British Rail Class 03
D2069 at Doncaster Works open day on 27 July 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The British Rail Class 03 locomotive was, together with the similar Class 04, one of British Rail's most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399 (later 03004 to 03399). D2370 and D2371 were used as departmental locomotives and originally numbered 91 and 92 respectively.
Overview
Like other shunters of this size, the Class 03 was built for light duties where a larger locomotive was not needed, especially for shunting at locomotive and carriage depots and as station pilots, or where larger or heavier locomotives could not be used. The reduction over time in the demand for shunting locomotives meant that they were progressively withdrawn from 1968 onwards, many being sold to private industry. However, some remained in service much longer, with two examples on the Isle of Wight lasting until 1993 (mainland examples had gone by 1987).
In 1998, one of the Isle of Wight locos, 03179, was reinstated by the West Anglia Great Northern for service at Hornsey depot. It was named Clive after a depot employee[2] It was not fitted with Train Protection & Warning System equipment and thus confined to the depot from 2002.[3] It was operated subsequently by First Capital Connect until withdrawal in 2008. In 2016 it was sold by Govia Thameslink Railway to the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway.[4][5][6]
Technical details
The engine is a Gardner 8-cylinder, 4-stroke 8L3 of 204 hp (152 kW) connected to a Wilson-Drewry CA5 R7, 5-speed epicyclic gearbox with RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final-drive unit. Drive is through a jackshaft mounted beneath the cab, driving the wheels through coupling rods.
During their later life, some locomotives were fitted with dual (air and vacuum) brakes. These were 03059, 03063, 03073, 03078, 03084, 03086, 03089, 03094, 03112, 03152, 03158, 03162, 03179, 03180, 03371, 03397 and 03399.
Operation
Shunting
Originally the Class 03s were often deployed where their attributes of short wheelbase and light weight enabled them to operate where other shunters could not. On lines such as that to Ipswich docks, bridge weight restrictions prevented the ubiquitous Class 08s from operating. Another common use was as station pilot, usually coupled to a shunters' truck to ensure operation of track circuits which did not always register the passage of the 03 due to its short wheelbase.
By 1979, Class 03s' operations included:[7]
- Depot pilot duties at Hull Botanic Gardens DMU depot and Bradford Hammerton Street DMU depot
- Docks at Ipswich, Kings Lynn, and Poplar (London)
- Freight trips along the Team Valley branch (Gateshead) and the Gwendraeth Valley line
- Shunting duties at Boston Yard, Ipswich Upper and Lower yards, Lincoln engineers' yard, and Tweedmouth yard near Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Spare loco on standby at Boston and Kings Lynn
- Motive power on the Kirkley goods branch line in Lowestoft
- Station pilot duties at Bradford Exchange, Hull Paragon, Ipswich, Newcastle Central, Norwich Thorpe, and Sunderland
Passenger duties
Despite the limited scope for the use of such a small locomotive on main line passenger duties, there were a number of duties rostered to the class. During the early 1970s Southern Region Class 03s worked Channel Island boat trains through the streets to the harbour along the Weymouth Quay tramway.[8] In 1980 a class 03 at Ipswich was booked to shunt the 23:20 Peterborough - Liverpool Street onto the rear of the 23:45 Norwich - Liverpool Street.[9] Also, according to Mangapps Railway Museum,[10] 03089 once hauled a Blackpool to Scarborough express along the York to Scarborough Line from Malton to Scarborough.
Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line
Several examples were rebuilt with cut-down cabs for working on the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line, as there were several low bridges on the line that precluded the use of normal height locomotives.
The modified examples were nos. 03119, 03120, 03141, 03142, 03144, 03145, 03151, 03152 and late addition (ex-Bristol) 03382.[11] Their duties included shunting (for example at Burry Port), and hauling full coal trains down from the valley's pits. For this latter duty they sometimes worked triple-headed.
They were replaced by Class 08/9 locomotives, which were also rebuilt to a reduced height. Several cut-down locomotives have been preserved.
The Isle of Wight shunters, nos. 03079 and 03179, were also rebuilt with cut-down cabs, to enable them to pass through a low tunnel in Ryde.
Preservation
A large number (55 confirmed so far) of the class survive in preservation, while a 56th example (03179) remained in active service until 2008.
