It has been suggested that SR departmental locomotives be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2024. |
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(April 2022) |
British Rail departmental locomotives | |
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Specifications | |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Before the TOPS Class 97 was issued to self-propelled locomotives in departmental (non-revenue earning) use, British Rail had such locomotives numbered in a variety of series, together with locomotives that were no longer self-propelled. See Also:
Key: | In use | Withdrawn | Preserved | Renumbered | Returned to normal traffic | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Great Western Railway purchased two diesel shunters during its existence, which were numbered 1 and 2. Number 1 was effectively a departmental locomotive, while 2 was in capital stock. Details of both locomotives may be found here.
The GWR also owned a number of small petrol shunters built by Motor Rail, which carried numbers 15 and 22-27 in their departmental number series. These survived to be taken over by British Rail, which did not renumber them. These shunters are listed below.
The Western Region of British Rail used a PWM (Permanent Way Machinery) series which incorporated some locomotives. The two narrow gauge GWR petrol shunters were allocated numbers in this series, as were the five shunters PWM650-PWM654, which were later renumbered as 97650-97654.
Number | Builder Details | Use | Withdrawn | Disposal |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Motor Rail, 1923 | Shunter | 1951 | Scrapped (1951) |
22 | Motor Rail, 1930 | Shunter, 2 ft (610 mm) gauge, allocated PWM1780 | 1952 | Scrapped (1952) |
23 | Motor Rail, 1925 | Shunter | 1960 | Scrapped (1960) |
24 | Motor Rail, 1926 | Shunter | 1960 | Scrapped (1960) |
25 | Motor Rail, 1930 | Shunter, 2 ft (610 mm) gauge, allocated PWM1779 | 1951 | Scrapped (1951) |
26 | Motor Rail, 1927 | Shunter | 1960 | Scrapped (1960) |
27 | Motor Rail, 1926 | Shunter | 1960 | Scrapped (1960) |
The London Midland Region Engineering Department numbered its diesel locomotives in a series running from ED1 upwards (though ED8 and ED9 were never allocated).
Number | Former No. | Builder Details | Use | Withdrawn | Disposal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ED1 | Ex-LMS 2 | Fowler, 1935 | Shunter at Beeston sleeper works | 1962 | Scrapped (1962) |
ED2 | - | Fowler, 1949 | Shunter | 1965 | Scrapped (1967) |
ED3 | - | Fowler, 1949 | Shunter | 1967 | Scrapped (1968) |
ED4 | - | Fowler, 1949 | Shunter | 1964 | Scrapped (1967) |
ED5 | - | Fowler, 1949 | Shunter | 1965 | Scrapped (1967) |
ED6 | - | Fowler, 1949 | Shunter | 1967 | Scrapped (1968) |
ED7 | - | Fowler, 1940 | Shunter (purchased in 1955) | 1964 | Scrapped (1964) |
ED10 | - | Ruston & Hornsby, 1958 | 0-4-0 Shunter at Beeston sleeper works | 1965 | Preserved on Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway |
The 968xxx series (in the carriage and wagon number series) was used for departmental locomotives from 1968 onwards. Previously, some former Class 08 shunters that were converted to snowploughs had been numbered in the 966xxx series, but this was discontinued and some of these locomotives were renumbered into the 968xxx series.
