British Rail Class 20
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| British Rail Class 20 | |
| Builder: | English Electric |
|---|---|
| Introduced: | 1957 |
| Early numbers: | D8000-D8199 D8300-D8327 |
| TOPS numbers: | 20001 - 20228 |
| Engine: | English Electric 8 SVT Mk.II |
| Transmission: | Diesel Electric |
| Wheel layout: | Bo-Bo |
| Wheel diameter: | 43 in (1,092 mm) |
| Minimum curve: | 3.5 chains (70 m) |
| Brakes: | Vacuum |
| Brake force: | 35 long tons (35.6 t) |
| Wheelbase: | 32 ft 6 in (9.9 m) |
| Length: | 46 ft 9.5 in (14.3 m) |
| Width: | 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m) |
| Height: | 12 ft 8 in (3.9 m) |
| Weight: | 72 long tons (73.2 t) |
| Maximum speed: | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Engine power: | 1,000 bhp (746 kW) |
| Maximum TE: | 42,000 lbf (187 kN) |
| Multiple working: | Blue Star |
| Fuel capacity: | 380 imp gal (1,700 l) |
| Route availability: | 5 |
| Operators: | HNRC |
The British Rail Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel electric locomotive. In total, 228 locomotives in the class were built by English Electric between 1957 and 1968, the large number being in part because of the failure of other early designs in the same power range to provide reliable locomotives.
The locomotives were originally numbered D8000-199 and D8300-27. They are known by railway enthusiasts as "Choppers"[1] because the engine noise sounds like that of a helicopter. The bogie arrangement (two sets of double-axled bogies) is referred to as Bo-Bo, which is another method of classifying this class.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Designed around relatively basic technology, the 73-ton locomotives produce 1000hp and can operate at up to 75mph. Designed to work light mixed freight traffic they have no train heating facilities. Early locomotives were fitted with disc indicators in the style of the steam era. When headcodes were introduced in 1960 the locomotive's design was changed to incorporate headcode panels, although older locomotives were not retro-fitted. Unusually for British designs the locomotive had a single cab. This caused serious problems with visibility when travelling nose first, though in these circumstances the driver's view is comparable to that on the steam locomotives that the Class 20s replaced.
The Class 20 saw only limited service on passenger trains. A small number were fitted with a through pipe for steam heating, primarily for use in conjunction with a Class 37 locomotive on the West Highland Line. Otherwise, their use on scheduled passenger services was limited to use on summer relief services, particularly to Skegness and other holiday resorts in the east of England, occasional duties as a pilot, and short distance diversions of electric-hauled trains over non-electrified lines.
The shift of light mixed freight to the road network left British Rail with an oversupply of small locomotives. The Class 20s, however, could work in multiple and so handle heavier traffic. Most spent the majority of their working lives coupled nose to nose in pairs to provide a more useful 2000hp unit and to solve the visibility problems.
Most have now been withdrawn but a few remain with DRS and other minor and industrial operators. Several which are usually operated singly have been fitted with nose-mounted video cameras in order to solve the visibility problems.
[edit] Operation
[edit] British Rail
The first batch of Class 20s were allocated to Devons Road depot in Bow, London to work cross-London transfer freights, with the following 8 locos allocated to Hornsey deopt. After a trial with D8006, D8028-D8034 were allocated for work in highland Scotland, and had tablet catcher recesses built in to the cabsides. D8035-D8044 were originally to be allocated to Norwich, but were actually used for ECS workings in and out of London Euston. D8050-D8069 were allocated to the new Tinsley TMD is Sheffield, from where they regularly worked into Lincolnshire and Humberside. D8070-D8127 were sent to operate in the Scottish lowlands, particularly in the Forth-Clyde area, and the Fife coalfield. This completed the original orders for 128 locos, the last being delivered in August 1962.
With the subsequent order for a further 100 Class 20 locos, deliveries recommenced with D8128 in January 1966. Tests in 1967 using D8179 and D8317 resulted in locos from D8316 being delivered from the manufacturer with the new electronic control system for working MGR coal trains. Trains to Longannet Power Station sometimes requiring locos to triple-head trains.
[edit] After Privatisiation
Several locomotives are still in active service. Harry Needle Railroad Co have several Class 20 locomotives on hire to industrial users, and some Railtrack certified locos for spot hire. DRS have been reducing the number of Class 20s in their fleet.
