British Rail Class 27
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| British Rail Class 27 | |
 27001 at Bo'ness |
|
| Builder: | BRCW |
|---|---|
| Introduced: | 1961 |
| Early numbers: | D5347 - D5415 |
| TOPS numbers: | 27001 - 27066 |
| Engine: | Sulzer 6LDA28-B |
| Transmission: | Diesel Electric |
| Wheel layout: | Bo-Bo |
| Wheel diameter: | 43 in (1,092 mm) |
| Minimum curve: | 5 chains (100 m) |
| Brakes: | Vacuum |
| Brake force: | 34 LTf (340 kN) |
| Wheelbase: | 39 ft 0 in (11.9 m) |
| Length: | 50 ft 9 in (15.5 m) |
| Width: | 8 ft 10 in (2.7 m) |
| Height: | 12 ft 8 in (3.9 m) |
| Weight: | 71 long tons (72 t) 73 long tons (74 t) 76 long tons (77 t) 27/1 & 27/2 |
| Maximum speed: | 90 mph (145 km/h) |
| Engine power: | 1,250 bhp (932 kW) |
| Rail power: | 933 bhp (696 kW) |
| Maximum TE: | 42,000 lbf (187 kN) |
| Continuous TE: | 25,000 lbf (111 kN) |
| Heating type: | Steam (27201-27212 electric) |
| Multiple working: | Blue Star |
| Fuel capacity: | 685 imp gal (3,110 l) |
| Route availability: | 5 |
British Rail's Class 27 comprised 69 diesel locomotives built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) during 1961 and 1962. They were a development of the earlier Class 26; both were originally classified as the BRCW Type 2.
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[edit] Usage
Original allocations were to the Scottish Region, the Eastern Region, and the London Midland Region, but all soon ended up in Scotland. For many years they were extensively used on the West Highland Line. The last locomotives were withdrawn from service in 1987, being outlived by the older Class 26s, whose less powerful engines were more reliable.
[edit] Edinburgh-Glasgow
By the late 1960s, the Class 126 DMUs operating the Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen Street express service were becoming unreliable. They were replaced in 1971 by specially adapted Class 27s fitted with push-pull equipment to "top and tail" rakes of six Mark 2a carriages. At one end would be a Class 27/1, at the other a Class 27/2 (which provided train heating). The very intensive 90 mph (140 km/h) "push-pull" service was demanding on the locomotives and reliability started to suffer. The 27/2s, especially, appeared prone to fire damage, especially from their ETH alternators. The push-pull sets were replaced in 1980 by single Class 47/7s at one end of a rake of Mark 3 carriages and a DBSO. The spare Class 27s were then transferred for use on Edinburgh-Dundee semi-fast passenger services, until their replacement by Class 150 Sprinter DMUs in 1987.
[edit] Technical details
- Introduced: 1961
- Weight: 71-76 tonnes
- Engine: Sulzer 6LDA28-B of 1,250 bhp (930 kW) at 750 rpm
- Transmission: Electric, four GEC WT459 traction motors
- Maximum tractive effort: 40,000 lbf (180 kN)
- Driving wheel diameter: 3 ft 7 in (1.1 m)
- Coupling code: Blue star (electro-pneumatic)
- Train heating:
- As built, Steam generator
- Class 27/2, Electric, Houchin 120 kW alternator powered by Deutz 8-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine, type F8L413
[edit] Preservation
Eight locomotives have been preserved.[1]
| Numbers (current in bold) |
Livery | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D5347 | 27001 | BR Blue | Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway | ||
| D5351 | 27005 | BR Blue | Bo'ness and Kinneil railway | ||
| D5353 | 27007 | BR Green | Mid-Hants Railway | ||
| D5370 | 27024 | BR Green | Caledonian Railway (Brechin) | ||
| D5394 | 27050 | 27106 | BR Green | Bo'ness and Kinneil railway | |
| D5401 | 27056 | 27112 | BR Green | Northampton & Lamport Railway | |
| D5410 | 27059 | 27123 | 27205 | BR Blue | Bo'ness and Kinneil railway |
| D5386 | 27066 | 27103 | 27212 | BR Blue | Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway |
[edit] References
- ^ List of Class 27s Preserved Diesels.co.uk, Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
[edit] Sources
- Marsden, Colin J. (1981). Motive power recognition:1 Locomotives. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 1109 5.
- Oakley, Michael (1981). BR Class 26/27 Diesels. Truro: D Bradford Barton. ISBN 0 85153 418 X.
- Tayler, A.T.H (1984). BR Locomotives:2 Sulzer Types 2 and 3. Ian Allan. ISBN 0 7110 1340 3.
- Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0751 9.
- Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1983 edition
[edit] External links
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