When the Class 97 series for self-propelled locomotives was introduced, some locomotives in this series were renumbered to Class 97, leaving the 968xxx numbers just for locomotives that were no longer self-propelled. Since privatisation, other numbering schemes have been used for locomotives used for a similar-purpose as those in the 968xxx series. For completion these locomotives are also included. Details of all locomotives are shown below:
Number | Previous Number(s) | Previous Class | Converted | Use | Withdrawn | Disposal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADB 966506 | 13078 / D3078 | 08 | 1973 | Snowplough | 1978 | Scrapped 1979 [1] |
ADB 966507 | 13006 / D3006 | 08 | - | Snowplough | 1979 | Scrapped 1979 [1] |
ADB 966508 | 13035 / D3035 | 08 | 1974 | Snowplough | 1979 | Scrapped 1979 [1] |
ADB 966509 | 13069 / D3069 | 08 | 1974 | Snowplough | 1979 | Scrapped 1980 [1] |
ADB 966510 | 13037 / D3037 | 08 | 1974 | Snowplough | 1978 | Scrapped 1979 [1] |
ADB 966511 | 13186 / D3186 / 08119 | 08 | 1977 | Snowplough | 1977 | Renumbered to ADB 968011 |
ADB 966512 | 13177 / D3177 / 08111 | 08 | 1977 | Snowplough | 1977 | Renumbered to ADB 968012 |
ADB 966513 | 13184 / D3184 / 08117 | 08 | 1977 | Snowplough | 1977 | Renumbered to ADB 968010 |
ADB 966514 | E3044 / 84009 | 84 | 1978 | Mobile load bank | 1978 | Renumbered to ADB 968021 |
ADB 968000 | D8243 | 15 | 1968 | Coaching-stock Pre-heating Unit | 1981 | Scrapped 1991 [2] |
ADB 968001 | D8233 | 15 | 1968 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Preserved at East Lancs Railway |
ADB 968002 | D8237 | 15 | 1968 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Scrapped 1982 [2] |
ADB 968003 | D8203 | 15 | 1968 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1981 | Scrapped 1981 [2] |
ADB 968004 | 7055 / MPU2 / 953 | Ex-LMS | - | Mobile power generating unit | - | Written off (1975) |
TDB 968005 | D7089 | 35 | 1975 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1975 | Scrapped 1976 [3] |
TDB 968006 | D5705 / 15705 | 28 | 1968 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1977 | Preserved on East Lancashire Railway |
RDB 968007 | D5061 / 24061 | 24 | 1975 | Research-department use | 1978 | Renumbered to 97201 |
TDB 968008 | D5054 / 24054 | 24 | 1976 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Preserved on East Lancashire Railway |
TDB 968009 | D5142 / 24142 | 24 | 1976 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Scrapped 1984 [4] |
ADB 968010 | 13184 / D3184 / 08117 / ADB 966513 | 08 | 1977 | Snowplough | 1979 | Scrapped 1979 [1] |
ADB 968011 | 13186 / D3186 / 08119 / ADB 966511 | 08 | 1977 | Snowplough | 1979 | Scrapped 1980 [1] |
ADB 968012 | 13177 / D3177 / 08111 / ADB 966512 | 08 | 1977 | Snowplough | 1979 | Scrapped 1979 [1] |
ADB 968013 | D5513 / 31013 | 31 | 1979 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1983 | Scrapped 1983 [5] |
ADB 968014 | D5502 / 31002 | 31 | 1980 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Scrapped 1984 [5] |
ADB 968015 | D5514 / 31014 | 31 | 1977 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Scrapped 1983 [5] |
ADB 968016 | D5508 / 31008 | 31 | 1981 | Coaching-stock pre-heating unit | 1982 | Scrapped 1985 [5] |
ADB 968017 | 13061 / D3061 / 08048 | 08 | Cancelled | Snowplough | - | Scrapped 1978 [1] |
ADB 968018 | 13080 / D3080 / 08065 | 08 | Cancelled | Snowplough | - | Scrapped 1978 [1] |
ADB 968019 | 13081 / D3081 / 08066 | 08 | Cancelled | Snowplough | - | Scrapped 1978 [1] |
RDB 968020 | 13337 / D3337 / 08267 | 08 | 1978 | Research-department use | 1979 | Renumbered to 97801 |
ADB 968021 | E3044 / 84009 / ADB 966514 | 84 | 1978 | Mobile load bank | 1995 | Scrapped 1995 [6] |
ADB 968022 | E3038 / 84003 | 84 | Cancelled | Mobile load bank | - | Scrapped 1986 [6] |
ADB 968023 | E3032 / 83009 | 83 | 1983 | Static transformer | 1985 | Returned to normal traffic - later scrapped |
