British Rail Class D3/1 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class D3/1 |
|
| Power type | Diesel-hydraulic |
|---|---|
| Builder | North British Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 27751–27761, 27995–27997 |
| Build date | 1958–1959 |
| Total production | 14 |
| Configuration | 0-4-0 DH |
| UIC classification | B |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Wheel diameter | 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 36.00 long tons (36.58 t) |
| Prime mover | NBL/MAN W6V17.5/22AS (supercharged) |
| Transmission | Hydraulic, Voith |
| Multiple working | Not fitted |
| Top speed | 20 mph (32 km/h) |
| Power output | Engine: 330 bhp (246 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 24,100 lbf (107.2 kN) |
| Train heating | None |
| Career | British Railways |
| Class | D3/1; later 3/4; no TOPS class |
| Number | D2900–D2913 |
| Retired | February 1967 |
| Disposition | All scrapped |
The British Rail Class D3/1 was a special type of locomotive used by British Rail in England. It was a diesel-powered engine built before the TOPS numbering system was introduced. These locomotives were made by the North British Locomotive Company in Scotland. They used engines designed by the German company MAN, which were built under a special agreement.
Contents
Meet the D3/1 Locomotive
The D3/1 was a small but mighty locomotive. It was designed to help move trains around in busy areas like railway yards. These areas are called shunting yards. It could also pull lighter trains over shorter distances.
What is a Diesel-Hydraulic?
The D3/1 was a diesel-hydraulic locomotive. This means it used a diesel engine to create power. Instead of gears like a car, it used a special fluid system, similar to an automatic car's transmission, to transfer power to the wheels. This system is called a hydraulic transmission. It was different from the more common diesel-electric locomotives that used electricity to power their wheels.
Building These Locomotives
The North British Locomotive Company built 14 of these D3/1 locomotives between 1958 and 1959. They were given numbers from D2900 to D2913. The engines inside them were powerful for their size, producing about 330 horsepower. This allowed them to pull heavy loads, even though they were not designed for high speeds. Their top speed was around 20 miles per hour (32 km/h).
Life on the Tracks
These locomotives served British Railways for a short time. They were mostly used for shunting duties. This means they helped arrange railway wagons and coaches in yards. They also moved freight trains around industrial areas. Their design, known as 0-4-0 DH, meant they had four driving wheels and no leading or trailing wheels. This made them very good at moving heavy loads slowly.
Why Were They Retired?
The D3/1 locomotives had a very short working life. They were all retired by February 1967, less than ten years after they were built. All 14 of them were eventually scrapped. This happened because British Rail was trying to simplify its fleet of locomotives. They wanted to use fewer different types of engines to make maintenance easier. The D3/1s were not part of British Rail's long-term plans for diesel locomotives.
