As with the LMR with what became the
Class D16/1, the Southern Railway also looked into diesel main line locomotives in the final few months of the company's existence before nationalisation. These locomotives were designed by Oliver Bulleid, and similar in appearance to Bulleid's electric
Class 70 locomotives, though did not arrive until the early days of British Railways. The first two were built at Ashton Works with the third, which followed a couple of years later, built at Brighton. Unlike other early diesel locomotives, they were geared for express passenger services and could reach 180 km/h though this was later reduced to 140 km/h when the gear ratios were reduced to better suit mixed-traffic work.
 |
| 10201 after delivery [2] |
| Information |
| Number built: |
3 |
| Built: |
1950-54 |
| Builder: |
BR Ashton & Brighton Works |
| Motor: |
English Electric 16SVT diesel |
| Power: |
1, 750 hp (1, 300 kW) / 2, 000 hp (1, 500 kW) |
| Wheel arrangement: |
1Co-Co1 |
The first two locomotives were rated for 1, 750 hp (for one hour) [1] though after 1957 were downrated to 1, 600 only. The third locomotive had a number of modifications ands refinements and was rated at 2, 000 hp. All three locomotives worked on the Southern and London Midland regions of British Railways. The power train and bogie design of the third locomotive became the basis of the highly successful
Class 40.
Being non-standard the locomotives did not have a long life. All three were withdrawn in the early 1960s and scrapped a few years later.
 |
| One of the locomotives at work [3] |
 |
| 10202 [3] |
 |
| Under construction [2] |
[1] Brian Haresnape, Early Prototype & Pilot Scheme Diesel-Electrics (Ian Allan, 1981) p. 25[2] "Southern Diesel Express Locomotives", Meccano Magazine (May 1951) p. 197
[3] S.C. Townroe, "Riding a Southern Main Line Diesel", Meccano Magazine (July 1952) p. 290
