British Rail departmental locomotives

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British Rail departmental locomotives
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:

Contents

Key:In useWithdrawnPreservedRenumberedReturned to normal trafficScrapped

Western Region series

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.

NumberBuilder DetailsUseWithdrawnDisposal
15 Motor Rail, 1923Shunter1951Scrapped (1951)
22Motor Rail, 1930Shunter, 2 ft (610 mm) gauge, allocated PWM17801952Scrapped (1952)
23Motor Rail, 1925Shunter1960Scrapped (1960)
24Motor Rail, 1926Shunter1960Scrapped (1960)
25Motor Rail, 1930Shunter, 2 ft (610 mm) gauge, allocated PWM17791951Scrapped (1951)
26Motor Rail, 1927Shunter1960Scrapped (1960)
27Motor Rail, 1926Shunter1960Scrapped (1960)

Engineering Department series

The London Midland Region Engineering Department numbered its diesel locomotives in a series running from ED1 upwards (though ED8 and ED9 were never allocated).

NumberFormer No.Builder DetailsUseWithdrawnDisposal
ED1Ex-LMS 2 Fowler, 1935Shunter at Beeston sleeper works1962Scrapped (1962)
ED2-Fowler, 1949Shunter1965Scrapped (1967)
ED3-Fowler, 1949Shunter1967Scrapped (1968)
ED4-Fowler, 1949Shunter1964Scrapped (1967)
ED5-Fowler, 1949Shunter1965Scrapped (1967)
ED6-Fowler, 1949Shunter1967Scrapped (1968)
ED7-Fowler, 1940Shunter (purchased in 1955)1964Scrapped (1964)
ED10- Ruston & Hornsby, 1958 0-4-0 Shunter at Beeston sleeper works1965Preserved on Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway

966xxx and 968xxx series

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:

NumberPrevious Number(s)Previous ClassConvertedUseWithdrawnDisposal
ADB 96650613078 / D3078 08 1973Snowplough1978Scrapped 1979 [1]
ADB 96650713006 / D3006 08 -Snowplough1979Scrapped 1979 [1]
ADB 96650813035 / D3035 08 1974Snowplough1979Scrapped 1979 [1]
ADB 96650913069 / D3069 08 1974Snowplough1979Scrapped 1980 [1]
ADB 96651013037 / D3037 08 1974Snowplough1978Scrapped 1979 [1]
ADB 96651113186 / D3186 / 08119 08 1977Snowplough1977Renumbered to ADB 968011
ADB 96651213177 / D3177 / 08111 08 1977Snowplough1977Renumbered to ADB 968012
ADB 96651313184 / D3184 / 08117 08 1977Snowplough1977Renumbered to ADB 968010
ADB 966514E3044 / 84009 84 1978Mobile load bank1978Renumbered to ADB 968021
ADB 968000D8243 15 1968Coaching-stock Pre-heating Unit1981Scrapped 1991 [2]
ADB 968001D8233 15 1968Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Preserved at East Lancs Railway
ADB 968002D8237 15 1968Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Scrapped 1982 [2]
ADB 968003D8203 15 1968Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1981Scrapped 1981 [2]
ADB 9680047055 / MPU2 / 953 Ex-LMS -Mobile power generating unit-Written off (1975)
TDB 968005D7089 35 1975Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1975Scrapped 1976 [3]
TDB 968006D5705 / 15705 28 1968Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1977Preserved on East Lancashire Railway
RDB 968007D5061 / 24061 24 1975Research-department use1978Renumbered to 97201
TDB 968008D5054 / 24054 24 1976Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Preserved on East Lancashire Railway
TDB 968009D5142 / 24142 24 1976Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Scrapped 1984 [4]
ADB 96801013184 / D3184 / 08117 / ADB 966513 08 1977Snowplough1979Scrapped 1979 [1]
ADB 96801113186 / D3186 / 08119 / ADB 966511 08 1977Snowplough1979Scrapped 1980 [1]
ADB 96801213177 / D3177 / 08111 / ADB 966512 08 1977Snowplough1979Scrapped 1979 [1]
ADB 968013D5513 / 31013 31 1979Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1983Scrapped 1983 [5]
ADB 968014D5502 / 31002 31 1980Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Scrapped 1984 [5]
ADB 968015D5514 / 31014 31 1977Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Scrapped 1983 [5]
ADB 968016D5508 / 31008 31 1981Coaching-stock pre-heating unit1982Scrapped 1985 [5]
ADB 96801713061 / D3061 / 08048 08 CancelledSnowplough-Scrapped 1978 [1]
ADB 96801813080 / D3080 / 08065 08 CancelledSnowplough-Scrapped 1978 [1]
ADB 96801913081 / D3081 / 08066 08 CancelledSnowplough-Scrapped 1978 [1]
RDB 96802013337 / D3337 / 08267 08 1978Research-department use1979Renumbered to 97801
ADB 968021E3044 / 84009 / ADB 966514 84 1978Mobile load bank1995Scrapped 1995 [6]
ADB 968022E3038 / 84003 84 CancelledMobile load bank-Scrapped 1986 [6]
ADB 968023E3032 / 83009 83 1983Static transformer1985Returned to normal traffic - later scrapped
ADB 968024D23 / 45017 45 1985Static training locomotive1988Scrapped 1991 [7]
ADB 968025D5404 / 27113 / 27207 27 1986Static training locomotive1987Scrapped 1988 [8]
ADB 968026D7657 / 25307 / 25908 25 1986Static training locomotive1988Scrapped 1988 [9]
ADB 968027D7672 / 25322 / 25912 25 1987Static training locomotive1989Returned to normal traffic - later preserved
ADB 968028D5374 / 27024 27 1989Static training locomotive1989Preserved on Caledonian Railway (Brechin)
ADB 968029 (number never carried)D8001 / 20001 20 1989Static training locomotive1992Preserved at Midland Railway - Butterley
TDB 968030D6530 / 33018 33 1988Static training locomotive2000Preserved at Midland Railway - Butterley
ADB 968031D411 / 50011 50 1987Power unit transporter1992Scrapped 1992 [10]
ADB 968032D8011 / 20011 20 1988Power unit transporter1992Scrapped 1994 [11]
ADB 968033D1502 / 47403 47 1988Static training locomotive1992Scrapped 1994 [12]
ADB 968034 (number never carried)D3937 / 08769 08 1989Static training locomotive1999Preserved on Dean Forest Railway
ADB 968035D1669 / 47538 47 1993Power unit transporter1996Scrapped 1997 [12]

