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Ruston & Hornsby 165 series (including Class D1/3 and Class 97/6)

Ruston & Hornsby built hundreds of small industrial shunters between 1947 and the mid-1960s [1], they were known as the 165 series and had diesel-mechanical and diesel-electric transmission versions and also versions with both 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 wheel arrangements.

Although most went to industrial users two 165DS 0-4-0 shunters were sold to British Railways as the Class DY1, later renamed D1/3 [2]. Incidentally the prototype of this type of shunter was loaned to the LNER for a short period just before nationalisation for testing and evaluation though nothing more came of this at the time. The two D1/3s worked in the Stratford area until withdrawal in the late 1960s. One was preserved along with a good number of ex-industrial 165s which are a common sight on preserved railways.

Information for Class D1/3
Number built: 2
Built: 1956
Builder: Ruston & Hornsby
Engine: Ruston 6VPHL diesel
Power: 165 hp (123 kW)
Wheel arrangement: 0-4-0

Five 0-6-0 165DE shunters were also bought for departmental service by BR Western Region's civil engineering department, the first arriving in 1952 and the rest 1959 [3]. These were known as the Class 97/6 [4] and served until the late 1980s and early 90s at locations like Radyr, Taunton, Reading and Swindon [5] mainly shunting long welded rail trains [6]. Three of these locomotives have been preserved.
Former 97/6 PWM654 preserved at the Heritage Shunters Trust, Rowsley South

D2961 at Bridgnorth, SVR

Former BIP Chemicals shunter 31920 (165DM) seen at Highley, SVR

GEC 424841 165DE Roman at Foxfield Railway

Another view of PWM654

[1] Ray Hooley, Engine Production Years <http://www.oldengine.org/members/ruston/Production5.htm>
[2] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Shunters (Ian Allan, 1984) p. 52
[3] Paul Smith & Shirley Smith, British Rail Departmental Locomotives 1948-1968 (Ian Allan, 2014) p. 19
[4] Haresnape, Shunters p. 79
[5] Colin J. Marsden, Departmental Stock (Ian Allan, 1984) p. 108
[6] Heritage Shunters Trust Stock List (2016) p. 12