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List of British Rail modern traction locomotive classes facts for kids

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This article lists every locomotive allocated a TOPS classification and all modern traction (e.g. diesel, electric, gas turbine, petrol) stock used on the mainline network since 1948 (i.e. British Railways and post-privatisation).

Diesel locomotives

The 1955 diesel locomotive classes are given in brackets where applicable.

A large number of different shunter types were purchased by British Rail and its predecessors, many of which were withdrawn prior to the introduction of TOPS. The tables below attempt to list the different types and the different classifications used to describe them as clearly as possible:

Small shunters: under 300 hp

Shunter classes are listed by 1955 class, which puts TOPS classes in ascending order, and generally puts 1948 and 1962 classes in ascending order. Unclassed shunters are placed at the start of the table; TOPS class 07 has been placed so its 1962 class is in the logical place.

TOPS Class 1948
Class
1955
Class
1962
Class
1948 Numbers 1957 Numbers TOPS Numbers Year(s)
built
Quantity
built
Engine Year(s)
withdrawn
Notes Scrapped
11104 1950 1 52 hp ("At rail:" 39 hp) 1967 Renumbered 52 in the ER/NER Departmental series in 1953. 1
13000 1934 1 250 hp 1949 ex-LMS diesel shunter 7058; BR number never applied 1
DY1 D1/1 1/15 11500–11502 D2950–D2952 1954–55 3 153 bhp 1966–67 All
Class 01 DY2 D1/2 1/12 11503–11506, 81 D2953–D2956, D2956 (ii) 01 001–2 1956–58 5 153 hp 1966–81
BR Class 01.jpg
3
DY5 D1/3 1/16 11507–11508 D2957–D2958 1956 2 165 bhp 1967–68
Ruston & Hornsby D2958 (8311338665).jpg
Both
Class 02 D1/4 1/17 D2850–D2869 02 001–4 1960–61 20 170 hp 1969–75
Yorkshire Engine 2813 on Middleton Railway 94.jpeg
13
DY11 D2/1 2/4A 11700–11707 D2700–D2707 1953–56 8 200 bhp 1964–68 All
Class 03 DJ15 D2/2 2/1 11187–11211 D2000–D2199
D2370–D2399
03004–03199, 03370–03399 (with gaps) 1957–61 230 204 hp 1968–93
2008
British Rail Class 03 diesel shunter 03090.jpg
174
Class 04 DJ12/1 D2/4 2/13 11100–11115 D2200–D2214 N/A (D2341 1948)
1952–62
142 204 hp 1967–72
D2298 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre 1.jpg

D2341 ordered by LNER but transferred to Southern Region. Four exported to Italy following withdrawal.

124 (1 in preservation)
DJ12/2 D2/13 11121–11229 D2215–D2341 N/A
DJ14 D2/5 2/12A 11177–11186 D2400–D2409 1956–57 10 204 bhp 1967–69
Goole Station, with Diesel-hauled goods trip geograph-2398252-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
All
D2/7 2/14 11116–20, 11144–48 D2500–D2509 1955–56 10 204 bhp 1967
Hudswell D707 at the Rutland Railway 05-09-25 31.jpeg
Class 05 DJ13 D2/8 2/15A 11136–43, 11161–76 D2550–D2573 05001 1955–61 69 204 hp 1966–68, 1983
BR Class 05 DL26 2.jpg
65
DJ13/2 D2/9 2/15 D2574–D2618
Class 06 D2/6 2/12 D2410–D2444 06001–06010 1958–60 35 204 hp 1967–84
06009 as the works pilot at Dunfermline Townhill Wagon Repair Works in July 1975
34
DY11 D2/10 2/4 11708–11719 D2708–D2719 1957 12 225 bhp 1967
D2767 (30285056976).jpg
All
2/4B D2720–D2780 1958–61 61 225 bhp 1967–68 59
D2/11 2/2 D2999 1958 2 180 bhp 1967
British Steel No.91, (D2999).jpg
1
D2/12 2/14A D2510–D2519 1961 10 204 bhp 1967
Hudswell-Clarke 0-6-0 D2511, K&WVR, November 2012 Photo04 2 (9859813135).jpg

D2519 employed at NCB until 1984.

