British Rail Class 08
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| British Rail Class 08 | |
 08653 shunting at Bescot Yard. |
|
| Also called: | Gronk |
|---|---|
| Builder: | British Railways Derby, Crewe, Darlington, Doncaster and Horwich. |
| Years built: | 1953-1962 |
| Early numbers: | 13000-13116, 13127-13136, 13167-13365; later: D3000-D3116; D3127-D3136; D3167-D3438; D3454-D3472; D3503-D3611; D3652-D3664; D3672-D3718; D3722-D4048; D4095-D4098; D4115-D4192 |
| TOPS numbers: | 08 001-08 958 |
| Engine: | English Electric 6KT |
| Transmission: | Diesel Electric |
| Wheel layout: | 0-6-0 |
| Wheel diameter: | 42 in (1,067 mm) |
| Brakes: | Vacuum |
| Brake force: | 19 LTf (190 kN) |
| Wheelbase: | 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m) |
| Length: | 29 ft 3 in (8.9 m) |
| Width: | 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) |
| Height: | 12 ft 8.5 in (3.9 m) |
| Weight: | 49.6 long tons (50.4 t) to 51 long tons (51.8 t) |
| Maximum speed: | 15 mph (24 km/h) to 20 mph (32 km/h) |
| Engine power: | 350 bhp (261 kW) |
| Maximum TE: | 35,000 lbf (156 kN) |
| Multiple working: | Blue Star |
| Fuel capacity: | 668 imp gal (3,040 l) |
| Route availability: | 5 (6 see notes) |
The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel locomotive designed for shunting. It was the standard BR diesel-electric shunter, based on the LMS 12033 series (later TOPS Class 11). Production started in 1953 and when it finished in 1962, the class had become the most numerous of all British classes, numbering 996 in total. There were also 26 of the near-identical but higher geared Class 09, and 171 similar locomotives fitted with different engines and transmissions (some of which became Class 10), which together brought the total number of outwardly similar machines to 1193.
Since their introduction rail freight has primarily moved to fixed-rate bulk freight traffic and intermodal freight operations which reduce or remove the need for shunting. Therefore only a few class 08 locomotives remain in service today.
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[edit] Overview
The locomotives were built at the BR Works of Crewe, Darlington, Derby and Doncaster[1].
The main Class became sub-class 08/0, when some locomotives from the class were reduced in height for use on the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway in south west Wales, and became Class 08/9.
The engine is an English Electric (EE) 6 cylinder, 4-stroke, 6KT. Traction motors are two EE 506 motors with double reduction gear drive. The main generator is an EE 801.
[edit] Operation
[edit] Passenger duties
As the general purpose diesel shunter on BR, almost any duty requiring shunting would involve a Class 08. Thus the many locations where two portions of a train were merged, or where additional stock was added to a train, were hauled (briefly) by a Class 08. Examples of such duties from 1980 are listed below:
- Adding the Preston sleeping cars to the 00:45 Barrow - Euston
- Combining the 23:05 Edinburgh - Inverness and the 23:30 Glasgow - Inverness at Perth
- Combining the 09:08 Leeds - Poole and the 07:52 Newcastle - Poole at Sheffield
Former Class 08 locomotives 08022 Lion, 08060 Unicorn and 08123 George Mason regularly haul passenger trains on the preserved Cholsey and Wallingford Railway.
[edit] Design variations
There were variations on the basic design, which were given the following TOPS design codes:
| TOPS design code | Electrical system | Max speed | Weight | Brakes | Route availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-0AV | 90V | 20 mph | 49.8 te (496 kN) | vacuum | 5 | |
| 08-0BX | 110V | 20 mph | 50.4 te (502 kN) | dual | 5 | |
| 08-0CA | 90V | 20 mph | 49.6 te (494 kN) | air | 5 | |
| 08-0DV | 90V | 15 mph | 49.8 te (496 kN) | vacuum | 5 | |
| 08-0BX | 90V | 15 mph | 50.4 te (502 kN) | dual | 5 | |
| 08-0FA | 90V | 15 mph | 49.6 te (494 kN) | air | 5 | |
| 08-0KX | 110V | 15 mph | 50.4 te (502 kN) | dual | 5 | |
| 08-0LX | 110V | 15 mph | 50.4 te (502 kN) | dual | 5 | Scharfenberg adapter fitted |
| 08-0MA | 110V | 15 mph | 49.8 te (496 kN) | air | 5 | |
| 08-0NA | 90V | 15 mph | 49.8 te (496 kN) | air | 5 | fitted with knuckle couplings |
| 08-0PA | 90V | 15 mph | 51 te (508 kN) | air | 6 | fitted with knuckle couplings |
| 08-0QA | 90V | 15 mph | 51 te (508 kN) | air | 6 | fitted with knuckle couplings |
| 08-0RA | 110V | 15 mph | 51 te (508 kN) | air | 6 | fitted with knuckle couplings |
| 08-0SA | 110V | 15 mph | 49 te (488 kN) | air | 6 |
[edit] BR Class 13
Six Class 08 units were adapted for a specialist role at Tinsley Marshalling Yard. These locomotives were permanently coupled together in pairs to form the British Rail Class 13.
[edit] 08064
08064 has been secured as part of the UK's National Collection. it is currently to be found at the National Railway Museum.
[edit] Class 08/9
Class 08/9 locomotives were modified from the standard class by being given headlights and cut-down bodywork in which the overall height was reduced to 11’ 10” (3.61 m), for use on the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway up to Cwm Mawr. In 2007, a few of these locomotives were used on the Manchester Metrolink track relaying project. Their job was to take the track to the construction sites.
- 08-9AV 90 V electrical system, 15 mph, 49.8 te (496 kN), vacuum brakes
- 08-9CX 90 V electrical system, 15 mph, 50.4 te (502 kN), dual brakes
- 08-9DA 90 V electrical system, 15 mph, 49.6 te (494 kN), air brakes
- 08 991 was converted from 08 203; design code: 08-9AV
- 08 992 was converted from 08 259; design code: 08-9CX
- 08 993 was converted from 08 592; design code: 08-9CX
- 08 994 was converted from 08 462; design code: 08-9DA
- 08 995 was converted from 08 687; design code: 08-9DA
[edit] Gallery
 D3312 at King's Cross, 1963 in British Railways' green livery. |
 A Class 08 at The North Norfolk Railway showing the original green livery with plain green ends. |
 08 910 at Carlisle, 1975 in British Rail blue livery. |
 08 481 at the Barry Island Railway on 6th May 2007 |
 A dilapidated 08 911 at the National Railway Museum - York, October 2005. This shows how the departmental grey livery faded between repaints. |
 Foster Yeoman owned 08 032 in between duties at Merehead Quarry on 5th May 2007 |
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[edit] In fiction
A Class 08 known as Diesel was the first diesel locomotive to appear in The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry. In the spin-off TV Series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, several Class 08s have appeared: Devious Diesel, 'Arry and Bert, and Splatter and Dodge.
[edit] References and sources
[edit] References
- ^ Marsden, Colin J. (1981). The Diesel Shunter - A Pictorial Record. Oxford: Oxford Publishing. ISBN 978-0-86093-108-9.
[edit] Sources
- Lund, E (1980). To the last drop. Chesterfield: Longden technical Publications. ISBN 0 9507063 0 2.
- Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0751 9.
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