| Metropolitan Vickers Type 2 British Rail Class 28 |
|
|---|---|
| Two 'Metrovicks' Nos. D5703 & D5710 passing through Millbrook in 1960. | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | Metropolitan-Vickers’ Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees. |
| Build date | 1958–1959 |
| Total produced | 20 |
| Configuration | Co-Bo |
| UIC classification | Co'Bo' |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Standard gauge |
| Wheel diameter | 3 ft 3 1⁄2 in (1.003 m) |
| Minimum curve | 3.5 chains (70 m) |
| Wheelbase | 42 ft 9 in (13.03 m) |
| Length | 56 ft 7 1⁄2 in (17.26 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 1 1⁄2 in (3.70 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 97 long tons (98.6 t) |
| Fuel capacity | 510 imp gal (2,300 l; 610 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Crossley HST V8 |
| Traction motors | Metropolitan-Vickers 137BZ, 5 off |
| Transmission | DC generator, DC traction motors |
| Multiple working | ● Red Circle |
| Top speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Power output | Engine: 1,200 hp (895 kW) |
| Tractive effort | Maximum: 50,000 lbf (222 kN) |
| Train heating | Spanner steam generator (railroad) of 1,500 pounds (680 kg) per hour |
| Train brakes | Vacuum |
| Career | British Railways |
| Number | D5700–D5719 |
| Axle load class | Route availability 8 |
| Retired | December 1967 – September 1969 |
| Disposition | One preserved, remainder scrapped |
The British Rail Class 28 (Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2) diesel locomotives, or 'Metrovicks' as they were popularly known, were built as part of the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan. The locomotives had a Co-Bo wheel arrangement (a 6-wheel bogie at one end, a 4-wheel bogie at the other) – unique in British Railways practice though not uncommon in other countries, notably Japan. This affected their route availability, due to the different axle loading at each end of the loco, and made maintenance more complicated. The maximum tractive effort of 50,000 lbf (220 kN) was unusually high for a Type 2 locomotive but, as there were five (not four) driving axles, the risk of wheelslip was minimal.
Contents |
With low-speed Crossley 8-cylinder HST Vee8 two stroke engines, they represented an experiment in two stroke versus four stroke engines for diesel-electric traction.
The engines had exhaust pulse pressure charging and developed 1,200 horsepower (895 kW) at 625 rpm. There were no valves, and inlet and exhaust were via ports in the cylinder walls. The same engine was originally fitted in the Irish A Class and the Western Australian Government Railways X class
Almost from the beginning the Metrovick's Crossley engines were problematic. They suffered frequent failures and by 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. The cab windows were modified such that instead of wrapping round to the side the outer front windows were replaced by a flat piece of glass facing the front only. The engines were also extremely noisy and prone to unacceptable levels of smoky exhaust fumes, due to the two-stroke cycle burning a proportion of the lubricating oil.
All 20 were initially allocated to the Midland Division of BR's London Midland Region, where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London–Glasgow “Condor” express freight service. Later they were transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness area prior to withdrawal after only 11 years at work and in service.
Despite the locomotives being otherwise reliable the Crossley engines were still giving problems and British Rail considered replacing the engines, as was done with the Class 31 diesels and, later, with Crossley-engined locomotives in Ireland. Instead the entire class was withdrawn from service during 1967–1969, and all but one were scrapped by the end of 1969.[1]
A single locomotive, D5705, survived by historical accident, being renumbered S15705 and used from December 1968 by the Research Division for its Tribology Test train.[2] It was superseded by a Class 24, and was used as carriage heating unit TDB968006 before being preserved in 1980. It is currently on the East Lancashire Railway. The Class 15 Preservation Society has signed an agreement with the owners of D5705 to become its custodians during its restoration and operation for the next ten years, although funding will remain separate.[3]
The Class 28 was the basis for BoCo, a character in The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends, he carries the number D5702.
The Class 28 has been made as a 00 gauge model in several forms, including a ready-to-run version by Hornby Dublo and a kit by Silver Fox Models. A ready to run model is being produced by Heljan on behalf of and exclusive to Hatton's Model Railways in Liverpool as of 2010.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||