British Diesels and Electrics: Class 97

Class 97 is the designation of locomotives used by British Rail (and it's successors) for departmental and special duties. Most locomotives which have been used for this purpose have been former revenue earning locomotives though some have been especially built. The only Class 97s currently in service are four Class 37s which were converted to test ERTMS radio signalling equipment. They are currently used mainly on the Cambrian Line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth which uses ERTMS.

97 303 at Derby

Information for 97/3
Number built:	4
Built:	1960-65
Builder:	English Electric (Modifed by Network Rail)
Motor:	English Electric 12CSVT diesel
Power:	1, 750 hp (1, 305 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Co-Co

Other locomotives which have carried 97 XXX numbers include a quartet of Class 31s which were used to haul test trains for the Railway Technical Centre, one has been preserved and currently carries RTC livery. Class 25s, Class 45s and Class 46s were among the diesel classes also been used by BR for test purposes. One of the latter was 97 401 (46 009) which famously was destroyed by deliberately driving it into an empty nuclear flash to prove the integrity of the latter!

Class 97/6 were five 165 series shunters built by Ruston & Hornsby for departmental duties [1], unlike the mainline locomotives mentioned above, these were purpose built for departmental use. Numerous other shunters have also been transferred to the Class 97 fleet.