bogies, Ballast weights added
37/9 - Experimentally fitted with new power units, generator replaced by alternator
The Class 37 has become a familiar sight on many parts of the rail network, from freight work to Inter-City services on the Eastern Region in their early days, Regional railways, the far north lines in Scotland, and up until recently in the Welsh Valleys. As you can imagine the class has been seen in a truly amazing variety of liveries and variations of liveries, some of the remaining members are again being repainted into heritage green and named.
During the 1980s many of the class were refurbished, which has meant the Class 37 has been able to become one of the longest surviving classes on the railways. However recently newer motive power and the fact that some examples are in excess of 40 years old along with parts being scarce has meant that many locomotives have now been withdrawn or scrapped.
The few now left are now operated by EWS and Direct Rail Services as well as the Royal Scotsman Company, who have small fleets, some locos are also operated by hire companies. Recently some of the class have been sent to Europe and are currently operating in Spain and France serving the construction of the high speed railway network along with class 56's and 58's.
Members of the class are now making it into Preservation with the foremost group being the Class 37 Loco Group and B.R.E. Limited who own magnificent examples of the class based on the picturesque Wensleydale Railway in North Yorkshire and now in Meldon Quary in the South West.
Last Updated 19th October 2006
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This page is currently under construction and will feature a proper page for each class featured with more information in due time