British Rail Class 52

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BR Class 52
TOPS numbers Never carried
Early numbers D1000–D1073
Builder BR Swindon, BR Crewe
Introduced 1962-1964
Wheel arrangement C-C
Weight 108 long tons 110 t
Height 12 ft 11.75 in 3.956 m
Width 8 ft 8 in 2.64 m
Length 68 ft 0 in 20.73 m
Wheel Dia. 3 ft 7 in 1.09 m
Wheelbase 54 ft 8 in 16.66 m
Minimum radius 4.5 chains 90.5 m
Maximum speed 90 mph 145 km/h
Engine 2 x Maybach MD655
Engine output 2 x 1,350 hp 2 x 1010 kW
Max. tractive effort 66,700 lbf 297 kN
Power at rail 2,000 hp 1,490 kW
Brake type Air & vacuum
Brake force 50 tons force 500 kN
Route availability 7
Fuel tank 850 imperial gallons 3,860 litres
Heating type Steam
Multiple working Not equipped

British Rail assigned Class 52 to the class of 74 large Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964. All were given two-word names, with the first word being Western, and thus the type became known as Westerns.

Contents

[edit] The Diesel-hydraulic experiment

When switching to diesel traction, as part of the Modernisation Plan of the 1950s, BR designed and commissioned designs for a large number of locomotive types. At this time (and arguably right up until Sectorisation in the 1980s), BR's regions had a high degree of autonomy, which extended as far as classes of locomotives ordered, and even the design criteria for those locomotives. Whilst almost all other diesel locomotives were diesel-electric, the Western Region employed a policy of utilising diesel-hydraulic traction, commissioning three classes of main line locomotives—the Westerns, and the lesser-powered Hymeks and Warships.

The theoretical advantage of diesel-hydraulic was simple—it resulted in a lighter locomotive than equivalent diesel-electric transmission. This resulted in better power/weight ratio, and decreased track wear. Unfortunately, it had two key disadvantages:

  • The technology was proven in continental Europe, particularly Germany, but was new to the UK. It was considered politically unacceptable at the time for the UK government to order trains from foreign companies, let alone German companies so soon after the second world war.
  • The most robust hydraulic transmissions were only capable of handling engines with power output of around 1500 hp (1120 kW); to build a more powerful locomotive would involve two diesel engines and two transmissions.

[edit] The Western

With the Hymeks and Warships already in service, but proving under-powered for topline services, BR Western Region needed a high-powered locomotive for top-link services - the Western therefore needed two diesel engines to achieve the required power output.

Prototypes sited the engines behind the driving cabs, but drivers found this too noisy; moving the engines centrally meant making the locomotive heavier, removing some of the design's advantage. In production use, the dual-engine arrangement turned out to have some advantages: in particular, the Westerns were able to continue operating with a single engine running in situations where more conventional single-engine designs would require rescue by another locomotive. This valuable property was intentionally duplicated in the later High Speed Trains, and was one reason for them having two power cars.

The most serious continual problem with the class was the design fault mismatch between the Maybach MD655 engines and the Voith L630rV three speed hydraulic transmissions. The top gear ratio in the transmission was too high for the torque characteristics of the engine: the result was that a single locomotive could struggle to reach its claimed 90mph top speed in the absence of down grades, more so when work-weary and due for overhaul. These factors, combined with the Devon banks' (a major part of their running grounds) deleterious effect on tired engines, all conspired against the Westerns continuing in top-line service; their replacement by High Speed Trains provided the speed and comfort increases the Western Region sought. Towards the end, the Westerns were all allocated to Laira Plymouth.

[edit] Competition and Comfort

Whilst the Class was successful, it was non-standard, which added greatly to its high maintenance costs. Resultantly, the early 1970s saw the decision taken to retire all the diesel-hydraulic types. Class 47s and 50s began to take over on the Western Region, whilst the arrival of the High Speed Train was the final nail in the coffin for the Westerns.

Unlike the similar, but lower-powered, Warship class locomotives, most Westerns did receive air brake equipment in addition to their vacuum exhausters, thus significantly extending their working lives. However, as for the Warships, it proved impossible to equip them with electric train heating (ETH, or head-end power in US terminology). The Western Region faced particularly stiff competition for its prime inter-city services in the mid to late 1970s from the M4 motorway, and it was generally felt within BR that significant speed-up and comfort increases on the prime Paddington-Bristol route were necessary. The lack of ETH meant the Westerns could not power the newly-introduced air-conditioned BR Mark 2f coaches - a shortcoming that the Class 50s, which were built with ETH, did not share.

[edit] Withdrawal

With ETH being required for most class 1 traffic on the WR Class 50 & 47/4 adopted more of the top-link passenger turns until the High Speed Train was delivered. However, they were always seen and used as true multi-purpose locomotives, at home on oil, coal or stone duties. Away from the cameras they worked much heavy freight in South Wales right up to the end including turns on the overnight Freightliner from Cardiff to Stratford (East London). A main-stay of the class for many years (up to the mid 1970's) was overnight milk and cream workings from Devon and Cornwall, also from Whitland and Marshfield in South Wales to London. They were a useful machine for Control to use on 1 way specials, lack of driver knowledge off the WR would see them quickly returned and not as with other more widespread types 'lost somewhere in Scotland'.