9
Class 07 2/16 D2985–D2998 07001–07014 1962 14 275 hp 1973–77 BR D2991 (07007) 7
D3/1 3/4 D2900–D2913 1958–59 14 330 bhp 1967 All
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers:

Large shunters: 300–799 hp

CLASS NUMBERS Built Quantity Engine Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
TOPS 1948 1955 1962 1948 1957 TOPS
15107 1949 1 360 bhp 1958 Ordered by GWR 1
11001 1949 1 500 bhp 1959
Locomotive 1100

Ordered by SR

1
Class 08 DEJ4 D3/2 3/1 13000–13366 D3000–D4192 except those
listed under classes 09 and 10
08001–08958 1953–62 996 350 bhp still in use
08509 Chesterfield Goods Yard.jpg
899 (3 in preservation)
Class 09 D3665–71, D3719–21,
D4099–D4114
09001–09026
09101-09107
09201-09205
1959–62 26 350 bhp still in use
09012 at Brighton.jpg

10 rebuilt from Class 08

2
D3/3 3/1B 13117–13126 D3117–D3126 1955 10 350 bhp 1966–67 All
Class 10 DEJ5 D3/4 3/1C 13137–13151 D3137–D3151, D3439–D3453,
D3473–D3502, D3612–D3651,
D4049–D4094
N/A 1955–62 146 350 bhp 1967–72
Class 10 (D3452) in BR blue livery at Bodmin General on 28 August 2003
142 (1 in preservation)
DEJ7 D3/5 3/1D 13152–13166 D3152–D3166 1955 15 350 bhp 1967 All
D3/6 12000–12002 1935 11 350 bhp 1956–62
LMS shunter No 7069.jpg

ex-LMS diesel shunter

10
D3/7 3/8 12003–12032 1939–42 30 350 bhp 1966–67
Ne 700.002 - Novi San Bovo 1974 - lato avancorpo.JPG
ex-LMS diesel shunter
All
Class 11 DEJ3 D3/8 3/8A 12033–12138 01153 1945–52 136 350 bhp 1967–72
12077 Midland Railway Centre.jpg
ex-LMS diesel shunter
128 (1 in preservation)
DEJ1 D3/9 3/10 1944 4 350 bhp 1967 ex-LNER J45 or DES1 Class All
D3/10 3/11A 1936 1 350 bhp 1965 Built by GWR
D3/11 3/11 15101–15106 1948 6 350 bhp 1967 Ordered by GWR
D3/12 3/9A 15201–15203 1937 3 350 bhp 1964
Hither Green Locomotive Depot geograph-2396523-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

ex-SR Diesels 1–3

Class 12 D3/13 3/9 15211–15236 N/A 1949–52 24 350 bhp 1968–71
15224 at Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells West depot.jpg

Ordered by SR

23
DEJ2 D3/14 3/2 15004 1949 1 360 bhp 1962 Ordered by LNER All
Class 13 7/1 D4500–D4502 13001–13003 1965 3 360 bhp 1983–1985
Hump Shunter.jpg

Rebuilt from Class 08

  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers:

Type 1 locomotives: 800 – 1,000 hp

CLASS 1957 numbers TOPS numbers Introduced Quantity Engine Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
TOPS 1955 1962
Class 14 (Teddy Bear) N/A 6/1 D9500–D9555 N/A 1964–65 56 700 hp 1968–69
Class14shunter.jpg

5 exported to Belgium (2) and Spain (3).

32
10800 1950 1 827 hp
(rebuilt to 1,400 hp)
1959
Rugby station geograph-2389743-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Built by LMS in 1946, entered service in 1948, sold Brush Traction, rebuilt into research locomotive Hawk.

1
Class 15 D8/1 8/5 D8200-D8243 N/A 1957–61 44 800 hp 1968–71
D8233Wiki.jpg

D8203/33/37/43 survived as non-powered electric train pre-heating units at Doncaster until 1981–1989.

43
Class 16 D8/2 8/4 D8400-D8409 N/A 1958 10 800 hp 1968
North British Type 1 D8404 (8315657164).jpg
All
Class 17 (Clayton Type 1) N/A 9/18 D8500-D8587 N/A 1962–65 117 2× 450 hp 1968–71
D8574 at Glasgow.jpg

D8512/21/98 survived at the Derby Research Centre until 1978.

