Class 450 Desiro

The Class 450 is part of the Desiro family of EMU and DC electric third rail units that otherwise are very similar to the AC overhead electric Class 350. One hundred and twenty seven sets were built for South West Trains replacing life expired "slam door" VEP and CIG stock [1]. Although they can only be used on third-rail routes they do have space for the retro-fitting of a pantograph if needed in the future. 

SWR 450 111 at Aldershot

Information
Number built:	508 (127 4-car sets)
Built:	2002-7
Builder:	Siemens Transportation
Motor:	4 1TB2016 0GB02 three-phase traction motors (750V DC third rail)
Power:	2, 682 hp (2, 000 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+Trailer Composite Open (TCO)+Trailer Standard Open (TSO)+Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)

The original fleet is known as the Class 450/0 and can carry 242 standard class and twenty four first class passengers, first and some standard class seating is 2+2 with other standard class seating being 2+3.

Twenty eight sets were modified for higher capacity (facilitated by removing first class seats and altering the internal layout) for the London Waterloo-Windsor route [2] in 2008-9 as Class 450/5. First class seating was restored to these units as they were replaced by Class 458/5s on the route from 2013 and the 450/5s rejoined the main fleet.



Originally SWT were to receive a mixed fleet of 450/0s and 450/2s, which were to be five car sets for inner suburban routes, however the idea was dropped due to problems with platform lengths and therefore all Class 450s are four car sets. All sets remain in service with South West Trains' successor South Western Railway who took over operations in the late Summer of 2017 [3]. 

450 015 at Worplesdon

450 055 at Bentley

450 003 at Bagshot

450 003 again, this time at Camberley

450 040 at Martins Heron

[1] John Balmforth, South West Trains (Ian Allan, 2011) p. 62
[2] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 349
[3] Modern Railways (May 2017) p. 24

Class 303 (Pressed Steel ScR Glasgow Suburban Services) AM3

These electric multiple units were introduced for the newly electrified North Clyde and Cathcart Circle lines in Strathclyde. They were later used on other lines in the Glasgow area. The near identical Class 311 was also built later in the 1960s, though by Craven. Together they were known as the Glasgow Blue Trains due to them being in Caledonian Blue livery, though this was replaced by standard BR blue in the 1970s.

AM3 at Westerton [1]

Information
Number built:	273 (91 3-car sets)
Built:	1959-61
Builder:	Pressed Steel
Motor:	4 MV155 traction motors (25kV/6.25kV AC OHLE)
Power:	829 hp (618 kW)
Formation:	DTS (Driving Trailer Second) +MBSO (Motor Brake Second Open) +BDTS (Battery Driving Trailer Second)

The Class 303 was based on the Mark 1 coach and had Metropolitan-Vickers electrical equipment. After some initial teething troubles including an explosion aboard one in 1960 due to an overheating transformer that injured some passengers [2], the Class 303 became the main electric multiple unit in the Glasgow area until the 1980s. Although some withdrawals had already taken place over half of the class were refurbished in the 1980s. Some later were transferred to north west England for awhile. 

However, the Class 303 remained in service in Scotland until the final withdrawal in 2002. One set has been preserved.

[1] Norman Simmons, "Railway review", Airfix Magazine (December 1964) p. 108

[2] Alex Swain, Overhead-line Electric Multiple Units (Ian Allan, 1990) p. 34

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