British Rail Class D2/7 facts for kids

The British Rail Class D2/7 was a type of diesel locomotive used by British Rail in England. These trains were built in the mid-1950s. They were known for their special mechanical gearbox.

Building These Locomotives

These locomotives were built by a company called Hudswell Clarke. They were made between 1955 and 1956. Each D2/7 locomotive had an engine made by Gardner.

A total of ten D2/7 locomotives were built. They were given numbers like 11116 to 11120 and 11144 to 11148. Later, their numbers changed to D2500 to D2509.

How the D2/7 Worked

The D2/7 locomotives used a special type of mechanical transmission. This means they had a gearbox, much like a car. It was a three-speed Power-flow SSS gearbox. The "SSS" stood for "synchro-self-shifting." This type of gearbox was a unique feature of trains built by Hudswell Clarke.

These locomotives were designed to be quite powerful for their size. They could produce about 204 horsepower from their engine. Their top speed was around 14 miles per hour (23 km/h). This speed was good for their main job.

What They Were Used For

The British Rail Class D2/7 locomotives were primarily used for shunting. Shunting is the job of moving railway wagons around in train yards. They would connect wagons, move them to different tracks, and help build up trains. Their relatively low top speed was perfect for this kind of work.

They were also used for light freight duties. This meant pulling smaller loads of goods over short distances.

The End of the Line

The D2/7 locomotives did not stay in service for very long. They were all retired by British Rail in 1967. After they were retired, all of them were scrapped. This means they were taken apart and their materials were recycled.

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See also

In Spanish: British Rail Clase D2/7 para niños