87
9/19 D8588-D8616 All
Class 18 (I) N/A N/A N/A 1985
(Proposed)
Never Built Never Built
Class 18 (II) N/A N/A N/A 2021 (Planned) 15 (Planned) Under Construction
Class 19 N/A N/A N/A 19001 2018 1 DVT still in use
82115 DVT Hull Trains 2.jpg

Built in 1988 as Mark 3 DVT, rebuild as self-powered vehicle in 2018.

0
Class 20 D10/3 10/3 D8000-199,
D8300-27
20001–20228 1957–68 228 1,000 hp still in use
D8000 at NRM.jpg
189 (1 in preservation)
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 2 locomotives: 1,001 – 1,499 hp

Locomotive class are listed by TOPS class. Locomotives for TOPS classes 24 and 26 have their original sub-classes shown, as each wholly comprised locomotives from a distinct 1962 class. Class 21 (II) has sub-classes shown as these are superficially similar but mechanically different types grouped into a single class.

CLASS 1957 numbers TOPS numbers Introduced Quantity Engine Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
TOPS 1955 1962
Class 21 (I) (NBL) D10/1 10/4 D6100-D6157 N/A 1958–60 58 1,000 hp 1967–68
Harringay West geograph-2392160-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

20 rebuilt to Class 29

All
D11/2 11/4 1,100 hp
Class 21 (II) 21/5 N/A N/A N/A 21544–21547 2004–05 4 2,110 hp still in use
Beaurières 03.jpg
0
21/6 21610–21611 2006 2 1,500 hp
21/9 21901–21910 1991–92 5 1,270 hp
Railion 6456.jpg
2010 2
2016 3
Class 22 (Baby Warship) D10/2A 10/4A D6300-D6305 N/A 1959–62 58 1,000 hp 1967–72
D6343, d7072 - old oak common - 1965.jpg
All
D11/5 11/4A D6306-D6357 1,100 hp
Class 23 (Baby Deltic) D11/1 11/3 D5900-D5909 N/A 1959 10 1,100 hp 1968–71
Class 23 D5901.jpg

D5901 survived in departmental use at the Railway Technical Centre until 1975.

Class 24 24/0 D11/3 11/1 D5000-D5049 24001–24047 1958–61 50 1,160 hp 1967–80
Motherwell Depot and 24065.jpg

24061 survived in departmental use until 1987

49
24/1 11/1A D5050-5150 24051–24101 101 98
Class 25 D12/1 12/1 D5151–D5299,
D7500–D7677
25001–25327 1961-67 323 1,250 hp 1984–87
Diesel locomotive Paignton.jpg
303
Class 26 26/0 D11/4 11/6 D5300-D5319 26001–26046 1958 20 1,160 hp 1975–94
26014, 26008 - inverness - sep 1977.jpg
13
26/1 N/A 11/6A D5320-D5346 1958 27 21
Class 27 D12/3 12/6 D5347-D5415 27001–27066 1961–62 69 1,250 hp 1987
27001 at Bo'ness Railway Museum.jpg
61
Class 28 D12/1 12/5 D5700-D5719 N/A 1958–59 20 1,200 hp 1967–68
A 'Metrovick' passing through Grange-over-Sands, June 1963

D5705 used by the Research Division until 1980.

19
Class 29 N/A 13/4 D6100-03/06-08/12-14/16/19/21/23-24/29-30/32-33/37 N/A 1958–60
Rebuilt 1965–1967
20 1,350 hp 1969–71
Class 29 D6121 (8392450774).jpg

Rebuilt from Class 21

All
Classes 30 & 31 D13/1, D14/2 14/2 D5500-D5699,
D5800-D5862
31001–31970 1957-62 263 plus 81
conversions
1,250 bhp or 1,365 bhp still in use
31271 'Stratford 1840-2001' at York Railfest.JPG
217 (10 in preservation)
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 3 locomotives: 1,500–1,999 hp

CLASS Pre-TOPS
numbers
TOPS numbers Introduced Quantity Engine Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
TOPS 1955 1962
Classes 33 & 34 D15/1 15/6 D6500–D6585 33001–33065
33101–33119
1960–62 98 1,550 hp still in use (with West Coast Railway Company)
D33025.jpg
59
D15/2 15/6A D6586-D6597 33201–33212 8
Class 35
(Hymek)
D17/2 17/7 D7000–D7100 N/A 1961–64 101 1,700 hp 1971–1975
WSR 7017 79-08.JPG
97
Class 37 D17/1 17/3 D6600-D6608
D6700-D6999
37001–37308 1960–65 309 1,750 hp still in use
37019 Tinsley 1990.jpg
177
Class 38 1980s
(Proposed)
Never built Never built
D16/1 16/8 10000-10001 1947–48 2 1,600 hp 1963
1966
LMS 10000 at Derby.jpg