Internal User series

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.

NumberPrevious Number(s)Previous ClassConvertedUseWithdrawnDisposal
025031D6770 / 37070 37 1995Power unit transporter1995Scrapped 2004 [13]
025032D6838 / 37138 37 1995Power unit transporter1995Scrapped 2004 [13]

Miscellaneous locomotives

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.

NumberPrevious NumberPrevious ClassConvertedUseWithdrawnDisposal
5620156009 56 1996Power unit transporter/test bed1996Owned by UK Rail Leasing and stored at the Battlefield Line pending overhaul.
73126E6033 73 2000Static training locomotive1999Sold to CF Booth Rotherham and scrapped in August 2009

Related Research Articles

British Rail Class 05 Class of 69 204hp diesel-mechanical shunting locomotives

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.

British Rail Class 06

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 later given the TOPS numbers 06 001–06 010.

British Rail Class 07

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.

British Rail Class 08

The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive 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, 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.

British Rail Class 11

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.

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.

British Rail Class 85

The British Rail Class 85 is an electric locomotive built during the early 1960s, as part of BR's policy to develop a standard electric locomotive. Five prototype classes (81-85) were built and evaluated, which eventually led to the development of the Class 86 locomotive.

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.

British Rail Classes 253, 254 and 255

Class 253, Class 254 and Class 255 are TOPS classifications that have been applied to InterCity 125 high speed trains in Great Britain in the past. The classifications are not currently in official use, but the Class 255 designation was resurrected by Great Western Railway for their short-formed 2+4 sets in 2019.

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.

GWR 3200 Class

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 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. In each heading, the first number(s) carried are shown first, with subsequent renumbering(s) following the "/".

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 numbered 2 and the new locomotives in a series commencing at 15100.

A number of different numbering and classification schemes were used for the locomotives owned by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and its constituent companies; this page explains the principal systems that were used.

British Rail Class 97/6

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 82

The British Rail Class 82 electric locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company between 1960 and 1962, as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification.

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:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 08". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 15". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  3. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 35". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  4. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 24". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 31". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  6. 1 2 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 84". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  7. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 45". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  8. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 27". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  9. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 25". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  10. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 50". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  11. ↑ Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 20". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  12. 1 2 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 47". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  13. 1 2 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 37". WNXX. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
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