Class 42 (BR Swindon Type 4 2,200hp Diesel-Hydraulic)

With electrification a distant dream, British Rail's Western Region turned instead to Continental style light weight diesel-hydraulic locomotives with fast-running engines in the 1950s to replace steam. The Class 42 was a licence-built version of German Federal Railway's V200 locomotive [1], modified to fit within the smaller British loading gauge. Two batches of locomotive were built, the Swindon built Maybach powered Class 42 and the North British Locomotives built MAN powered Class 43.

D821 at Kidderminster Town

Information
Number built:	38
Built:	1958-61
Builder:	BR Swindon
Engine:	2 Bristol Siddeley Maybach MD650 diesels
Power:	2, 200 hp (1, 641 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	B-B

The Class 42 was powered by two Maybach diesels built under licence by Bristol Siddeley. The first few locomotives were limited to 2,000hp due to limitations with the transmission though most of the class was rated at 2,200hp. One locomotive was fitted with a pair of Paxman 12YJXL diesels and was rated at 2,400hp. The Class 42 looked very similar to the V200 class though originally British Railways wanted it to look different, their designs were later used on the Class 52 [2].

The locomotives had a successful entry into service, Western Region found they could comfortably handle heavier trains than the Class 40. However there were problems with riding at high speeds which resulted in speed restrictions until bogie modifications could be carried out in 1960 [3]. Most of the class were named after Royal Navy ships and hence the nickname of the class became "Warships".

As with the other diesel-hydraulic designs the Class 42 was doomed once British Rail, in it's drive for standardisation and rationalisation, had sufficient diesel-electric motive power to take over the Class 42's duties. Withdrawals began in 1968 and were completed by 1972 [4]. Two Class 42s have been preserved.

D832 Onslaught at Wirksworth

D821 at Bridgnorth in BR maroon

D832 at Duffield

D821 cab

D821 at Bewdley

[1] John Jennison & Tony Sheffield, Diesel Hydraulics of the 1960s and 1970s (Ian Allan, 2014) p. 4
[2] David Lawrence, British Rail Designed 1948-97 (Ian Allan, 2016) p. 107
[3] Brian Haresnape, Western Region Diesel-Hydraulics (Ian Allan, 1982) p. 28
[4] Pip Dunn, British Rail Main Line Locomotive Specification Guide (Crowood Press, 2013) p. 80

Class 768

The Class 768 is a parcels carrying version of the Class 769 Flex bi-mode built for Orion Logistics (part of the Rail Operations Group). These are refurbished Class 319 electric multiple units which have been fitted with diesel engines to operate away from electrified routes. After the completion of the conversion to bi-mode units the Class 768s were fitted out to carry parcel cages and pallets at Eastleigh.

Orion Logistics 768 001 heads through Rugeley Trent Valley

Information
Number built:	8 (2 4-car sets)
Built:	2020- (Original build 1987-90)
Builder:	Brush Traction (conversions)
Motor:	2 MAN D2876 diesels per set  25kv AC OHLE / 750v DC third-rail
Power:	1, 046 hp (780 kW)

Two conversions were been carried out with eight more planned however, any plans were put on hold after the closure of the historic Brush Traction works at Loughborough were the conversions took place. It is unknown if the other conversions will now take place. The Class 768s ran some demonstration services in late 2021, at first diesel hauled then under their own power.

EuroPheonix 37 884 hauls two Class 768s through Rugeley Trent Valley

McEwan Pratt Petrol Locomotive for Assam Oil

McEwan Pratt was a short lived manufacturer (1905-1912 when they were bought out by Baguley Cars) of narrow gauge locomotives powered by the internal combustion engine. This locomotive was one of their earliest built and was ordered by the Assam Oil Company and was one of the earliest petrol engine powered locomotives to be built.

The locomotive [1]

Information
Number built:	1
Built:	1909
Builder:	McEwan Pratt & Company
Motor:	4 cylinder petrol engine
Power:	50 hp (37 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	0-6-0PM

The locomotive operated on the company's metre gauge network hauling oil trains. The locomotive had two speeds and designed to haul up to 67 tons though to said to have comfortably exceed that when built.