TOPS Number |
Pre-TOPS | Original Number Allocated | Image | Preserved location | Industrial use | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
03018 | D2018 | 11205 | Mangapps Railway Museum | - | [12] | |
03020 | D2020 | 11207 | Lavender Line | - | [13] | |
03022 | D2022 | 11209 | Swindon and Cricklade Railway | - | [14] | |
- | D2023 | Kent & East Sussex Railway | Tees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972-1980) | [15] | ||
- | D2024 | Kent & East Sussex Railway | Tees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972-1980) | [16] | ||
03027 | D2027 | Peak Rail | - | [17] | ||
03037 | D2037 | Peak Rail | - | [18] | ||
- | D2041 | Colne Valley Railway | Richborough Power Station (1970) Rye House Power Station (1971) Barking Power Station (1971) Rye House Power Station (1974-1981) |
[19] | ||
- | D2051 | North Norfolk Railway | Ford, Dagenham (06/1973-04/1997) | [20] | ||
03059 | D2059 | Isle of Wight Steam Railway | - | [21] | ||
03062 | D2062 | East Lancashire Railway | - | [22] | ||
03063 | D2063 | North Norfolk Railway | - | [23] | ||
03066 | D2066 | Barrow Hill Engine Shed | - | [24] | ||
03069 | D2069 | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway | Vic Berry, Leicester | [25] | ||
03072 | D2072 | Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway | - | [26] | ||
03073 | D2073 | Crewe Heritage Centre | Used for occasional loco shunting and brakevan rides to visitors to the heritage centre | [27][nb 1] | ||
03078 | D2078 | North Tyneside Steam Railway | Newcastle Central Station, used as a station pilot. |
[30] | ||
03079 | D2079 | Derwent Valley Light Railway | TBA | [31] | ||
03081 | D2081 | Mangapps Railway Museum | ||||
03084 | D2084 | West Coast Railway Company, Carnforth | Sold by the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway in 2010 or 2011. | [32] | ||
03089 | D2089 | Mangapps Railway Museum | ||||
03090 | D2090 | Locomotion | Part of the National Collection | [33] | ||
- | D2094 | Royal Deeside Railway | TBA | [34] | ||
03099 | D2099 | Heritage Shunters Trust | - | [35] | ||
03112 | D2112 | Rother Valley Railway | - | |||
03113 | D2113 | Heritage Shunters Trust | - | [36] | ||
- | D2117 | Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway | [37] | |||
- | D2118 | Great Central Railway (Nottingham) | Worked at Anglian Building Products, Lenwade, Norfolk from August 1973, then at Dow-Mac near Stamford from December 1993. |
[38] | ||
03119 | D2119 | Epping Ongar Railway | [39] | |||
- | D2120 | Fawley Hill Railway, Buckingamshire | [40] | |||
03901 | D2128 | Appleby-Frodingham RPS, Scunthorpe | Sold for scrap to Birds, Long Marston, where engine and coupling removed and then exported to Belgium where fitted with Deutz V12 air-cooled engine, VM hydraulic pump and motor into original change speed box. Reimported and operated at Peak Rail, eventually to Dean Forest where stored incomplete. Moved to Scunthorpe 2009, where repowered with Cummins 14 litre engine, hydraulic transmission and renumbered 03 901 to reflect this | [41] | ||
- | D2133 | West Somerset Railway | Worked at Cellophane's Bridgwater factory in the 1970s, prior to preservation at the time. | [42] | ||
- | D2134 | Royal Deeside Railway | Was based in Belgium between 1976 and 1993, has since been repatriated back to the UK. | [43] | ||
- | D2138 | Midland Heritage Railway | Used at Pye Hill Colliery between 1969-1984, prior to preservation. | [44] | ||
- | D2139 | Heritage Shunters Trust | - | [45] | ||
- | D2141 | Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | [46] | |||
03144 | D2144 | Wensleydale Railway | [47] | |||
- | D2145 | D2578 Locomotive Group, Moreton Business Park | [48] | |||
- | D2148 | Ribble Steam Railway | [49] | |||
- | D2152 | Swindon & Cricklade Railway | [50] | |||
03158 | D2158 | Great Central Railway | [51] | |||
03162[52] | D2162 | Llangollen Railway | [53][nb 2] | |||
03170 | D2170 | Epping Ongar Railway | Was owned by Otis Euro Transrail between 1989-1999 and then latterly was present on the Battlefield Line | [56][57][nb 3] | ||
- | D2178 | Gwili Railway | [59] | |||
03179 | D2179 | Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway[4] | Govia Thameslink Railway, Hornsey | |||
- | D2180 | Battlefield Line | [60] | |||
- | D2182 | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway | [61] | |||
- | D2184 | Colne Valley Railway | [62] | |||
03189 | D2189 | Ribble Steam Railway | [63] | |||
03192 | D2192 | Dartmouth Steam Railway | [64] | |||
03196 | D2196 | West Coast Railway Company Carnforth | [65] | |||
03197 | D2197 | Lavender Line | [66] | |||
- | D2199 | Heritage Shunters Trust | Sold to NCB in 1974 after being overhauled and fitted with air brakes at Doncaster Works. Worked at Rockingham, North Gawber and Royston until being placed into store at Monkton in 1984. Was on loan to Hanson Aggregates, Machen Quarry near Newport 2003 (?)-2006 | [67] | ||
- | D2371 | Departmental 92 | Dartmouth Steam Railway | [68] | ||
- | D2381 | West Coast Railway Company, Carnforth | [69] | |||
03399 | D2399 | Mangapps Railway Museum | [70] |
- This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Models
Mainline and Replica each offered an OO gauge model.[71] Mainline's original 'split-chassis' tooling later passed to Bachmann. When the company later took the decision to produce the Class 04 in its place the tooling was altered, retaining the split chassis power arrangement. However, Bachmann later announced that they would be re-introducing several new variations of the 03 in OO gauge, including special edition examples of the Isle of Wight prototypes.[72]
Graham Farish currently offers an N gauge model.[73] Past models have included D2388 in BR green livery and 03066 in BR blue livery.[74]
Notes
- ↑ 03073 was allocated to Birkenhead North and used on the Birkenhead Dock Branch, prior to withdrawal on 23 May 1989.[28][29]
- ↑ 03162 was allocated to Birkenhead North, prior to withdrawal on 23 May 1989. The locomotive has a non-standard cone chimney and vertical air horn. Named Birkenhead South 1879-1985 and repainted in BR green livery on 8 January 1987.[54][55]
- ↑ 03170 was used on the Birkenhead Dock Branch prior to withdrawal in March 1989.[58]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vehicle Diagram Book No. 120 for shunting diesel locomotives" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ↑ "WAGN 03 named Clive at King's Cross ceremony" Rail Magazine issue 341 7 October 1998
- ↑ "No main line runabouts for WAGN Clive" Rail Magazine issue 446 16 October 2002 page 57
- 1 2 "GTR disposes of final Class 03" Rail Magazine issue 806 3 August 2016 page 29
