Diesel Locomotives

 

Contained here is a list of diesel locomotives that are included in the BR Set. It features locomotives from the very first moment that diesels were introduced in 1948 to the latest Vossloh design. They are listed here in *class number* and not year of introduction. The list of yellow at the bottom of each box is a list of liveries that each locomotive was used in. Be aware that each picture links to the page the image originates from.

Note that livery lists are NOT exhaustive.

Class D16/1 The first British mainline diesel locomotive. The one in the set is based on the two very first D16s, 10000 and 10001. They could often be found hauling trains of both passengers and goods. They often worked in multi-head formats. They were withdrawn in 1966 and 1962 respectively. LMS Black, BR Green

Class 08 Shunter The most mass-produced locomotive in the British Isles. Almost 1200 of these shunters were made in just 9 years, with production ending in 1962. Thanks to major overhauls, locomotives are kept looking brand new like the one in this picture, but only a few remain in mainline use today - fixed-rake trains have meant shunting duties are now minimal. BR Green, BR Blue, EWS, Cotswold Rail, Various Others.

Class 17 One of the least successful of any BR Class. The 17 was a centre-cab, long-bonnet locomotive, which limited visibility. On top of this, the Paxman 6Z engine it was fitted with caused reliability to be curtailed - official estimates lay at a meagre 60%. They were phased out a mere 9 years after introduction, in 1971. BR Green

Class 20 A small and effective locomotive for light freight working. They were also very rarely used on passenger trains, usually as relief for the busy services to Scarborough and Skegness in the Summer. They were built from 1957 until 1968, and many existed through until the 1990s. A few remain today, mainly with the Harry Needle Railway Company running the North East Steel routes for Corus. In the picture, they are being used doubleheaded-nose-to-nose, which often occurred. BR Blue, BR Green, DRS, Harry Needle Railway Company, Railfreight

Class 21/5 (Vossloh) These German locomotives were acquired by ECR, the European division of EWS. The entire fleet was used in France, but four of the locomotives were assigned TOPS numbers and are based near Folkestone. They are brand new, introduced in 2005, and are used for shunting and light freight work. Maroon

Class 25 One of the best diesel locomotives in terms of usage. They ran both passenger and freight trains from 1961 through to their withdrawal in 1987. BR Blue, BR Green, BR Two-Tone Green

Class 31 Built from 1957-62, this was Brush's effort at a Type 2 locomotive. It is still very much in use today, mainly by Fragonset - the spot-hire charter company. They were previously used by EWS, but they withdrew their final three 31s in 2001. Network Rail also operates four 31s to haul test trains. BR Blue, BR Green, BR Golden Ochre, Regional Railways, Railfreight Gray, Civil Engineers, Trainload Coal, Trainload Construction, Gatwick Express, EWS, Railfreight Red/Grey, Wessex Trains Pink

Class 33 A real workhorse of the Southern Region, these locomotives were for passenger services. They were built from 1960-62 and several remain in use today, some on preservation railways, and a few with Fragonset. Some also saw use with DRS, but there are currently none in actual service. BR Blue, BR Green, Fragonset Black, Civil Engineers, SWT Desiro

Class 37 One of the most famous locomotives. The 37 is a well-known British locomotive introduced in 1955. Many are still in use today, making it the oldest regular-mainline-use locomotive. It's most important use today is to pull the West Highland section of the Caledonian Sleeper. BR Blue, BR Green, DRS, EWS, Fragonset Black, Intercity Swallow, Railfrieght Grey, Trainload Metals, Trainload Grey, West Coast Railway Company Maroon, Regional Railways, Civil Engineers, Railfrieght Distribution

Class 43 The High Speed Locomotive that was the epitome of the British Passenger Network for many years from their introduction in 1976. They have been the diesel backbone of the East Coast Mainline for many years, alongside the 91 Electric. BR Blue, Intercity Swallow, First GreatWestern, Virgin, GNER, Midland Mainline