1 built by LMS

All
D16/2 16/9 10201-10203 1950 (2)
1954 (1)
3 10201/2: 1,750 hp (1,600 hp from 1957)
10203: 2,000 hp
1963
10203 at Bletchley

Ordered by SR

  • Relation between TOPS, 1955 and 1962 classes, and pre-TOPS and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 4 locomotives: 2,000–2,999 hp

CLASS 1957 numbers TOPS numbers Built Quantity Engine Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
TOPS 1955 1962
10100 1951 1 2,000 hp 1958
Derby works fell diesel geograph-2390424-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Nicknamed "The Fell Locomotive", ordered by LMS

1
Class 40 D20/1 20/3 D200-D399 40001-40199 1958–62 200 2,000 hp 1967 (1)
1975–85
40135 at Crewe Works.jpg

4 survived in departmental stock until 1987.

193
Class 41 (I) (Warship) D20/2 20/4 D600-D604 N/A 1958–59 5 2× 1,000 hp 1967
Reading (General) 'Warship' Diesel-hydraulic on an Up express. geograph-2392198-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Withdrawn before introduction of TOPS system

All
Class 41 (II) N/A 41001-41002
43000-43001
1972 2 2,250 hp 1982
41001 At York Front.jpg

Power cars for Prototype HST

1
Class 41 (III) N/A 1990s
(Proposed)
Never Built Never Built
Class 42 (Warship) D22/1 22/1 D800-D832,
D866-D870
N/A 1958–61 38 2× 1,135 hp 1968–72
Bishops Lydeard 832 by the water tower.jpg

D818/32 survived at Derby and Swindon until 1985

36
Class 43 (I) (Warship) D22/2 22/2 D833-D865 N/A 1960–62 33 2× 1,100 hp 1969–1971
D852 - old oak common - 1964.jpg
All
Class 43 (II) N/A 43002-43198 1975–82 197 1,770 hp Still in use
EMT HST 43058 Leicester AB1.JPG

Power cars for the InterCity 125 HST sets

6
Class 44
(Peak)
D23/1 23/1 D1-D10 44001-41010 1959–60 10 2,300 hp 1976–80
44004 Cardiff.jpg
8
Class 45
(Peak)
D25/1 25/1 D11-D137 45001-45077
45101-45150
1960–63 127 2,500 hp 1981–89
45135-cropped.jpg
115
Class 46
(Peak)
N/A 25/1A D138-D193 46001-46056 1961 56 2,500 hp 1977–84
Class 46, Exeter St. Davids, 1 January 1976.jpg

4 survived in departmental stock until 1984–91

53
Class 47 27/2 D1100-D1111,
D1500-D1999
47 001-47 981 1962–68 512 2,750 hp (later derated to 2,580 hp) still in use
47316 'Cam Peak' at Doncaster Works.JPG
492
Class 48 D1702-D1706 47114-47118 1965–66 5 2,650 hp 1990–91
D1705 near Quorn.jpg

Re-engined to Class 47, 1969–1971

4
Class 50 27/3 D400-D449 50001-50050 1967–68 50 2,700 hp still in use with GB railfreight
50049 Defiance.jpg

Based on the DP2 prototype

32
Class 52
(Western)
D27/1 27/1 D1000-D1073 N/A 1961–1964 74 2 x 1,350 hp 1973–77
Bridgnorth railway station MMB 05 D1062.jpg
67
Class 53
Falcon
N/A N/A 1200 N/A 1961 1 2,880 hp 1975
British Rail Class 53 number D0280 (Falcon) at King's Cross station, London.jpg

Prototype locomotive. Not classified until taken into BR stock as No. 1200

1
Class 57 N/A 57001-57012
57301-57316
57601-57605
1965–67
Rebuilt: 1997–2004
33 2,580 hp still in use
57313 Tracy Island at Crewe 03.jpg

