Number of Images on this Page = 20

British Diesel and Electric Locos

Some diesel and electric locomotives of British Rail, mostly taken during sabbatical visits to Manchester in 1980, and St.Andrews in 1986.

Type 4 Western class Diesel-Hydralic

Introduced in 1962 for main line work on the Western Region, and built at Swindon. They were all withdrawn after short lives, as they were not particularly reliable.
  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 55589 bytes, 400x600 pixels
  • Date : 1986, catalogued 22 Oct 2000
  • Photographer : Stewart Hughes
  • Medium : email digital image, image location D10XX-2
  • Description : Stewart writes:
    This picture was taken in 1986 inside Kingswear station. This is a C-C class D1000 number unknown. These were introduced on the Western Region in the early to middle 1960's and replaced most Kings and Castles in pulling express passenger trains. They came in a variety of colours and were all eventually name "Western something, eg., Western Vanguard". They all had a very short working life as they were not exactly reliable.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 51668 bytes, 400x600 pixels
  • Date : 24 Apr 2000, catalogued 01 Jan 2001
  • Photographer : Stewart Hughes
  • Medium : email digital image, image location d1023
  • Description : Stewart writes:
    Here's a photo of the other side of the "Western" diesel stored at Kingswear Station - so now we know it's D1023 and the shed plate 84A is Wolverhampton - they were used extensively on the Paddington to Wolverhampton line. My book doesn't tell me its name though - I shall investigate further.


Other Diesels
  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 74909 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : Jun 2001, catalogued 29 Mar 2003
  • Photographer : Stewart Hughes
  • Medium : digital camera, image location 100-0059_IMG
  • Description : here's more from the lovely Swanage line in Dorset - this time an unidentified D65xx Bo-Bo Sulzer diesel electric introduced in 1960 and standing in the delightful station at Corfe Castle in June 2001. The loco is probably 33108 (D6515 was renumbered 33012) according to the Heritage Railways website


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 60629 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Sep 1986, catalogued 26 Dec 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 15194
  • Description : A regular up train from Mallaig hauled by Class 37 37412 pulls into Arisaig, while Black 5 44767 waits to cross.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 93525 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Jul 1986, catalogued 20 Nov 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 14700
  • Description : At Helmsdale on the Inverness-Wick line, a Class 37 poses with its train in some unusual (for Scotland) sun.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 80046 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Sep 1986, catalogued 28 Dec 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 15319
  • Description : Two Class 37 diesels cross at Garve (? location unsure).


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 122986 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 11 Mar 1980, catalogued 22 Mar 1998
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome 64, slide number 8681
  • Description : The solid British lines of the class 40 diesel are evident in this portrait at Manchester Picadilly Station.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 135074 bytes, 900x600 pixels
  • Date : 2 Jul 1980
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9599
  • Description : A southbound goods at Drigg station on the Furness Railway, hauled by an unknown Class 40.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 103829 bytes, 900x600 pixels
  • Date : Jul 1986
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 14686
  • Description : Two diesels lie idle at Inverness. This photograph is used on the HighlandRailway web page .


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 61611 bytes, pixels
  • Date : May 1980, catalogued 06 Jan 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9204
  • Description : A 47-class Brush diesel hauls the return leg of an excursion train to Spalding past Ely Cathedral.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 95443 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 2 Jul 1980, catalogued 13 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9598
  • Description : Class 47 with a northbound freight approaches Drigg station on the Furness Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 83242 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Jul 1986, catalogued 13 Nov 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 14663
  • Description : An unknown Class 47 at Leuchars, near St.Andrews.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 49589 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 24 Jan 1981, catalogued 11 Apr 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 11388
  • Description : I'm not sure about the number. But the name is definitely Great Eastern . Somewhere in London!


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 103022 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 05 May 1980, catalogued 05 Jan 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9141
  • Description : 25kvac electric loco 84009 takes over from diesel loco 47536 on a Manchester Victoria to Glasgow train at Preston Station.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 98411 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Jul 1986, catalogued 27 Nov 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 15068
  • Description : One of the push-pull Glasgow-Edinburgh services, seen here in push mode. The locos are (semi) permanently coupled to the car sets in this service.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 142467 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 10 Mar 1980, catalogued 22 Mar 1998
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome 64, slide number 8666
  • Description : At Euston Station, an 86 class electric locomotive prepares to couple up to a Manchester Picadilly express.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 59584 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 24 Sep 1980, catalogued 28 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10624
  • Description : A Class 81 or 85 electric loco runs around her train "somewhere" near London, on a special train from Manchester to Windsor. I had originally identified this as a class 86, but as Phil Bell pointed out to me, "This is actually a class 81 or 85. The 86 has a vertical front and a grill over the centre window (see 86204-1).Class 83/84 are ruled out by the position of the lower marker lights with respect to the handrails. (How sad am I ???!!!!)" Not sad at all, Phil, it's good to get a more accurate description!


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 135078 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 24 Sep 1980, catalogued 28 Mar 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 10625
  • Description : A London Transport carriage lying idle at the Lillie Bridge Depot, West London. This was taken from the Willesden to Clapham Junction line, just south of Kensington Olympia, on a special day excursion train from Manchester to Windsor.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 80933 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Sep 1986, catalogued 27 Dec 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 15214
  • Description : I know nothing about this item, except that it was snapped against a background of Ben Nevis, near Fort William.


  • Image : dir=br/diesel/ page=index 158018 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : Nov 1994, catalogued 11 Jan 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : colour print, taken on Kodak Gold
  • Description : An Intercity motor unit, taken at Waverley station, Edinburgh. It shows the No 1 end of an electric locomotive, class 91.


Ernst Reichelt writes:

These locos are designed like the ALCO World Locomotive, NSW class 44, with different cab design at No 1 and No 2. No 1 is the aerodynamic end for high speed operation up to 140 mph, and No 2 is the blunt end for low speed operation up to 100 mph.

It was planned to run these locos at day time in push-pull mode at the East Coast Main Line, with 9 coaches and a Driving Van Trailer (DVT)with speeds up to 140 mph. During the night hours the locos should rover through whole Great Britain, hauling freight trains and sleeper trains with speeds up to 100 mph.

Due to the privatisation, this operation program never came to great use. Today all 31 locos and the matching coach stocks are leased to GNER - Great North Eastern Railway. This company runs the high speed traffic at the ECML. In the dark hours the engines sit idle and will be maintained.

Thanks for the update, Ernst!

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