These two locomotives (LMS 10000 and 10001) were the first main line diesel locomotives to be built in the UK and were the first of a long line of English Electric powered main line diesels to operate on British rails. The LMSR built the two locomotives following the Second World War intending them as a diesel equivalent of a "Black Five", a true mixed traffic locomotive that could also take on express passenger duties in multiple [1]. The first, 10000, was delivered and presented to the media in December 1947 [6], just before railway nationalisation and wore LMS black livery, 10001 was delivered as a British Railways locomotive.
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| 10000 at London Euston [2] |
| Information |
| Number built: |
2 |
| Built: |
1947-48 |
| Builder: |
LMS Derby |
| Motor: |
English Electric 16SVT Mk 1 diesel |
| Power: |
1, 600 hp (1, 190 kW) |
| Wheel arrangement: |
Co-Co |
The two locomotives, which were classified
Class D16/1 by British Railways, made their initial runs on the Midland main line and later were transferred to Southern Region where they could be compared with the SR's own main line diesels. In their latter years they were classed as Type 3 locomotives and given the TOPS classification
Class 34 though did not wear TOPS numbers before withdrawal in 1966 and 1968.
Although neither were preserved, there are well progressed efforts to produce a replica using a donor
Class 58 as the chassis. Former
Class 77 bogies (which were very similar to those used by the LMS locomotives) and a 16SVT Mk1 diesel have also been secured.
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| 10000 on delivery [3] |
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| 10000 near Elstree [4] |
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| 10000 near Eastleigh [5] |
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| Class 58 which will be transformed into a replica LMS 10000 |
[1] Brian Haresnape, Early Prototype & Pilot Scheme Diesel-Electrics (Ian Allan, 1981) p. 17 [2] Meccano Magazine (April 1956) p. 184
[3] Meccano Magazine (February 1948) p. 41
[4] Meccano Magazine (May 1948) p. 152
[5] Meccano Magazine (May 1954) p. 243
[6] Colin J Marsden, Diesel & Electric Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2011) p. 25