Rebuilt from Class 47

0

Type 5 locomotives: over 3,000 hp

CLASS 1957 numbers TOPS numbers Built Quantity Engine Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
TOPS 1955 1962
Class 51
(Super Deltic)
N/A 1960s
(Proposed)
Never Built Never Built
Class 55
(Deltic)
D33/1 33/1 D9000-D9021 55001–55022 1961–62 22 2× 1,650 hp 1980–82
55022 Royal Scots Grey.jpg

Based on the DP1 Deltic prototype

16
Class 56 N/A 56001-56135 1976–84 135 3,250 hp still in use
Class 56 diesel locomotive number 56006.jpg

3 in Hungary

97
Class 58 N/A 58001-58050 1983–87 50 3,300 hp 1999–2002
58001 at Doncaster Works.JPG

Some still in use in France (23) and Spain (13)

9
Class 59 N/A 59001-59005
59101-59104
59201-59206
1985–95 15 3,300 hp still in use
59001 'Yeoman Endeavour' at Doncaster Works.JPG
0
Class 60 N/A 60001-60015
60017-60100
60500
1989–93 100 3,100 hp still in use
60068 by Castleton East Junction.jpg
1
Class 62 N/A 1990s
(Proposed)
Never Built Never Built
Class 65 N/A
Class 66 N/A 66001-66249
66301-66305
66411-66434
66501-66599
66601-66625
66701-66789
66846-66850
66951-66957
1998–2015 446 3,300 hp still in use
66108 at Didcot.JPG
2
Class 67 N/A 67001-67030 1999–2000 30 3,200 hp still in use
67001 at Kings Cross 1.jpg
0
Class 68 N/A 68001-68034 2013–2017 34 3,800 hp still in use
Class68 68013.jpg
Class 69 N/A 69001-69016 2020 (Planned) 16 (planned) Under construction
Class 69 Number 69001 at Tonbridge West Yard.jpg
Planned conversion of Class 56

.

Class 70 (II) N/A 70001-70020 2009–2011 37 3,300 hp still in use
70007 at Ipswich.jpg
70801-70817 2011–2017

Electric locomotives

TOPS class Pre-TOPS class Pre-TOPS numbers TOPS numbers Built Quantity Power supply Power Withdrawn Notes Scrapped
EB1/EF1 26502-26511 N/A 1914–1919 10 1.5 kV DC 1,100 hp 1950–1951
1964
Electric railway journal (1916) (14758510085).jpg

Built by NER (later LNER)

All
EE1 26600 1922 1 1.5 kV DC 1,800 hp 1950 (never used)
North Eastern Railway electric locomotive No 13.jpg
Built by NER
ES1 26500–26501 1903–1904 2 600 V DC 640 bhp 1964
NorthEasternRailwayNo1-Locomotion-Shildon-April2008.JPG
Built by NER
1
Class 70 (I) Southern Railway
Class CC Electrics
20001-20003 1941
1945
1948
3 660/750 V DC 1,470 hp 1968
Eastleigh Works geograph-2383942-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
All
Class 71 HA E5000–E5023
later E5001–E5024
71001–71014 1958–60 24 660/750 V DC 2,252 hp 1976–77
E5001 at Doncaster Works.JPG
13
Classes 72 & 73 JA or JB E6001–E6049 73001–73006 73101–73142 1962
1965–67
49 660/750 V DC, diesel 1,600 hp (electric), 600 hp (diesel) still in use
73201 at Woking.jpg
10
Class 74 HB E6101–E6110 74001–74010 1958–60
Rebuilt 1967–1968
10 660/750 V DC, diesel 2,500 hp (electric), 650 hp (diesel) 1976–1977
Class 74 74003.jpg

Rebuilt from Class 71

All
Class 75 1960s
(Proposed)
660/750 V DC, diesel Never Built Never built
Class 76 EM1 26000–26055
later E26000–26057
76001–76057 1941 (prototype)
1950–53
58 1.5 kV DC 1,300 hp 1970 (prototype)
1981
26020 at York NRM.JPG

