British Rail Class 31
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| British Rail Class 31 | |
 31289 at the Northampton & Lamport Railway, 22 April 2007 |
|
| Also called: | Brush Type 2 |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Brush Traction |
| Years built: | 1957 – 1962 |
| Introduced: | 1957 |
| Early numbers: | D5500–D5699 D5800–D5862 |
| TOPS numbers: | 31001-31970 |
| Engine: | English Electric 12SVT |
| Transmission: | Diesel Electric |
| Wheel layout: | A1A-A1A |
| Wheel diameter: | 43 in (1,092 mm) driven 39.5 in (1,003 mm) carrying |
| Minimum curve: | 4.5 chains (91 m) |
| Brakes: | Vacuum |
| Brake force: | 49 LTf (490 kN) |
| Wheelbase: | 42 ft 10 in (13.1 m) |
| Length: | 56 ft 9 in (17.3 m) |
| Width: | 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m) |
| Height: | 12 ft 7 in (3.8 m) |
| Weight: | 106.7 long tons (108.4 t) to 113 long tons (115 t) |
| Maximum speed: | 90 mph (140 km/h) except 31001-31116 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Engine power: | 1,470 bhp (1,100 kW) |
| Rail power: | 872 bhp (650 kW) |
| Maximum TE: | 35,900 lbf (160 kN) except 31001-31116 42,800 lbf (190 kN) |
| Heating type: | 31/0 & 31/1 Steam 31/4 Electric |
| Multiple working: | Blue Star except 31/0 Red Circle |
| Fuel capacity: | 650 imp gal (3,000 l) |
| Route availability: | 5 |
| Operators: | Network Rail |
The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62.
Contents |
[edit] Description
The Class 31 was one of the Pilot Scheme locomotives ordered by British Railways to replace steam traction. They were originally built with Mirrlees JVS12T 1250bhp and 1365bhp engines and Brush electrical equipment, but the engines were not successful and in 1964 a programme of works commenced to re-engine the fleet with the 1470bhp English Electric 12SVT engines. The locomotives were originally known as class 30 under TOPS, with re-engined examples joining Class 31. The class was originally intended for service on the Eastern Region, but gradually became common in both the Western and London Midland regions too.
Several sub-classes of Class 31 exist:
- 31/0 - First batch of locos, fitted with Red Circle electro-magnetic control equipment - withdrawn in the late 1970s as non-standard
- 31/1 - The standard locomotive
- 31/4 - Fitted with ETH apparatus
- 31/5 - Former 31/4 with the ETH isolated for Civil Engineers Department use
- 31/6 - Standard locomotive through wired for ETH but without ETH apparatus.
[edit] Class 31/0
These first 20 locos, originally numbered D5500-D5519, were always easily recognisable as they did not have the headcode box mounted on the roof above the cab, leading to the nickname "Toffee Apples" and later "Skinheads". These pilot scheme locos were "non-standard" in having Electro-Magnetic Multiple-Working control equipment, and were limited to 80mph. The class 31/0s had a Route Availability of 5.
They were allocated to East Anglian sheds throughout their service, ending up allocated to Stratford and latterly sporting that depot's trademark silver roof. Upon withdrawal four locomotives were converted at Stratford into train pre-heating units. Locomotives 31013, 31002, 31014 and 31008 were renumbered ADB968013 to ADB968016 in the order given[1][2]; ADB968014 was allocated to Bounds Green depot on the Great Northern main line and ADB968015 was based at Great Yarmouth, while the remaining two were allocated to Stratford.
[edit] Class 31/1
The first 16 locos (31101 - 31116) externally had much in common with the original 31/0s as they lacked the roof mounted headcode box, and were also limited to 80mph, but were otherwise the same as subsequent locos. The whole sub-class had steam heating boilers fitted, had the Blue Star Electro-Pneumatic multiple-working controls as found on many other BR classes, and were classified as Route Availability 5. The class 31/1s could be found on a variety of secondary and relief passenger duties as well as parcels and freight traffic. While used in East Anglia, with locos allocated to Stratford and March depots, they were found throughout the Eastern Region of BR with Finsbury Park sporting a large allocation along with the depots at Tinsley, Immingham and Thornaby. Locos were also allocated to Bristol Bath Road and Old Oak Common on the Western Region, where they could be found working passenger trains as far west as Barnstaple and Paignton[3]. In the early 1980s Healey Mills and Bescot on the Midland Region also gained an allocation as replacements for Class 25s.
[edit] Current operations
[edit] English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS)
The final three EWS locomotives were withdrawn in 2001.
[edit] FM Rail
In 1998, FM Rail (then known as Fragonset Railways) purchased four redundant Class 31 locomotives from EWS. The first of these, no. 31452, was quickly repaired and repainted in a new black livery with a red mid-body band. It was quickly followed by nos. 31459 and 31468. Several more locomotives were also purchased, and in 1999, the first of two modified Class 31/6 locomotives re-entered traffic. The Class 31/6 subclass is essentially a modified Class 31/1 locomotive with through electric-train heating wiring. This enables a Class 31/4 and Class 31/6 to work in multiple and still heat the train, even if the no-heat Class 31/6 is attached to the carriages.