The final class member was withdrawn in February 1977.

[edit] Names and numbers

D1000 Western Enterprise at Old Oak Common, desert sand livery, 1964.
Enlarge
D1000 Western Enterprise at Old Oak Common, desert sand livery, 1964.
D1026 Western Centurion nearer the camera with D1071 Western Cavalier behind at Reading, May 1964, both in maroon livery.
Enlarge
D1026 Western Centurion nearer the camera with D1071 Western Cavalier behind at Reading, May 1964, both in maroon livery.
D1005 Western Venturer at Swansea, 1967 in BR blue livery but still with old number.
Enlarge
D1005 Western Venturer at Swansea, 1967 in BR blue livery but still with old number.

All of the Westerns were named, as in the following table:

Number Name Builder Disposition
D1000 Western Enterprise BR Swindon Scrapped
D1001 Western Pathfinder BR Swindon Scrapped
D1002 Western Explorer BR Swindon Scrapped
D1003 Western Pioneer BR Swindon Scrapped
D1004 Western Crusader BR Swindon Scrapped
D1005 Western Venturer BR Swindon Scrapped
D1006 Western Stalwart BR Swindon Scrapped
D1007 Western Talisman BR Swindon Scrapped
D1008 Western Harrier BR Swindon Scrapped
D1009 Western Invader BR Swindon Scrapped
D1010 Western Campaigner BR Swindon Preserved
D1011 Western Thunderer BR Swindon Scrapped
D1012 Western Firebrand BR Swindon Scrapped
D1013 Western Ranger BR Swindon Preserved
D1014 Western Leviathan BR Swindon Scrapped
D1015 Western Champion BR Swindon Preserved
D1016 Western Gladiator BR Swindon Scrapped
D1017 Western Warrior BR Swindon Scrapped
D1018 Western Buccaneer BR Swindon Scrapped
D1019 Western Challenger BR Swindon Scrapped
D1020 Western Hero BR Swindon Scrapped
D1021 Western Cavalier BR Swindon Scrapped
D1022 Western Sentinel BR Swindon Scrapped
D1023 Western Fusilier BR Swindon Preserved
D1024 Western Huntsman BR Swindon Scrapped
D1025 Western Guardsman BR Swindon Scrapped
D1026 Western Centurion BR Swindon Scrapped
D1027 Western Lancer BR Swindon Scrapped
D1028 Western Hussar BR Swindon Scrapped
D1029 Western Legionaire BR Swindon Scrapped
D1030 Western Musketeer BR Crewe Scrapped
D1031 Western Rifleman BR Crewe Scrapped
D1032 Western Marksman BR Crewe Scrapped
D1033 Western Trooper BR Crewe Scrapped
D1034 Western Dragoon BR Crewe Scrapped
D1035 Western Yeoman BR Crewe Scrapped
D1036 Western Emperor BR Crewe Scrapped
D1037 Western Empress BR Crewe Scrapped
D1038 Western Sovereign BR Crewe Scrapped
D1039 Western King BR Crewe Scrapped
D1040 Western Queen BR Crewe Scrapped
D1041 Western Prince BR Crewe Preserved
D1042 Western Princess BR Crewe Scrapped
D1043 Western Duke BR Crewe Scrapped
D1044 Western Duchess BR Crewe Scrapped
D1045 Western Viscount BR Crewe Scrapped
D1046 Western Marquis BR Crewe Scrapped
D1047 Western Lord BR Crewe Scrapped
D1048 Western Lady BR Crewe Preserved
D1049 Western Monarch BR Crewe Scrapped
D1050 Western Ruler BR Crewe Scrapped
D1051 Western Ambassador BR Crewe Scrapped
D1052 Western Viceroy BR Crewe Scrapped
D1053 Western Patriarch BR Crewe Scrapped
D1054 Western Governor BR Crewe Scrapped
D1055 Western Advocate BR Crewe Scrapped
D1056 Western Sultan BR Crewe Scrapped
D1057 Western Chieftain BR Crewe Scrapped
D1058 Western Nobleman BR Crewe Scrapped
D1059 Western Empire BR Crewe Scrapped
D1060 Western Dominion BR Crewe Scrapped
D1061 Western Envoy BR Crewe Scrapped
D1062 Western Courier BR Crewe Preserved
D1063 Western Monitor BR Crewe Scrapped
D1064 Western Regent BR Crewe Scrapped
D1065 Western Consort BR Crewe Scrapped
D1066 Western Prefect BR Crewe Scrapped
D1067 Western Druid BR Crewe Scrapped
D1068 Western Reliance BR Crewe Scrapped
D1069 Western Vanguard BR Crewe Scrapped
D1070 Western Gauntlet BR Crewe Scrapped
D1071 Western Renown BR Crewe Scrapped
D1072 Western Glory BR Crewe Scrapped
D1073 Western Bulwark BR Crewe Scrapped
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