Prototype built by LNER

57
Class 77 EM2 27000–27006 N/A 1953–54 7 1.5 kV DC 2,490 hp 1968
27000 at Crewe Works.JPG

Sold to Netherlands as NS 1500 Class

4
Class 80 E1000
E2001 from 1959
N/A 1951
rebuilt 1958
1 25 kV AC 2,500 hp 1968
Converted gas turbine loco..jpg
Rebuilt from prototype main line gas turbine-electric locomotive 18100, stored in 1961.
1
Class 81 AL1 E3001–E3023, E3096–E3097 81001–81022 1959–1964 25 25 kV AC 3,680 hp 1968 (2)
1971 (1)
1983–91
Derelict 81015.jpg
24
Class 82 AL2 E3046–E3055 82001–82008 1960–62 10 25 kV AC 3,300 hp 1969 (1)
1971 (1)
1983 (6)
1987 (2)
82008 at Crewe Works.JPG
9
Class 83 AL3 E3024–E3035, E3098-E3100 83001–83015 1960–62 15 25 kV AC 2,950 hp 1975 (1)
1978 (1)
1983 (10)
1989 (3)
83012 (previously E3035) at Doncaster Works
14
Class 84 AL4 E3036–E3045 84001–84010 1960–61 10 25 kV AC 3,560 hp 1979–80
84001 at Crewe Works.JPG
9
Class 85 AL5 E3056–E3095 85001–85040 1961–64 40 25 kV AC 3,200 hp 1981–92
85007 Carlisle.jpg
39
Class 86 AL6 E3101–E3200 86001–86048, 86201–86252 1965–66 100 25 kV AC 3,600, 4,040 or 5,000 hp 2002-2021
86213 'Lancashire Witch' at Crewe Works.JPG

Some still in use in Bulgaria (7) and Hungary (9)

65
Class 87 E3201–E3234 (not carried) 87001–87035, 87101 1973–75 36 25 kV AC 4,850 or 5,000 hp 2003–6
87028 at Crewe in 1988

27 still in use in Bulgaria

12
Class 88 (I) 1983–87
(planned)
25 kV AC Never Constructed Never built
Class 88 (II) 88001–88010 2015–16 10 25 kV AC, diesel 5,400 hp (electric)
940 hp (diesel)
still in use
88003 at InnoTrans 2016
0
Class 89 89001 1986 1 25 kV AC 5,748 hp 2001
89001 Doncaster Works

Prototype locomotive

Class 90 90001–90050 1987–90 50 25 kV AC 5,000 hp still in use
90001 at Crewe
Class 91 91001–91031
later 91101–91122, 91124–91132
1988–91 31 25 kV AC 6,480 hp 2019-date still in use
91021 at Peterborough in 1992
5
Class 92 92001–92046 1993–96 46 750 V DC, 25 kV AC 5,360 hp (750V), 6,760 hp (25 kV) still in use
92027 George Eliot at Stafford.jpg
0
Class 93 (I) 1992–95
(planned)
30
(planned)
25 kV AC Never Constructed
Mock-up of a Class 93

Planned InterCity 250 locomotive; project cancelled in 1992

Never built
Class 93 (II) 93001–93010 2022–2024 10 25 kV AC, battery, diesel 5,400 hp (25 kV), 540 hp (battery), 1,200 hp (diesel) Under Construction
Class 93 locomotive.jpg
0
Class 99 2025 (planned) 30 (planned) 25 kV AC, diesel 8,050 hp (electric) Under Construction 0

Miscellaneous locomotives

Type Class / number(s) Information
Channel Tunnel Class 22 (II)
BB22394-Antibes.jpg

SNCF Class BB 22200 class dual voltage electric locomotives used for freight duties through the Channel Tunnel by Railfreight Distribution during 1994–95, prior to the availability of the dedicated Class 92 locomotives. Allocated as Class 22 under TOPS.

Class 9000
Eurotunnel 9015 Nord-Pas-de-Calais.jpg

Dedicated locomotives used only on Eurotunnel Shuttle services through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone & Calais. No TOPS classification.

Class 0001
Railion 6450.jpg

Diesel-electric locomotives used for rescue purposes on the Channel Tunnel network. Classed as 21/9 under TOPS

Class 0031 Diesel locomotives used for maintenance purposes by Eurotunnel on the Channel Tunnel network. No TOPS classification
Departmental Class 97
Talsarnau railway station MMB 07 97303.jpg

General departmental locomotives, used for special or engineering duties. Were therefore of many different classes, lumped together for numbering purposes. Forty-seven locomotives allocated Class 97 numbers, including five in subclass 97/6.

Class 97/6
Class 97/6 (97 651, also known as PWM651) at Pitsford and Brampton station

Five diesel shunting locomotives purpose-built for departmental duties on the Western Region in 1953 (number 97650) and 1959 (numbers 97651-654), and originally numbered PWM650-4. Withdrawn 1987–2005.

Various Pre-TOPS Departmental Locomotives
Steam Class 98
Class 98 Vale of Rheidol locomotive taking on water

Used to cover all steam locomotives used on the mainline in Britain. Had particular usage for the three Vale of Rheidol Railway steam locomotives (and one VoR 0-6-0DH) that remained in BR's ownership after the end of mainline steam traction in August 1968, and numbered 98007–98009, although in practice the locomotives retained their former (GWR) numbers 7–9.
Also used for privately owned steam locomotives registered to run on the mainline since 1971, with numbers allocated in the following way:

  • First two digits: 98 (for class 98)
  • Third digit: 0–9 representing the Power Class 0–9
  • Fourth and fifth digits: The last two digits of the locomotive's original number. If this would duplicate an existing number, then the number is increased by 1
Petrol 15097-15099
Stratford locomotive depot geograph-2382583-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Petrol powered locomotives built by Simplex, introduced 1919–1925 by the GER and NBR (later LNER (1 built by LNER)), and subsequently inherited by BR.

Gas turbine 18000
18000 at the ORE Arsenal Test Centre in 1988

Prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built for BR in 1949 by Brown Boveri. Had been ordered by GWR in 1940, but construction was delayed due to World War II.

18100
Converted gas turbine loco..jpg

Prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built for BR in 1951 by Metropolitan-Vickers. Had been ordered by the GWR in the 1940s, but construction was delayed due to World War II.

Class 99

SS Invicta, Newhaven, 1971
SS Invicta at Newhaven in 1971

When British Rail implemented the TOPS system for managing their operating stock, ships capable of carrying rail vehicles were incorporated into the system as Class 99. In order to circumvent restrictions of the application software, these ships were entered on TOPS as locomotives, 'hauling' the trains which they carried on board. Class 99 has now been allocated to a class of bi-mode locomotives.


Builders' demonstrators

These were locomotives built and owned by private firms, but used by British Railways to test them.

Locomotive Builder Year Fate
D0226 & D0227 English Electric 1956–60
Experimental diesel-electric locomotive D0226 post-preservation at Haworth

D0226 preserved
D0227 scrapped

D0260 Lion BRCWC 1962-3
20170721 140120 Richtone(HDR).jpg

Returned to manufacturer and scrapped in 1964

10800 Hawk
See 10800, above
Brush Traction 1962-5
Rugby station geograph-2389743-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Stripped 1972-6 and used as a stationary generator, scrapped 1976

D0280 Falcon
See Class 53, above
Brush Traction 1961-5
British Rail Class 53 number D0280 (Falcon) at King's Cross station, London.jpg

Transferred (and later sold in 1970) to BR; withdrawn 1975, scrapped 1976

D9998
See Class D2/11, above
Brush Traction 1958 Scrapped
DHP1 Clayton 1963-5 Scrapped 1967
DP1 Deltic English Electric 1955–61
DHP1 "Deltic" at National Rail Museum, Shildon, UK in October 2006

Withdrawn 1961,
preserved

DP2 English Electric 1962-7
Demonstration locomotive DP2 at Kings Cross in 1963

Destroyed in a collision in 1967, scrapped 1970

GT3
(Gas turbine)
English Electric 1961-2
GT3 at Leicester ..1961.JPG

Returned to VF 1962, turbine removed; scrapped 1966

HS4000 Kestrel Brush Traction 1967–71
Kestrel outside Derby Works during testing in 1968

Sold to Soviet Railways 1971; withdrawn 1989, scrapped 1993

Janus Yorkshire Engine Company 1956
Demonstration shunter Janus (2787) at Shelton

Sold to Appleby-Frodingham
Steel works; scrapped c.1982

Taurus Yorkshire Engine Company 1961
Hugh llewelyn 45 (5665209985).jpg

Stripped 1962,
scrapped 1965

Unbuilt locomotives

A number of TOPS class numbers were allocated to proposed locomotives, both diesel and electric, which for many reasons were not proceeded with.

See also

kids search engine
List of British Rail modern traction locomotive classes Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.