In 1999, Fragonset won a short-term contract with Silverlink for two locomotives to work in top-and-tail mode with two Mk. 1 carriages on the Bletchley-Bedford line. This was to cover for the non-availability of Class 117 and Class 121 diesel multiple units. The trial was a success, and in 2000 it was repeated in the summer timetable. The locomotives were retained until displaced by more modern Class 150/1 units cascaded from Central Trains.
By this time, the Fragonset Class 31 fleet had expanded considerably to include three Class 31/1, three Class 31/4 and two Class 31/6 locomotives. Regular work at this time included use hauling Class 317 electric multiple units from WAGN's Hornsey depot to Bedford for use with Thameslink. As units were still maintained at Hornsey, this meant regular workings between the two depots to swap units when maintenance was due.
[edit] Network Rail
Network Rail operates a small fleet of three Class 31/1 locomotive, nos. 31105/233/285, to haul test trains around the network. The locomotives were purchased from Fragonset, and overhauled at their Derby workshops. They have been repainted in Network Rail's new all-over yellow livery.
Prior to operating its own locomotives, Network Rail's predecessor, Railtrack, had hired two Class 31 locomotives from Fragonset. These two locomotives, nos. 31190 and 31601, were repainted in Railtrack's blue and lime green livery. With the overhaul and entry into service of Network Rail's own locomotives, these two engines were returned to Fragonset.
These three locos (105, 233, 285) will undergo a £250,000 refurbishment (each) to keep them working until at least 2010. To cover for when any one of these locomotives is undergoing refurbishment, Network Rail have hired 31602, for a year, although it expected that it may be required for longer. It has already been painted into the Network Rail yellow livery as carried by 105, 233 and 285.
[edit] Preservation
33 locomotives have been preserved for use on heritage railways. These are listed below. Of note are the first built, no. 31018, and the last built, no. 31327.
| Numbers carried (Current in bold) |
Name | Livery | Location | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D5500 | 31018 | — | — | — | BR Blue | National Railway Museum | First-built locomotive, now part of the National Collection |
| D5518 | 31101 | — | — | — | BR Large Logo Blue | Battlefield Line | — |
| D5522 | 31104 | 31418 | — | Boadicea | BR Blue | Midland Railway Butterley | — |
| D5526 | 31108 | — | — | — | Railfreight Grey | South Devon Railway | — |
| D5531 | 31113 | — | — | Civil Engineers | Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway | — | |
| D5533 | 31115 | 31466 | — | — | — | EWS Maroon/Gold | Dean Forest Railway |
| D5537 | 31119 | — | — | — | Railfreight Red Stripe | Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway | — |
| D5548 | 31130 | — | — | Calder Hall Power Station | Trainload Coal | Battlefield Line | — |
| D5557 | 31139 | 31438 | 31538 | — | BR Blue | Mid-Norfolk Railway | — |
| D5562 | 31144 | — | — | — | Civil Engineers | Privately owned | — |
| D5580 | 31162 | — | — | — | BR Blue | North Norfolk Railway | — |
| D5581 | 31163 | — | — | — | BR Green | Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway | — |
| D5584 | 31166 | — | — | — | BR Green | Wensleydale Railway | Currently For Sale |
| D5600 | 31179 | 31435 | — | Newton Heath TMD | BR Green | Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway | — |
| D5611 | 31188 | — | — | — | BR Green | Wensleydale Railway | — |
| D5627 | 31203 | — | — | — | BR Green | Chasewater Railway | — |
| D5631 | 31207 | — | — | — | Railfreight Grey | North Norfolk Railway | One of final three locomotive operated by EWS. |
| D5634 | 31210 | — | — | — | BR Green | Dean Forest Railway | — |
| D5641 | 31216 | 31467 | — | — | BR Blue | East Lancashire Railway | — |
| D5662 | 31235 | — | — | — | BR Blue | Mid-Norfolk Railway | — |
| D5669 | 31410 | — | — | — | Regional Railways | Privately owned | — |
| D5683 | 31255 | — | — | — | EWS Red/Gold | Colne Valley Railway | Repainted in EWS livery for paint trials. |
| D5695 | 31265 | 31430 | 31530 | Sister Dora | Civil Engineers | Mid-Norfolk Railway | — |
| D5800 | 31270 | — | — | — | Regional Railways | Peak Rail | — |
| D5801 | 31271 | — | — | Stratford 1840-2001 | Trainload Construction | Nene Valley Railway | — |
| D5814 | 31414 | 31514 | — | — | Gatwick Express Intercity | Ecclesbourne Valley Railway | — |
| D5821 | 31289 | — | — | — | BR Blue | Northampton & Lamport Railway | — |
| D5823 | 31291 | 31456 | 31556 | — | Civil Engineers | East Lancashire Railway | — |
| D5830 | 31297 | 31463 | 31563 | — | BR Golden Ochre | Great Central Railway | — |
| D5862 | 31327 | — | — | — | BR Green | Strathspey Railway | Final locomotive built. |
In addition, the following locomotives were previously preserved, but have since been scrapped.
- 31123 ex-Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway - scrapped in 2006
- 31421 ex-Midland Railway Butterley
- 31442 ex-Churnet Valley Railway - scrapped in 2004
[edit] Fleet Details (2006)
EWS = English, Welsh and Scottish Railway
| Class | No. Built (*Converted) |
No. Range | Operators | Loco nos. | No. in Traffic (2006) |
Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 31/0 | 19 | 31001–31019 | — | — | 0 | 1980 |
| Class 31/1 | 227 | 31101–31327 | FM Rail | 31106/128/190 | 3 | — |
| Network Rail | 31105/107/233/285 | 3 | — | |||
| Class 31/4 | 70* | 31400–31469 | EWS | — | 0 | 2001 |
| FM Rail | 31452/454/459/468 | 4 | — | |||
| Class 31/5 | 25* | 31507–31569 | — | — | 0 | 1999 |
| Class 31/6 | 2* | 31601–31602 | FM Rail | 31601-602 | 2 | — |
| Class 31/9 | 1* | 31970 | EWS | — | 0 | 1991 |
[edit] Gallery
 31018, at the National Railway Museum in York, on 3 June 2004. This was the first locomotive of the Class to be built in 1957. It was withdrawn from service in 1976. It currently carries BR Blue livery. Note the absence of over-window head code panel, which were only omitted from the first few locomotives. |
 31454, stabled at Westbury on 16 April 2004. This locomotive is painted in InterCity livery, and was at the time owned by Fragonset Railways. It was hired to Wessex Trains to haul trains from Bristol to Brighton and Weymouth. |
 31271 Stratford 1840-2001, pictured on 3 June 2004 at the York Railfest held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of railways. The locomotive is preserved at the Midland Railway Butterley, but is currently on loan to the Nene Valley Railway. It carries Trainload Construction livery, and was named to commemorate the former locomotive depot at Stratford, which closed to make way for High Speed 1. |
 31128 Charybdis at Bristol Temple Meads on 23 July 2004. This locomotive was owned by Fragonset Railways, but hired to Wessex Trains to haul trains from Bristol to Brighton and Weymouth. |
 31255 at the Colne Valley Railway in EWS livery |
[edit] Media
On the 21 August 2006 Network Rail and the BBC television programme Top Gear staged and filmed a crash between a Class 31 railway locomotive and a family car in order to promote rail safety. The off-limits event was the first of its type for 10 years and took place at Hibaldstow level crossing near Scawby in Lincolnshire where the B1206 road crosses the Barnetby–Gainsborough railway line.
Two Class 31 locomotives and a parked Renault Espace were used during the crash. Network Rail's own 31233 was used to propel 31107 up to a speed of 80mph. Whilst the rear locomotive slowed down to a stop, 31107 continued to coast at a speed of 70–80 miles per hour into the road vehicle parked across the eastbound 'up' line.
For the crash, locomotive 31107 received a special black livery with the slogan "Level crossings — Don't run the risk" along the side in white lettering. The final 5 minute segment, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, was originally scheduled for 4 February 2007 but was rescheduled, apparently due to a fatal crossing crash at Dingwall two days earlier.[4][5] It was eventually aired on BBC Two on 25 February 2007, shortly after the Cumbria derailment. A repeat of the program was pulled following a further level-crossing accident.[6][7][8][9]
Oddly Class 31s appear to be the locomotive of choice for appearing in level crossing accidents on television, as another was used in a Dalziel and Pascoe episode where it crashed into a coach. This was filmed at Wansford Station Level Crossing on the Nene Valley Railway.
[edit] Models
[edit] 00 Gauge
The first model of the Class 31 was made by Triang. Airfix model railways also chose to produce a class 31 when Airfix entered the model train market in the mid 1970s, although poor, by current standards, with the centre wheel of each bogie moulded in plastic with a flat section to prevent it fouling the rails both these model were of a high standard when first released. Lima also produced a model.
Currently the only 00 Gauge model of the Class 31 is that produced by Hornby since 2004.
[edit] N Gauge
Currently the only N Gauge model of the Class 31 is that produced by Graham Farish, while Lima have also produced a model.
[edit] References and Sources
[edit] References
- ^ Marsden, Colin J. (1981). Motive power recognition:1 Locomotives. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 1109 5.
- ^ (1981) British Rail Locoshed book 1981 edition. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 1112 5.
- ^ Lund, E (1980). To the last drop. Chesterfield: Longden technical Publications. ISBN 0 9507063 0 2.
- ^ wnxx.com, News Archive: February 2007, 2007–02–04.
- ^ BBC News, One dead in train crossing crash, 2007–02–02.
- ^ The Railway Herald, Network Rail stage level crossing crash accident (pdf file, >4MB)
- ^ BBC News, Top Gear screens train crash item, 2007–02–25.
- ^ Tele-photo pictures of the crash setup.
- ^ BBC News, One dead in level crossing crash, 2007–03–01.
[edit] Sources
- Stevens-Stratten, S.W.; Carter, R.S. (1978). British Rail Main-Line Diesels. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0617 2.
- Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0751 9.
[edit] External links
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