ADB 968024 | D23 / 45017 | 45 | 1985 | Static training locomotive | 1988 | Scrapped 1991 [7] |
ADB 968025 | D5404 / 27113 / 27207 | 27 | 1986 | Static training locomotive | 1987 | Scrapped 1988 [8] |
ADB 968026 | D7657 / 25307 / 25908 | 25 | 1986 | Static training locomotive | 1988 | Scrapped 1988 [9] |
ADB 968027 | D7672 / 25322 / 25912 | 25 | 1987 | Static training locomotive | 1989 | Returned to normal traffic - later preserved |
ADB 968028 | D5374 / 27024 | 27 | 1989 | Static training locomotive | 1989 | Preserved on Caledonian Railway (Brechin) |
ADB 968029 (number never carried) | D8001 / 20001 | 20 | 1989 | Static training locomotive | 1992 | Preserved at Midland Railway - Butterley |
TDB 968030 | D6530 / 33018 | 33 | 1988 | Static training locomotive | 2000 | Preserved at Midland Railway - Butterley |
ADB 968031 | D411 / 50011 | 50 | 1987 | Power unit transporter | 1992 | Scrapped 1992 [10] |
ADB 968032 | D8011 / 20011 | 20 | 1988 | Power unit transporter | 1992 | Scrapped 1994 [11] |
ADB 968033 | D1502 / 47403 | 47 | 1988 | Static training locomotive | 1992 | Scrapped 1994 [12] |
ADB 968034 (number never carried) | D3937 / 08769 | 08 | 1989 | Static training locomotive | 1999 | Preserved on Dean Forest Railway |
ADB 968035 | D1669 / 47538 | 47 | 1993 | Power unit transporter | 1996 | Scrapped 1997 [12] |
Internal User vehicles are those that are not allowed to run on the mainline, but are only for use within depot complexes. They are often stationary, though not always. Two former locomotives that were heavily stripped, leaving just the frames, to carry power units within Toton depot were allocated IU numbers.
Number | Previous Number(s) | Previous Class | Converted | Use | Withdrawn | Disposal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
025031 | D6770 / 37070 | 37 | 1995 | Power unit transporter | 1995 | Scrapped 2004 [13] |
025032 | D6838 / 37138 | 37 | 1995 | Power unit transporter | 1995 | Scrapped 2004 [13] |
Brush Traction, Loughborough were using a British Rail Class 56 locomotive, 56009 in their works as a power unit transporter and test bed for a Class 56 overhaul programme. It was not registered on the TOPS system, but Brush had given it the painted TOPS-like number 56201. This programme was abandoned, leaving the loco in extended storage for over 16 years. It since been sold to UKRL leasing and remains stored at Shackerstone with plans to overhaul it as part of their re-engineering programme.
A heavily stripped Class 73 locomotive, 73126 was used as a static training locomotive at the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh, replacing the previously used locomotives TDB 968030 (33018, preserved and now under restoration at a private site near Mangapps Farm in Essex) and ADB 968034 (08769, preserved at Severn Valley Railway). Since this locomotive was converted after privatisation it was not renumbered into the 968xxx series. Bought by Cotswold Rail's Adrian Parcell and later sold to the college, the locomotive was little more than a shell after 4 years as a spares donor at Stewart's Lane and Old Oak Common, and after 9 years was sold for scrap at Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham in August 2009.
Number | Previous Number | Previous Class | Converted | Use | Withdrawn | Disposal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
56201 | 56009 | 56 | 1996 | Power unit transporter/test bed | 1996 | Owned by UK Rail Leasing and stored at the Battlefield Line pending overhaul. |
73126 | E6033 | 73 | 2000 | Static training locomotive | 1999 | Sold to CF Booth Rotherham and scrapped in August 2009 |
The British Rail Class 05 is a class of 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters built by Hunslet Engine Company from 1955 to 1961. They were used on the Eastern and Scottish Regions of British Railways. The first two batches were delivered as 11136-11143 and 11161-11176. Subsequent locomotives were delivered, new, as D2574-D2618.