Publicity photograph

[1] "Petrol locomotive for Assam", Railway Times (January 1 1910) p. 10

Dick, Kerr Electric Locomotives for South America

These locomotives were constructed in 1908 for the Lacroze Rural Tramway / Buenos Aires Central Railway in Argentina. They were designed with a central cab as was common at the time for electric locomotives of this size. The locomotives used a trolley pole for current collection (500v DC overhead). They were able to travel at up to 20 mp/h and could maintain maximum output for an hour.

One of the locomotives [1]

Information
Number built:	6
Built:	1908
Builder:	Dick, Kerr
Motor:	4 DK7B electric motors (500v DC OHLE)
Power:	200 hp (149 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Bo-Bo

The locomotives continued to be operated into the 1920s at least [2].

[1] "Electric locomotives for South America", Railway Times (March 20 1909) p. 289

[2] George S. Brady, Railways of South America: Part I. Argentina (1926) p. 197

London Underground F Stock

The F Stock was built for the District Railway in the early 1920s to increase capacity and to replace deteriorating B Stock [1], the construction was partly funded by the government to help British industry transition back to civil manufacture. The F Stock was built at a factory that had built armoured vehicles in the war, that and their steel construction may be why they gained the nickname of "tanks"!

F Stock on delivery [3]

Information
Number built:	100
Built:	1920-21
Builder:	Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Company
Motor:	British Thomson-Houston electrical equipment (600v DC fourth rail)

The F Stock was more powerful than earlier District Line stock which gave them a superior performance. Despite their high passenger capacity they were unpopular due to their interior appearance. This was improved in service. The F Stock had non-standard control equipment and thus could not work with other District Railway stock.

The F Stock was transferred to the Metropolitan Line in the 1950s. They were fitted with air operated doors and other enhancements including windscreen wipers [2] to the distinctive (though troublesome) oval windows. The F Stock was finally withdrawn in 1963 after replacement by A Stock. None have been preserved.

Interior view [3]

[1] Brian Hardy, Surface Stock 1933-1959 (Underground Train File) (Capital Transport, 2002) p. 38

[2] Ibid. p. 40

[3] "New District Railway rolling stock", Electrical Review Vol. 87 No. 2, 249 (December 31 1920) p. 838

Class 350 Desiro

The Class 350, part of the Siemens Desiro family of electric multiple unit, was built in three batches since 2004 and is operated by London Northwestern (LNWR). The Class 350 is the mainstay of LNWR intercity regional services. The Class 350 has also served, in the past, with London Midland, Central Trains, Silverlink, Southern and First TransPennine Express.

LNWR 350 265 arrives at Berkhamsted

Information
Number built:	348 (87 4-car train sets)
Built:	2004-14
Builder:	Siemens
Motor:	4 Siemens 1TB2016-0GB02 traction motors (25kV AC OHLE) (350/1) 750v DC third rail
Power:	2, 010 hp (1, 500 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+Trailer Composite Open (TCO)+Pantograph Trailer Standard Open (PTSO)+DMSO

The Class 350 is capable of up to 110mp/h (except the 350/2) and collects its power from the 25kV AC overhead wires though some (350/1) can use the 750v DC third rail too. However, these days only operate as AC EMUs. They are part of the Desiro family which also includes the very similar Classes 185, 360, 444 and 450. Indeed the original batch of 350s was originally ordered as Class 450s [1].



London Northwestern Railway use the 350/1, 350/2 (which has high density seating), 350/4 and the more recently built 350/3 on services down the West Coast Main Line to London Euston as well as some local services in the West Midlands. Some are to be replaced by Class 730s.

LNWR 350 115 at Stafford

LNWR 350 406 at Tile Hill

LNWR 350 116 at Berkswell

Aboard a refurbished LNWR 350, with passenger information screens

LNWR 350 243 at Rugeley Trent Valley

[1] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 270