Class 45 These 90mph passenger locomotives were best known for their work on the Midland Mainline from London St Pancras. They were introduced in 1960, and were finally withdrawn in 1989. Fragonset owns one of these, which is the final one owned by a non-heritage-line company. BR Blue, BR Green

Class 47 The 47 is the most plentiful locomotive class, being introduced in 1962. A fairly large number remain in active service, mostly with Cotswold Rail who supply 47s to One Railways. BR Two-Tone Green, DRS, EWS, First Great Western, Freightliner, Virgin Cross-Country, Cotswold Rail, East Anglia/One, FM Rail/Fragonset, Police Car Livery [Riviera Trains], West Coast Railway Company

Class 50 Affectionately known as Hoovers because of their unique engine noise, the class 50 was an express passenger locomotive used north of Crewe from their introduction in 1967 before the electrification of this part of the West Coast Main Line in 1974. They often worked in pairs for the steep gradients. After the North WCML was electrified, they were deployed to the Western areas of the network, and worked many different passenger routes. BR Two-Tone Green, BR Blue Large-Logo, Network South East, GWR Brunswick Green, LMS Maroon

Class 55 A famous and well-used locomotive. Known as the "Deltic" because of it's engine, 22 of these models were used to operate the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and London. They replaced the Gresley Pacifics, and with a running speed of 100mph, didn't lose out to their steam counterparts. Six of these locomotives are being re-introduced as chartered locomotives, owned by Deltic 9000 Locomotives Ltd. BR Two-Tone Green, BR Blue

Class 57 As rebuilds of old Class 47s, the 57 was built between 1997-2004 at Brush Traction, and was soon snapped up by several companies. Virgin is the main owner, using 12 for dragging failed Pendolinos, and for hauling the EMU to Holyhead, along the non-electrified North Wales line. Freightliner use them for freight work, while First Great Western use 57s on their Riviera Night Sleeper service. The West Coast Railway Company use the prototype passenger locomotive as a chartered vehicle. Freightliner, Virgin, First Great Western, West Coast Railway Company

Class 59 A bit of an enigma, the Class 59 was a locomotive introduced solely for Private Companies pre-privatisation. Foster Yeoman requested a locomotive with 95%+ availability/reliability after class 56 locomotive availability fell at one point to 30%, which BR indeed could not produce. Thus the company suggested they were allowed to use private locomotives on BR lines, which was finally accepted. Thus, they went to General Motors, who designed the 59 and was introduced in 1986. Other companies later took some 59s on board, including National Power. These were later used by EWS. Foster Yeoman, EWS, National Power (?)

Class 60 A mainstay of the EWS fleet following privatisation, the 60s were mainly used on Trainload Freight's operations before it. The 60 was a direct response to the brilliant Class 59 and Brush came up with a heavy freight locomotive still in use today. The 60 is used over the new Class 66 on the heavier trains, it's higher horsepower and tractive effort ratings meaning that it has less trouble hauling steel, stone and heavy tanker trains. They were introduced in 1989. Trainload Freight, EWS

Class 66 A newer locomotive primarily used for heavy freight, the 66 is the backbone of EWS freight services today. Upon privatisation in 1996, a new locomotive was required and EWS returned to General Motors to enquire. They delivered the Class 66 in 1998. The design has spread right across Europe, known as Series 66. GBRf, Freightliner and DRS also run Class 66 freight services. EWS, Freightliner, DRS, GBRf

Class 67 Intended to be used on fast mail trains and to haul TPOs, the 67 is a 125mph beast. With the loss of the mail contract by EWS in 2003, the locomotive saw less and less use, as it's heavy axle-load barred it from most lines. However, two are in use on the Royal Train and one is painted in EWS Silver Executive livery. A return of` TPOs and mail trains in 2005 saw limited use, but these are being superceded by class 325 parcel EMUs. EWS, EWS Executive, Royal Maroon

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