Prototypes
Diesel Electric Locomotives
10000 & 10001
The London Midland and Scottish Railway in collaboration with English Electric designed a 1600HP main line diesel electric locomotive, and 10000 emerged from Derby Works in 1947 in black livery with silver banding. The second of the LMS Twins 10001 was completed at Derby Works in 1948 under the new British Railways. These two Co-Co locomotives were the beginning of the modern traction era in Britain. The locomotives ran until 1963 and 1966 respectively, but their rightful place in the history of locomotive development was not recognised at that time as being worthy of preservation, and both were lost to the scrap man.
Whilst 10000 may be seen as the Grandfather of all diesel electrics which followed on the railways of Britain, there was no production class of locomotives directly developed from the LMS design.
10201-3
The Southern Railway CME O.V.S.Bullied in collaboration with English Electric designed a 1Co-Co1 diesel electric locomotive, and the first two were built at Ashford Works in 1950 numbered 10201 & 10202. A third locomotive was built at Brighton in 1954 with a 2000HP diesel engine and numbered 10203. All three were withdrawn in 1963.
This SR design was successfully developed into the English Electric Type 4, and thus 10203 is regarded as the prototype for D200-399. The bogie design was also used for the BR Derby designed Peak Type 4.
10800
The LMS ordered a Type 1 Bo-Bo diesel electric locomotive from North British in 1946 and this was delivered to BR in 1950 numbered 10800. This was trialled on mixed traffic duties and was seen as a possible replacement for steam locomotives on secondary lines. The locomotive was retired from BR in 1959, and in 1962 Brush Traction bought the locomotive and extensively rebuilt it with an MD655 diesel engine (as fitted in the Western) and experimental AC transmission. The locomotive was named Hawk and was tested and developed until 1968.
10800 was the basis for the NB Type 1 D8400-9 of the Pilot Scheme.
DELTIC
English Electric built DP1 as a private venture in 1955. This twin engined 3300HP diesel electric displayed a previously unseen performance and was finished in a striking powder blue livery with yellow body-side stripes. DELTIC is preserved as part of the National Collection and is on display at NRM Shildon.
DELTIC's success resulted in twenty two production locomotives being ordered from EE, and they entered service on the East Coast Main Line in 1961/2.
There was a second wave of prototypes introduced in the early 1960's :-
Design work commenced in 1959 on a second generation diesel electric Type 4 for mass production. Three manufacturers designed and built prototypes.
D0280 FALCON
D0280 Falcon was built by Brush Traction in 1961, the locomotive was fitted with two MD655 engines as used in the Western diesel hydraulic. Whilst the locomotive was a success, the use of two high speed engines and the extended time-scale to develop and build the locomotive meant that BR had by then committed to the single engined Brush/Sulzer Type 4 D1500. Therefore, although Falcon was not developed further, the locomotive was used in everyday service on the Western Region until 1976.
D0260 LION
D0260 Lion was a joint venture between BRC&W, Sulzer, and AEI and was tested on BR during 1962-3. The locomotive was finished in a striking livery of white with gold stripes. Lion was successful, but BR had already committed Brush for the Standard Type 4 and the BRC&W design did not proceed to a production batch. LION was withdrawn in 1963 and scrapped in 1965. The Sulzer diesel engine was recovered and with some irony fitted into a Brush Type 4.
Although D0260 was not multiplied by BRC&W, the design is generally regarded as the prototype of the Brush Type 4 by nature of having more in common with the design than Brush's own prototype D0280.
DP2
DP2, the third contender for the second generation Type 4 prototype, was designed and built in 1962 by English Electric. The locomotive was based on a Deltic body and bogies (EE built a 23rd production version Deltic body) but was fitted with a single 16CSVT diesel engine and generator. DP2 ran on the Eastern Region and proved to be the equal of the Deltics on passenger duties, and had an excellent record of reliability and availability. Unfortunately DP2 was involved in an accident on the ECML in 1967 and being deemed beyond economic repair, was scrapped.
Whilst the design was not adopted as the Standard Type 4, the locomotive became the prototype of the 1967 EE built Type 4 D400.
The diesel engine recovered from DP2 was overhauled and installed in D417.
HS4000 KESTREL
The ultimate prototype to run on BR, and perhaps in this star system, was built by Brush Traction in 1967. This Co-Co diesel electric locomotive had a 4000HP Sulzer V16 engine, driving a brushless alternator. The AC was rectified and fed to six DC traction motors. Brush had become part of the Hawker Siddeley group and the locomotive was given the number HS 4000 and carried the name Kestrel. The locomotive was extensively tested on both freight and passenger workings and was a resounding success. The locomotive could deliver performance far in excess of that which BR needed in the late 1960's, and was not developed for batch production. Withdrawn from service in March 1971 she was re-gauged and sold to Russia where she was the subject of further testing and technical evaluation.
Diesel Mechanical Locomotive
The Fell locomotive
This 4-8-4 locomotive was a joint venture between Fell Developments Ltd (Davey Paxman & Co, Shell R&M Co, and Lt-Col L.F.R. Fell) and H. G. Ivatt. The LMS Derby Works built the locomotive and it was delivered in 1950 carrying BR livery. Four diesel engines provided the traction drive through hydraulic couplings and differential gearing. The eight coupled wheels were later divided into two sets of four by removeing the centre coupling rods and the wheel arrangement then became 4-4+4-4. The locomotive remained in service untill 1958. Mechanical transmission for main line locomotives was not developed any further.
Gas Turbine Locomotives
There have been three Gas Turbine locomotives from three different manufacturers:-
18000
The first Gas Turbine locomotive was designed and built by Brown Boveri in Switzerland, and had a 2500HP gas turbine connected to a generator which supplied electrical power to four DC traction motors. This A1A-A1A was ordered by the GWR in 1946 and introduced by BR in 1949. 18000 ran on the Western Region for ten years, and was then transferred in 1964 to the European International Union of Railways for use in adhesion tests. After a period on display in Vienna the locomotive was returned to Britain for preservation. The locomotive has no internal equipment as the gas turbine, generator and electrical control equipment were removed during the 10 years of testing in Europe. The locomotive is based at the Didcot Railway Centre.
18100
A second gas turbine locomotive was ordered by the GWR from Metropolitan Vickers and it was delivered in 1951. This Co-Co was a powerful locomotive, but was very uneconomical in terms of fuel efficiency when compared to the Brown Boveri locomotive. 18100 ran on the Western Region for two years and was then returned to the manufacturer. The locomotive was rebuilt as an AC Electric locomotive in 1958 and re-numbered to E2001 and was then used for overhead line testing and driver training on the LMR prior to delivery of the AL1-5 electric locomotives. The locomotive did not enter everyday service and was withdrawn in 1961.
GT3
English Electric designed and built this 4-6-0 gas turbine locomotive with a mechanical drive and it was tested on the LMR during 1961/2. However, BR had already fully committed to diesel electric traction, and EE were already building production batches of several Types. GT3 was tested at Rugby test plant and on the main line but was not developed any further being withdrawn in late 1962, and dismantled by EE.
DC Electric Locomotives
CC1-2& 20003
The Southern Railway built three main line electric locomotives for use on the 650v third rail system. The body and mechanicals were designed by O.V.S. Bullied and the electrical engineering was by A. Raworth. CC1 was built at Ashford Works in 1941 and CC2 in 1945, and a third locomotive 20003 was built by BR at Brighton Works in 1948. A problem with third rail electrification known as 'gapping' occurs due to the short length of a locomotive compared to a multiple unit in spanning any gaps between third rails when no electrical current can be collected by the shoes. A flywheel energy storage system was incorporated into the design to store/generate power across the gaps and this led to the term 'Booster Locomotive'. All three locomotives were retired in 1968.
The booster system was successful and was incorporated into the HA design of DC electric locomotive.
Any of these Prototypes make an interesting choice for those who admire true pioneers and wish to model something with character.
Diesel Electric Locomotives
10000 & 10001
The London Midland and Scottish Railway in collaboration with English Electric designed a 1600HP main line diesel electric locomotive, and 10000 emerged from Derby Works in 1947 in black livery with silver banding. The second of the LMS Twins 10001 was completed at Derby Works in 1948 under the new British Railways. These two Co-Co locomotives were the beginning of the modern traction era in Britain. The locomotives ran until 1963 and 1966 respectively, but their rightful place in the history of locomotive development was not recognised at that time as being worthy of preservation, and both were lost to the scrap man.
Whilst 10000 may be seen as the Grandfather of all diesel electrics which followed on the railways of Britain, there was no production class of locomotives directly developed from the LMS design.
10201-3
The Southern Railway CME O.V.S.Bullied in collaboration with English Electric designed a 1Co-Co1 diesel electric locomotive, and the first two were built at Ashford Works in 1950 numbered 10201 & 10202. A third locomotive was built at Brighton in 1954 with a 2000HP diesel engine and numbered 10203. All three were withdrawn in 1963.
This SR design was successfully developed into the English Electric Type 4, and thus 10203 is regarded as the prototype for D200-399. The bogie design was also used for the BR Derby designed Peak Type 4.
10800
The LMS ordered a Type 1 Bo-Bo diesel electric locomotive from North British in 1946 and this was delivered to BR in 1950 numbered 10800. This was trialled on mixed traffic duties and was seen as a possible replacement for steam locomotives on secondary lines. The locomotive was retired from BR in 1959, and in 1962 Brush Traction bought the locomotive and extensively rebuilt it with an MD655 diesel engine (as fitted in the Western) and experimental AC transmission. The locomotive was named Hawk and was tested and developed until 1968.
10800 was the basis for the NB Type 1 D8400-9 of the Pilot Scheme.
DELTIC
English Electric built DP1 as a private venture in 1955. This twin engined 3300HP diesel electric displayed a previously unseen performance and was finished in a striking powder blue livery with yellow body-side stripes. DELTIC is preserved as part of the National Collection and is on display at NRM Shildon.
DELTIC's success resulted in twenty two production locomotives being ordered from EE, and they entered service on the East Coast Main Line in 1961/2.
There was a second wave of prototypes introduced in the early 1960's :-
Design work commenced in 1959 on a second generation diesel electric Type 4 for mass production. Three manufacturers designed and built prototypes.
D0280 FALCON
D0280 Falcon was built by Brush Traction in 1961, the locomotive was fitted with two MD655 engines as used in the Western diesel hydraulic. Whilst the locomotive was a success, the use of two high speed engines and the extended time-scale to develop and build the locomotive meant that BR had by then committed to the single engined Brush/Sulzer Type 4 D1500. Therefore, although Falcon was not developed further, the locomotive was used in everyday service on the Western Region until 1976.
D0260 LION
D0260 Lion was a joint venture between BRC&W, Sulzer, and AEI and was tested on BR during 1962-3. The locomotive was finished in a striking livery of white with gold stripes. Lion was successful, but BR had already committed Brush for the Standard Type 4 and the BRC&W design did not proceed to a production batch. LION was withdrawn in 1963 and scrapped in 1965. The Sulzer diesel engine was recovered and with some irony fitted into a Brush Type 4.
Although D0260 was not multiplied by BRC&W, the design is generally regarded as the prototype of the Brush Type 4 by nature of having more in common with the design than Brush's own prototype D0280.
DP2
DP2, the third contender for the second generation Type 4 prototype, was designed and built in 1962 by English Electric. The locomotive was based on a Deltic body and bogies (EE built a 23rd production version Deltic body) but was fitted with a single 16CSVT diesel engine and generator. DP2 ran on the Eastern Region and proved to be the equal of the Deltics on passenger duties, and had an excellent record of reliability and availability. Unfortunately DP2 was involved in an accident on the ECML in 1967 and being deemed beyond economic repair, was scrapped.
