The Pilot Scheme
In 1955 the Modernization Plan set about a complete modernization of railway operations in Great Britain, and the direct replacement of steam locomotives by diesel and electric traction was a major part of the Plan.
The transition was planned to be a gradual process and the design and introduction of the Pilot Scheme locomotives was the first step towards dieselisation. 174 diesel locomotives, of 14 different designs, were ordered from six manufacturers and from BR's Swindon and Derby Works. The locomotives were of Type 1, 2 and 4, and of both diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic transmission.
The first locomotive delivered under the Modernisation Plan was a 1000HP Bo-Bo Type 1 from the English Electric Vulcan Works. D8000 was allocated to Devons Road (Bow) on 18th June 1957.
The first of the Type 2 locomotives was a 1250HP A1A-A1A delivered from the Loughborough works of Brush Traction. D5500 was allocated to Stratford Shed on 10th October 1957.
The first Type 4 locomotive was a 2000HP 1Co-Co1 from English Electric. D200 was allocated to Stratford Shed on 14th March 1958, and hauled an inaugural passenger train from Liverpool Street to Norwich on 18th April.
Derby Works completed its first locomotive of the Pilot Scheme, a Type 4 Peak, in 1958 and D1 Scafell Pike was allocated to Camden on the 15th August. This locomotive was the most powerful single engined locomotive in Europe at the time. A Type 2 followed on 5th September and D5000 was allocated to Crewe South.
Swindon Works completed the first of the Type 4 diesel hydraulics in 1958, and D800 Sir Brian Robertson was allocated to Swindon Shed on 11th August.
The locomotives number range, 1955 BR Class code, bogie arrangement, and builders were:-
Type 4
D1-10* D23/1 1-Co Co-1 BR Derby Works - Peak
D200-9 * D20/1 1-Co Co-1 English Electric Co.
D600-4 D20/2 A1A- A1A North British Locomotive Co. - Warship
D800-2 * D22/1 B-B BR Swindon Works - Warship
Type 2
D5000-19* D11/3 Bo-Bo BR Derby Works
D5300-19 * D11/4 Bo-Bo Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co.
D5500-19 * D13/1 A1A- A1A Brush Traction
D5700-19 D12/2 Co-Bo Metropolitan Vickers
D5900-9 D11/1 Bo-Bo English Electric Co. - Baby Deltic
D6100-9 * D10/1 Bo-Bo North British Locomotive Co.
D6300-5 * D11/2 B-B North British Locomotive Co.
Type 1
D8000-19 * D10/3 Bo-Bo English Electric Co
D8200-9 * D8/1 Bo-Bo British Thomson-Houston/Clayton Equipment Co.
D8400-9 D8/2 Bo-Bo North British Locomotive Co.
Those marked * were subsequently ordered for batch production.
There were no locomotives in the Type 3 power range ordered under the Pilot Scheme.
As a result of the 1965 National Traction Plan a number of the smaller and less successful Types from the Pilot Scheme were eliminated e.g. the NB Warships, the Metro-Vic Co-Bo's, the EE Baby Deltics, and the NB Type 1's.
Of the Types multiplied by further orders, the Swindon designed Warships, both classes of North British Type 2, and the BTH type 1's were all withdrawn by 1972 as non-standard.
The English Electric Type 1's were probably the most successful and long lived of the Pilot Scheme locomotives. The original 20 locomotives were increased by an order for 108 more units numbered to D8127 and were delivered up to 1962. A further order for 100 locomotives commenced delivery in 1966 and was completed in 1968, making the Type the first and last locomotives delivered in the pioneer era. The EE Type 1 is still in mainline service today.
Any of the Pilot Scheme locomotives make interesting choices of models.
In 1955 the Modernization Plan set about a complete modernization of railway operations in Great Britain, and the direct replacement of steam locomotives by diesel and electric traction was a major part of the Plan.
The transition was planned to be a gradual process and the design and introduction of the Pilot Scheme locomotives was the first step towards dieselisation. 174 diesel locomotives, of 14 different designs, were ordered from six manufacturers and from BR's Swindon and Derby Works. The locomotives were of Type 1, 2 and 4, and of both diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic transmission.
The first locomotive delivered under the Modernisation Plan was a 1000HP Bo-Bo Type 1 from the English Electric Vulcan Works. D8000 was allocated to Devons Road (Bow) on 18th June 1957.
The first of the Type 2 locomotives was a 1250HP A1A-A1A delivered from the Loughborough works of Brush Traction. D5500 was allocated to Stratford Shed on 10th October 1957.
The first Type 4 locomotive was a 2000HP 1Co-Co1 from English Electric. D200 was allocated to Stratford Shed on 14th March 1958, and hauled an inaugural passenger train from Liverpool Street to Norwich on 18th April.
Derby Works completed its first locomotive of the Pilot Scheme, a Type 4 Peak, in 1958 and D1 Scafell Pike was allocated to Camden on the 15th August. This locomotive was the most powerful single engined locomotive in Europe at the time. A Type 2 followed on 5th September and D5000 was allocated to Crewe South.
Swindon Works completed the first of the Type 4 diesel hydraulics in 1958, and D800 Sir Brian Robertson was allocated to Swindon Shed on 11th August.
The locomotives number range, 1955 BR Class code, bogie arrangement, and builders were:-
Type 4
D1-10* D23/1 1-Co Co-1 BR Derby Works - Peak
D200-9 * D20/1 1-Co Co-1 English Electric Co.
D600-4 D20/2 A1A- A1A North British Locomotive Co. - Warship
D800-2 * D22/1 B-B BR Swindon Works - Warship
Type 2
D5000-19* D11/3 Bo-Bo BR Derby Works
D5300-19 * D11/4 Bo-Bo Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co.
D5500-19 * D13/1 A1A- A1A Brush Traction
D5700-19 D12/2 Co-Bo Metropolitan Vickers
D5900-9 D11/1 Bo-Bo English Electric Co. - Baby Deltic
D6100-9 * D10/1 Bo-Bo North British Locomotive Co.
D6300-5 * D11/2 B-B North British Locomotive Co.
Type 1
D8000-19 * D10/3 Bo-Bo English Electric Co
D8200-9 * D8/1 Bo-Bo British Thomson-Houston/Clayton Equipment Co.
D8400-9 D8/2 Bo-Bo North British Locomotive Co.
Those marked * were subsequently ordered for batch production.
There were no locomotives in the Type 3 power range ordered under the Pilot Scheme.
As a result of the 1965 National Traction Plan a number of the smaller and less successful Types from the Pilot Scheme were eliminated e.g. the NB Warships, the Metro-Vic Co-Bo's, the EE Baby Deltics, and the NB Type 1's.
Of the Types multiplied by further orders, the Swindon designed Warships, both classes of North British Type 2, and the BTH type 1's were all withdrawn by 1972 as non-standard.
The English Electric Type 1's were probably the most successful and long lived of the Pilot Scheme locomotives. The original 20 locomotives were increased by an order for 108 more units numbered to D8127 and were delivered up to 1962. A further order for 100 locomotives commenced delivery in 1966 and was completed in 1968, making the Type the first and last locomotives delivered in the pioneer era. The EE Type 1 is still in mainline service today.
Any of the Pilot Scheme locomotives make interesting choices of models.