British Rail Class 01/5 facts for kids

The Class 01/5 is a special group of small, powerful trains called shunting locomotives. These locomotives are owned by private companies and are allowed to work on the main railway lines in the United Kingdom. Their main job is to move other trains around in railway yards, like pushing carriages into place or moving freight wagons.

These particular shunting locomotives are unique because they weren't part of the big national railway company, British Rail, and they didn't have the special TOPS numbers that most other trains used. This means they have their own special classification.

What are Class 01/5 Locomotives?

Class 01/5 locomotives are like the busy helpers of the railway. They are often smaller than the big trains you see travelling long distances. Their main purpose is to "shunt" or move railway wagons and carriages short distances, usually within a depot, a factory, or a port. Imagine them as the strong little tractors of the railway, always busy moving things around.

These locomotives are often built by different companies, not just the big train manufacturers. This is why they have such a varied history and why they didn't fit neatly into the numbering systems used by British Rail.

Fleet Information

The Class 01/5 group includes many different types of shunting locomotives. They were built by various companies over the years. Some of the builders include English Electric, Thomas Hill, Hudswell Clarke, and Rolls-Royce Sentinel.

Here's a quick guide to what the different colours in the table below mean for these locomotives:

Many of these locomotives are still working today, helping to keep goods moving around the country. Some have been withdrawn from service, meaning they are no longer used. A few have been renumbered, and sadly, some have been scrapped. However, it's great that some have been preserved so people can see them in the future!

Preserved Locomotives

It's important to save old trains so future generations can learn about them. So far, one Class 01/5 locomotive has been saved and is now preserved. This means it's kept safe and looked after, often at a special railway museum or heritage line.

The preserved locomotive is:

This locomotive, number 01558, was built by Rolls-Royce Sentinel in 1965. It wears a blue paint scheme and can now be seen at the Ribble Steam Railway.

Images for kids

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  01509 Lesley is Chiltern Railways' depot shunter at Aylesbury