Whilst the design was not adopted as the Standard Type 4, the locomotive became the prototype of the 1967 EE built Type 4 D400.
The diesel engine recovered from DP2 was overhauled and installed in D417.
HS4000 KESTREL
The ultimate prototype to run on BR, and perhaps in this star system, was built by Brush Traction in 1967. This Co-Co diesel electric locomotive had a 4000HP Sulzer V16 engine, driving a brushless alternator. The AC was rectified and fed to six DC traction motors. Brush had become part of the Hawker Siddeley group and the locomotive was given the number HS 4000 and carried the name Kestrel. The locomotive was extensively tested on both freight and passenger workings and was a resounding success. The locomotive could deliver performance far in excess of that which BR needed in the late 1960's, and was not developed for batch production. Withdrawn from service in March 1971 she was re-gauged and sold to Russia where she was the subject of further testing and technical evaluation.
Diesel Mechanical Locomotive
The Fell locomotive
This 4-8-4 locomotive was a joint venture between Fell Developments Ltd (Davey Paxman & Co, Shell R&M Co, and Lt-Col L.F.R. Fell) and H. G. Ivatt. The LMS Derby Works built the locomotive and it was delivered in 1950 carrying BR livery. Four diesel engines provided the traction drive through hydraulic couplings and differential gearing. The eight coupled wheels were later divided into two sets of four by removeing the centre coupling rods and the wheel arrangement then became 4-4+4-4. The locomotive remained in service untill 1958. Mechanical transmission for main line locomotives was not developed any further.
Gas Turbine Locomotives
There have been three Gas Turbine locomotives from three different manufacturers:-
18000
The first Gas Turbine locomotive was designed and built by Brown Boveri in Switzerland, and had a 2500HP gas turbine connected to a generator which supplied electrical power to four DC traction motors. This A1A-A1A was ordered by the GWR in 1946 and introduced by BR in 1949. 18000 ran on the Western Region for ten years, and was then transferred in 1964 to the European International Union of Railways for use in adhesion tests. After a period on display in Vienna the locomotive was returned to Britain for preservation. The locomotive has no internal equipment as the gas turbine, generator and electrical control equipment were removed during the 10 years of testing in Europe. The locomotive is based at the Didcot Railway Centre.
18100
A second gas turbine locomotive was ordered by the GWR from Metropolitan Vickers and it was delivered in 1951. This Co-Co was a powerful locomotive, but was very uneconomical in terms of fuel efficiency when compared to the Brown Boveri locomotive. 18100 ran on the Western Region for two years and was then returned to the manufacturer. The locomotive was rebuilt as an AC Electric locomotive in 1958 and re-numbered to E2001 and was then used for overhead line testing and driver training on the LMR prior to delivery of the AL1-5 electric locomotives. The locomotive did not enter everyday service and was withdrawn in 1961.
GT3
English Electric designed and built this 4-6-0 gas turbine locomotive with a mechanical drive and it was tested on the LMR during 1961/2. However, BR had already fully committed to diesel electric traction, and EE were already building production batches of several Types. GT3 was tested at Rugby test plant and on the main line but was not developed any further being withdrawn in late 1962, and dismantled by EE.
DC Electric Locomotives
CC1-2& 20003
The Southern Railway built three main line electric locomotives for use on the 650v third rail system. The body and mechanicals were designed by O.V.S. Bullied and the electrical engineering was by A. Raworth. CC1 was built at Ashford Works in 1941 and CC2 in 1945, and a third locomotive 20003 was built by BR at Brighton Works in 1948. A problem with third rail electrification known as 'gapping' occurs due to the short length of a locomotive compared to a multiple unit in spanning any gaps between third rails when no electrical current can be collected by the shoes. A flywheel energy storage system was incorporated into the design to store/generate power across the gaps and this led to the term 'Booster Locomotive'. All three locomotives were retired in 1968.
The booster system was successful and was incorporated into the HA design of DC electric locomotive.
Any of these Prototypes make an interesting choice for those who admire true pioneers and wish to model something with character.