The British Rail Class 06 is a class of 0-4-0 diesel-mechanical shunters built by Andrew Barclay Sons and Company from 1958 to 1960 for use on the Scottish Region of British Railways. They were originally numbered D2410–D2444 and survivors after 1973 were given the TOPS numbers 06001–06010.
The British Rail Class 07 diesel locomotive is an off-centre cab 0-6-0 diesel-electric shunter type built by Ruston & Hornsby in 1962 for the Southern Region of British Railways. The 14 members of the class were primarily used at Southampton Docks and later also at Eastleigh Works.
The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotives built by British Railways (BR). As the standard BR general-purpose diesel shunter, the class became a familiar sight at major stations and freight yards. Since their introduction in 1952, however, the nature of rail traffic in Britain has changed considerably. Freight trains are now mostly fixed rakes of wagons, and passenger trains are mostly multiple units or have Driving Van Trailers, neither requiring the attention of a shunting locomotive. Consequently, a large proportion of the class has been withdrawn from mainline use and stored, scrapped, exported or sold to industrial or heritage railways.
The British Rail Class 11 was applied to a batch of diesel shunting locomotives built from April 1945 to December 1952, based on a similar earlier batch built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) between 1934 and 1936.
The British Rail Class 47 or Brush Type 4 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Brush's Falcon Works in Loughborough and at British Railways' Crewe Works between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British mainline diesel locomotive.
British Rail reserved the TOPS Class 97 designation for departmental locomotives, which were used for special or engineering duties. They were therefore of several different classes, lumped together for numbering purposes. Some locomotives were converted from redundant engines, whilst others were purpose built. In 2008, Network Rail once again used Class 97 for signalling test locomotives.
A number of different numbering and classification schemes were used for locomotives and multiple units operated by British Railways (BR), and this page explains the principal systems. This section also covers the post-privatisation period, as the broad numbering and classification arrangements have not altered since the break-up of BR.
A number of different numbering and classification schemes have been used for carriages and wagons on Britain's railways, and this page explains the principal systems. Carriages and wagons have frequently had similar arrangements for classification and numbering, so are considered together. There are also links to other pages that deal in greater depth with the particulars of individual types.
The SR Z class was an 0-8-0T 3-cylinder tank engine designed by Richard Maunsell and intended for heavy shunting on the Southern Railway, the first eight entering into service in 1929. It was a successful design and would have been built in greater numbers, but an order for a further ten was cancelled in 1930 due to the reduction in freight traffic as a result of the Great Depression.
The Great Western Railway 3200 Class was a design of 4-4-0 steam locomotive for passenger train work. The nickname for this class, almost universally used at the time these engines were in service was Dukedog since the locomotives were composed of former Duke Class boilers on Bulldog Class frames. As such they were one of the last standard gauge steam locomotive classes to retain outside frames.
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) pioneered the use of diesel shunting locomotives in Great Britain. The variety of experimental and production diesel shunters produced by the LMS is summarised below.
The Great Western Railway purchased two diesel shunters, and ordered a further seven immediately prior to Nationalisation, which were delivered to British Rail in 1948–49. The two shunters used by the GWR were numbered 1 and 2, while a series commencing at 501 was planned for the new locomotives ordered in the 1940s. British Rail renumbered both its inherited and new locomotives in a series commencing from 15100.
The British Rail Class 97/6 0-6-0 diesel shunting locomotives were purpose-built for departmental duties by Ruston & Hornsby at Lincoln in 1953 (97650) or 1959 (97651-654). There are minor technical differences between 97650 and the 1959 batch.
British Rail Class D3/10 was a single experimental diesel-electric shunter locomotive commissioned by the Great Western Railway (GWR) in England, and later taken over by British Railways.
The GWR was the longest-lived of the pre-nationalisation railway companies in Britain, surviving the 'Grouping' of the railways in 1923 almost unchanged. As a result, the history of its numbering and classification of locomotives is relatively complicated. This page explains the principal systems that were used.
A number of different numbering and classification schemes were used for the locomotives owned by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and its constituent companies. This page explains the principal systems that were used. The following abbreviations for the constituent companies are used on this page: