Photos and Article Class 31 Diesel Loco British Rail Workhorse

Class 31 31288 on the sidings at Northampton Station    
Photo: Charles Moorhen

Trainspotting Class 31 Locos

The Class 31 diesels, a one-time powerful workhorse of the British Rail network, became one of the railway enthusiasts favourite freight locomotives.

As romantic and evocative as the steam locomotive was, with such impressive names as Mallard, the IronDuke and TheFlying Scotsman, like all good things it was inevitable that the golden age of steam would someday have to come to an end.

And so it was that in the mid-1950’s the dawn of the diesel locomotive, such as the Class31, began to creep over the horizon.

By 1967, the majority of steam locomotives had passed into history, (though fortunately a number were saved by heritage lines in England), superseded by a cleaner more efficient type of motive power – the diesel locomotive.

Although there was a certain amount of initial animosity against these new and powerful machines by railway enthusiasts, one such diesel locomotive - the Class 31 - did eventually become a firm favourite among enthusiast and train-driving crews alike.

                                                                  31306 at Bletchley - late 1980's   

                                                    Photo: Charles Moorhen

As one of the classes of diesels known as the ‘Pilot SchemeLocomotives’, ordered by British Railways to replace their costly and out-of-date steam locomotives, the Class 31  was built by Brush Traction in Loughborough. 

With a top speed of 90 mph (though the majority never exceeded 75 mph) and weighing in at 49 tonnes, the first of the class made its appearance in public service in September 1957.

Incidentally, the building of the full fleet took only five years to complete with the final locomotive leaving the works in 1962.

Originally intended to be used mainly on the Eastern Region, they were soon to be seen frequently on the Western and London Midland regions and eventually across the whole of the railway network performing freight duties; although they also carried out relief passenger work. With a fuel tank capacity of 750 gallons (2409 litres) of diesel, they were ideal for a wide variety of duties.

             

Class 31467 locomotive Entering Bletchley station

     Photo: Charles Moorhen  

The Class 31’s, which were later divided into sub-classes 31/0, 31/1 and 31/4, with a few classified as 31/5 and 31/6, were easily identified by the large head-code boxes on the roof above the cab. 

However, the first twenty examples of the fleet were not fitted with these boxes and were quickly nicknamed ‘Skinheads’ by enthusiasts.  

The sub-class, 31/4, was powerful enough to haul a train of up to eleven BR Mark 3 carriages though in practice the actual number of carriages hauled at any one time was often fewer than five. 

                                                                                                                                                                       

Apart from the day-to-day work that the Class 31’s carried out, four of the fleet made brief appearances on television. 

31233 and 31107 were used in a ‘crash’ scene for the BBC series ‘Top Gear’ on the 21st August 2006, to promote safety at level crossings.

31414 featured in an episode of ‘Casualty’, while 31108 was seen in an episode of ‘EastEnders’ filmed on the Nene Valley Railway near Peterborough – once again involving a railway level crossing.

                                  Class 31462 passing through Banbury in the late 1980's
                                                                    Photo: Charles Moorhen

Like the steam locomotives that they superseded, the Class 31 fleet of diesel locomotives eventually became redundant with many ending up in pieces in scrap yards. However, around twenty-five or so survived this fate and were bought by heritage railway lines up and down the country.

31018, the first locomotive built, is now in preservation in BR Blue livery at the National Railway Museum in York, while the last locomotive to be built is preserved in BR Green livery.

 

With a number of these sturdy locomotives still surviving...the legend of the 31 lives on!

                        Class 31168 in a neglected state on Bletchley sidings in the late 1980's                             Photo: Charles Moorhen

                                      

 

Class 31 Diesel Locomotive Historical Note:

Whilst hauling a train in which Queen Elizabeth II was travelling on 4th January 1961, D5667 (31240), broke down south of Cambridge.  

 

Two onboard Brush fitters, on hand to deal with any mechanical problems that may occur, were unable to fix the problem and a steam loco had to be sent for in order to rescue the stricken diesel adding over an hour to the completed journey.

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Photo 'Tornado' UK Steam Loco 60163 Set Off Station Fire Alarm

A1 Class 60163 Steam Loco 'Tornado' Passes Through Huntingdon  

Photo: Charles Moorhen

 

60163 'Tornado' Steam Loco

It seems that a few members of the public were a bit too quick off the mark in phoning the fire services as they passed Edinburgh's Waverley station on Sunday 5th July 2015.

 At 3pm in the afternoon, three fire engines were dispatched to the station in response to calls from the public stating that they believed a building was on fire on Waverley Bridge.

Edinburgh Waverley Station

 

It soon transpired that the 'fire' was a false alarm.  

The smoke had come from UK steam locomotive  60163 'Tornado' as it passed through the station.

Still.  Better to be safe than sorry as they say.

 

Another 'Tornado' post you may wish to see: 

 
92 Year-Old Model Maker Completes Matchstick Tornado Locomotive.


60163 'Tornado steam locomotive on YouTube:

No. 60163 A1 Pacific at York.

 

60163 'Tornado' Whirls Through the West Country.

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Photo Tornado UK Steam Loco 60163 Matchstick Model Built by Pensioner

Tornado Loco Matchstick Model

George Day With 'Tornado' Matchstick Model

92 year-old model maker, George Day, who lives in Darlington, has recently completed the construction of his latest model railway locomotive - 60163 Class A2 Tornado - made entirely from matchsticks and copper wire.

 
Pensioner Mr. Day, who worked for the London North Eastern Railway when he left school at the age of 16, and then for British Railways and British Rail at Bank Top Engine Shed in Darlington, has, over the years, created dozens of models of the UK steam locomotives he worked on either as a cleaner, fireman or driver.

Speaking about the making of the Tornado locomotive model, he said: "It took me over a year to complete, but I am really pleased with the Tornado; it is certainly one of the best models I have made."

The Real Tornado Locomotive

A stickler for detail, Mr. Day also uses copper wire to represent the pipes that would be on the locomotives.

Spending a few hours each day crafting his models, which require thousands of matches, he joked: "I think I am keeping the matchstick industry going, given how many I use."

His current project is another locomotive, a J27, which featured in the long-running television drama, Hearbeat.

 

Another 'Tornado' post:

Tornado locomotive Sets Off Fire Alarm. 

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Photo Shillingstone Railway Acquires Ex Virgin Mk 3 UK Buffet Car

 

Shillingstone Heritage Railway News

Ex-Virgin Trains Buffet Car Arrives at Shillingstone Station

The Shillingstone Railway Project based at Shillingstone station, opened in 1863 and owned by the Dorset Central Railway, has acquired a former main line coach to add to its inventory of railway items.

 
The coach, transported by road from Chilmark, is a UK Mark 3 Buffet Car built for British Rail in 1970 at their Derby works.

The Mk 3 saw service with British Rail before joining the ranks of Virgin Trains rolling stock where it worked until retirement in 2002.  It was then stored until 2005 and was used by the Army for bomb disposal training.

The Shillingstone Railway Project plan to restore the Mk 3 coach - which at time of writing still carries the early Virgin Trains livery - hoping to run it on their 1/4 mile of track from Shillingstone station pending planning permission.

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Photo Ffestiniog Railway's New Pullman Observation Coach

 

Art and Beauty In One Package

Ffestiniog Railway's Pullman Observation Coach on Home Turf

Rail passengers using London's Paddington station throughout the month until the 27th of June 2015 had the opportunity to see a superb example of moden-day railway coachbuilding skills.

 
On display between platforms 8 & 9, celebrating 150 years of passenger service on the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway (F&WHR), is a brand new UK Pullman observation coach designed and built by craftsmen at the railway's Boston Lodge works, at a cost of £250,000.

Paul Lewin, spokesman for the 40-mile railway said: "Our brand new luxury Pullman Observation Saloon marks the beginning of a new era for our railway and sets high standards to enable passengers to enjoy the glorious Snowdoniam scenery in style.

However, it is not only passengers at Paddington station who will get the chance to see the stunning new coach, it will also be visiting Bristol and the Shrewsbury Flower Show, with other venues yet to be announced.

The Pullman Observation Saloon is expected to go into public service in 2016.

Further details on the Ffestiniog Railway website.

 

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Photo Class 34016 'Bodmin' West Country Class Southern Railway Steam Loco

Southern Railway West Country Class Steam Locomotive 34016 'Bodmin' at Alton
 Photo: Charles Moorhen

Battle of Britain Locomotive Still Battling

Belonging to a class of UK steam locomotives known as the West Country class, 34016 'Bodmin', seen here in preservation at Alton railway station on the Mid-Hants Railway also known as the 'Watercress Line', is as good today as she was when she hauled an endless succession of trains between London and Cornwall.

'Bodmin' was one of 110 locomotives, numbered 34001 to 34110, designed by O.V.Bulleid specifically for hauling passenger trains on the non-electrified main lines of the Southern Railway.

The first of the class, 34001 'Exeter', came out of Brighton Works brand-new in May 1945 where it was allocated to Exmouth Junction shed which opened on the 3rd November 1887 and covered eleven tracks. 

Production of the class increased to the point that by November of the following year, 48 locomotives of the West Country class were in traffic. They quickly earned the nickname 'Spam Cans' from the trainspotting community due to the fact that the locomotives were encased in air-smoothing body panels.

  At the beginning, the West Country locomotives were given names associated with locations in south-west England such as cities, towns and popular tourist destinations. 

In November 1946 the naming policy was changed. As more locomotives of the class began to be used around Kent, a decision was made to name a number of engines after aircraft, airfields, RAF squadrons and key personalities associated with the WW2 Battle of Britain. 

And although identical in every way, a new class of locomotive was born - the Battle of Britain class.

Detail of Box Pok Wheels and Bodmin Nameplate
Photo: Charles Moorhen

34016 'Bodmin' saw sterling service over the years on Southern rails. On more than one occasion she headed the 'Man of Kent' train between Charing Cross station and Dover Marine station, such as on the 13th September 1958.

 

In May 1958, West Country Class Pacific Class 34016 'Bodmin', hauled a 'Special' through Kent to London Victoria station.  On board was the President of Italy, Signor Gronchi and his wife.  He was met at Victoria station by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Pathe News filmed the arrival and a brief clip of 'Bodmin' can by seen near the beginning.

However, 34016 'Bodmin' was not solely reserved for hauling prestigious 'named trains'.  It also saw service heading locals, such as the 4-coach Exeter-Plymouth train on 26th August 1957.

On the 11th April 1958, she was swarmed over by railway enthusiasts at the annual Eastleigh Works Open Day as she stood resplendent in her new 'rebuilt' condition which included the removal of her air-smoothing body panels, leaving her as she appears today.

By June 1964, six years later, after 19 years of service, she had been withdrawn.

With the last of the West Country/Battle of Britain class, 34110 '66Squadron', emerging new from Brighton Works in January 1951, the writing was on the wall for steam locomotion.

As a result, the majority of the West Country, Battle of Britain, and their sister the Merchant Navy classes, ended their days cut up in scrap yards.

Luckily, avoiding one of these scrap yards, 34016 'Bodmin', made the transition from main line British Railways duties to further duties in preservation.

In 1952, according to the Ian Allen abc Locoshed Book, 72A loco shed Exmouth Junction was the one to which 34016 was allocated.

 

At the time of writing (March 2015), 'Bodmin' is out of service and stored at Carnforth.

West Country Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).

Designer: O. V. Bulleid.
Origin: Southern Railway.
Introduced: May 1945.
Purpose: Express Passenger.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-2.
Number Series: 34001 - 34110.
Driving Wheel: 6ft. 2in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft. 1in.
Length: 67ft. 4 3/4 in.
Total Weight: 128 tons 12 cwt.
Water Capacity: 4,500 gallons.
Cylinders: (3) 16 3/8in. x 24in.
Boiler Pressure: 250 lb. sq. in.
Tractive Effort: 31,050 lb.
Coal Capacity: 5 tons.
Power Classification: 7-P 5-F.

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Photo Urie Class H16 30517 Southern Railway Steam Loco

Class H16 30517 seen probably stabled at Feltham yard
Photo: Charles Moorhen

One That DIDN'T Get Away

Unlike many steam UK locomotives saved from scrapyards, such as the one at Barry, Wales, owned by Dai Williams, Southern Region Class H16 30517 was not lucky enough to avoid death from the cutter's torch.

Designed by the Scottish locomotive designer, Robert Urie, 4-6-2 30517, and four others of the class, were built at the London and South Western Railway's Eastleigh Works in Hampshire, England over the end of 1921 and the beginning of 1922.

Unlike their sister locomotives, the "G16 "Black Tanks", which were used for shunting duties at the Feltham marshalling yard near Hounslow, West London, the H16 "Green Tanks" were intended for hauling freight trains amongst yards around the London area.

The nickname, "Green Tanks" came about when the locomotives passed to the Southern Railway and were painted in lined olive green livery for limited passenger use.

During World War II, 30517 and the other four of the class were re-painted in a plain black livery; they never regained their Southern Railway green livery.

In the 1950's, the H16's were regularly seen moving empty coaching stock between Clapham Junction and Waterloo station.

With the introduction of diesel motive power rapidly increasing momentum, the final days of the 30517 and the other H16's had arrived.

In November 1962, 30516, 30518, 30519 and 30520 were withdrawn from Feltham, with 30517 following them a month later.  

The complete class of H16's was scrapped.

 

H-16 Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).
Designer: R. W. Urie.
Origin: L.S.W.R.
Introduced: 1921.
Purpose: Heavy Freight.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-2.
Number Series: 30516 - 30520.
Driving Wheel: 5ft. 7in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft. 7in.
Length: 46ft.
Weight: 96 tons 8 cwt.
Water Capacity: 2,000 gallons.
Cylinders: (2) 21 in. x 28 in.
Boiler Pressure: 180 lb. sq. in.
Tractive Effort: 28,200.
Coal Capacity: 3 tons 10 cwt.
Power Classification: 6-F

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