- ↑ "Final main lne 03 enters preservation" Rail Express September 2016 page 16
- ↑ "Clive finally Preserved" Railways Illustrated October 2016 page 12
- ↑ Woodley, Geoff; Wood, Ron (1979). Shunter Duties. Inter City Railway Society.
- ↑ Roger Goodrum. "Photo: An unidentified Class 03 Drewy Shunter hauls a boat train to Weymouth quay through the streets a daily working in the 1970s.". Railway Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ↑ Lund, E (1980). To the last drop. Chesterfield: Longden technical Publications. ISBN 0-9507063-0-2.
- ↑ "Stock List: Locomotives". Mangapps Railway Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ Williams, Alan; Percival, David (May 1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977 Combined Volume. Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-0751-9. CXX/0577.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03018". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03020". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03022". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2023". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2024". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03027". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03037". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2041". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2051". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03059". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03062". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03063". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03066". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03069". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03072". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03073". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Memories of Edge Hill, Birkenhead & Beyond". derbysulzers.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ↑ "Results for D2073 03073". Railway Database. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03078". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03079". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "AbRail Rail Databases - Preserved Diesel & Electric Locomotives". AbRail. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03090". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03094". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03099". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03113". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2117". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2118". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03119". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03120". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "D2128 - Swindon-built class 03.". Andrew Briddon Locos. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2133". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03134". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2138". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2139". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03141". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03144". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03145". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2148". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03152". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03158". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ xp64mag.co.uk
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03162". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ↑ "D2162 / 03162". Llangollen Railway. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ↑ "Results for D2162 03162". Railway Database. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ↑ "Rolling Stock Department Diesel Locomotives". Epping Ongar Railway. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03170". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ Hendry & Hendry 1992, p. 125
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2178". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03180". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2182". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2184". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03189". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2192". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03196". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03197". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2199". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03371". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : D2381". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Class 03 : : 03399". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Everyone likes Class 03 shunters don't they?". Rail Exclusive. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ Bayer, Gareth (16 September 2010). "REM: Shunter Clive is Bachmann Club release". Rail Express. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ "Graham Farish: BR Class 03 diesel shunter". Model Trains International (97). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ "Graham Farish Products by item number" (PDF). Bachmann. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
Sources
- Hendry, R. Preston; Hendry, R. Powell (1992). Paddington to the Mersey: G.W.R's Forgotten Route from London to Birkenhead. OPC Railprint. ISBN 9780860934424. OCLC 24736274.
Further reading
- Heavyside, Tom (April 2010). "Birkenhead Class 03s". Back Track. Vol. 24 no. 4. Pendragon Publishing. ISSN 0955-5382.
- Nicolle, Barry (May 1986). "Swindon's last 03". Rail Enthusiast. No. 56. Emap. pp. 9–11. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
- "Readers' round-up". Rail Enthusiast. Emap National Publications. February–March 1982. p. 50. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
- "Readers' round-up". Rail Enthusiast. Emap National Publications. June 1982. p. 50. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
- "Readers' round-up". Rail Enthusiast. Emap National Publications. October 1982. p. 54. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
- "Isle of Wight offers two Class 03 shunters for sale". Rail Magazine. No. 326. Emap Apex Publications. 11–24 March 1998. p. 64. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
- "Ex-Norwich Class 03 revived in black livery". Rail Magazine. No. 339. Emap Apex Publications. 9–22 September 1998. p. 57. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
External links
Media related to British Rail Class 03 at Wikimedia Commons