Some Class 20's were used on the construction of the Channel Tunnel and High Speed 1 and some even made their way to France to work in industry there, although these have since been repatriated. Some locos have in the past been hired by Hunslet-Barclay to provide motive power for weedkilling trains. These trains sprayed a weedkiller onto the track bed.
DRS's fleet of Class 20/3s has at times seen frequent work across the country in pairs, or with Class 37s, on nuclear flask trains, the company's speciality. Perhaps the most unusual train train hauled by a Class 20 was the Kosovo Train for Life charter train in Autumn 1999 which carried 8000 tonnes of aid. Leaving London's Kensington Olympia station on 17 September 1999[2], the train was hauled by 20901, 20902 and 20903 throughout, reaching Prague by 20 September[3] and arrived at Pristina station at 10:00 on 25 September 1999[4]
In 2005 Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) acquired a large number of 20/0s and 20/9s from the DRS stored fleet. By May 2008 HNRC had 16 Class 20's in storage and 8 operational of which 2 are on hire at Corus Scunthorpe (nos 81 and 82). DRS have 10 Class 20/3 locos operational[5].
[edit] Sub-classes
| Sub-Class | Description |
|---|---|
| 20/0 | Standard as built locos |
| 20/3 (under British Rail) | Small fleet of standard Class 20/0s modified for Peak Forest aggregate workings |
| 20/3 (DRS) | DRS-owned/operated locos fitted with modified cab equipment and fully refurbished |
| 20/9 | Modified from Class 20/0 after withdrawal and sold to Hunslet-Barclay for contract freight use. Few technical differences from standard locos. Later sold to DRS and recently some to HNRC. |
[edit] Liveries
D8000 was delivered in 1957 in overall green livery, with a grey roof and red bufferbeams. This was later adjusted to include a small yellow warning panel.
In 1966, D8048 was selected by the BR design panel for livery experiments and was painted in the prototype standard blue, including the bufferbeams and roof. The exceptions were the full yellow front ends and a black underframe.[6] After the adoption of Rail Blue as the BR livery, D8178 became one of the first locomotives the be delivered in this livery (along with Class 25 D7660 and Class 47 D1953)[6]
[edit] Gallery
 D8036 at Euston in 1963 in original green livery without yellow warning panels |
 D8012 at Willesden Junction yard in 1965 in green livery with yellow warning panels |
 Operating as a pair nose-to-nose, 20050 and 20168 run through Derby station with a breakdown crane, 1975 |
 The first of the Class, D8000, preserved in original livery at the National Railway Museum in York |
[edit] Media
In the 1995 Bond film Goldeneye, British Rail Class 20 No. D8188 was used as an escape train, with the addition of armour plating to give the impression of a Russian armoured locomotive. In addition, the distinctive engine noise was overdubbed with a more generic sound.
[edit] Preservation
A total of 24 Class 20 locomotives are preserved, including the original member of the class, D8000, as part of the National Railway Collection at the National Railway Museum in York.
In addition to the 23 locos listed above, 20177 is owned by the Somerset & Dorset Loco Company and stored at the Birmingham Railway Museum where it is being used as a source of spare parts for their other Class 20 locomotoves. As more parts are removed form this loco, it is increasingly unlikely that it will be retuned to running order.
[edit] References and sources
[edit] References
- ^ Locomotives - D8000. National Railway Museum. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Pickersgill-Kaye sponsor Kosovo train for life. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
- ^ Recognition and equipment information - Class 20. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
- ^ BBC News - Train of life in Kosovo. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
- ^ End of the Line: Withdrawn & Stored Locomotives UK. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ a b Rail Blue - The Story. Retrieved on 2008-03-20..
[edit] Sources
- Marsden, Colin J. (1981). Motive power recognition:1 Locomotives. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 1109 5.
- Oakley, Michael (1981). BR Class 20 diesels. Truro: Bradford Barton / D&EG. ISBN 0 85153 419 8.
- Stevens-Stratten, S.W.; Carter, R.S. (1978). British Rail Main-Line Diesels. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0617 2.
- Webster, Neal; Greaves, Simon and Greengrass, Robert (1985). Loco-Hauled Travel 1985-6. Bradford: Metro Enterprises. ISBN 0 947773 02 9.
- Class 20 locomotive fleet. Retrieved on 15-08-2008.
- Preserved Diesels Class 20. Retrieved on 15-08-2008.
[edit] External links
- Preserved locomotive database
- Class 20 Locomotive Society
- Class 20 Fleet list at dreadful.org
- Disposal details for Class 20s at WNXX
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
