British Rail 10800

British Railways 10800
10800 on the down main platform at Rugby
Specifications
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	North British Locomotive Company
Serial number	26413
Build date	1950
Configuration	Bo-Bo
AAR wheel arr.	B-B
UIC classification	Bo-Bo
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Wheel diameter	3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Minimum curve	3.75 chains (75 m)
Wheelbase	31 ft 0 in (9.45 m)
Length	41 ft 10 1⁄2 in (12.76 m)
Width	9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
Height	12 ft 9 1⁄2 in (3.90 m)
Locomotive weight	69.80 long tons (70.92 t; 78.18 short tons)
Fuel capacity	300 imp gal (1,400 l; 360 US gal)
Coolant capacity	85 imp gal (390 l; 102 US gal)
Water capacity	90 imp gal (410 l; 110 US gal)
Prime mover	Paxman 16RPHXL Series 2 rebuilt: Maybach MD655
Generator	DC
Traction motors	BTH 159, DC, four (4) off
Cylinder size	7 in × 7 3⁄4 in (177.80 mm × 196.85 mm) rebuilt: 7 1⁄4 in × 8 3⁄4 in (184.15 mm × 222.25 mm)
Transmission	Diesel electric
Multiple working	Not fitted
Top speed	70 mph (110 km/h)
Power output	827 hp (617 kW) rebuilt: 1,400 hp (1,000 kW)
Tractive effort	34,500 lbf (153.5 kN)
Train heating	Clarkson steam generator
Locomotive brake	Brakeforce: 45 long tons-force (450 kN)
Train brakes	Vacuum
Career
Railroad(s)	British Railways
Power class	3MT; later: Type 1
Number	10800
Axle load class	Route availability: 4
Retired	August 1959
Disposition	Sold Brush Traction, rebuilt into research locomotive Hawk, retired 1968, cannibalised 1972–1976, scrapped 1976.

British Railways 10800 was a diesel locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company for British Railways in 1950. It had been ordered by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1946 but did not appear until after the 1948 nationalisation of the railways.

Design was by George Ivatt and the locomotive was intended as a possible replacement for steam locomotives on secondary and branch lines. The single-cab layout (long bonnet forward) gave the driver a poor view of the road ahead. The view was no worse than a steam locomotive's, so it would have been considered acceptable at the time.

During its brief time on the Southern Region, 10800 gained the nickname 'The Wonder Engine', from the locomotive department's daily query, 'I wonder if it will go today'.^[1]

Description

Due to having been ordered by the LMS before the creation of British Railways (BR), 10800 became the first BR mixed-traffic Diesel-Electric locomotive when it was delivered in 1950. Operationally it was successful enough for BR to order two classes of 54 similar locomotives in 1955^[2] although these, destined to be come BR Class 15 and BR Class 16, used the improved YHXL engine.

Extra Information

• Bogie wheelbase: 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m)
• Bogie pivot centres: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
• Sanding equipment: Pneumatic
• Heating type: Steam (Water-tube boiler) (Clarkson thimble tube boiler) – Clarkson^[3]
• Main generator type: BTH
• Aux generator type: BTH
• Gear ratio: 66:15
• Boiler water capacity: 300 imp gal (1,400 l; 360 US gal)
• Boiler fuel capacity:* 90 imp gal (410 l; 110 US gal)

Rebuilding

In 1961 or 1962 (sources differ) No. 10800 was bought by Brush Traction and rebuilt for experiments in a.c. power transmission. Brush named the locomotive "Hawk".

• Main alternator type: Brush
• Aux alternator type: Brush

It was used until 1968, and slowly stripped for parts from April 1972, until it was finally scrapped at Brush Traction, Loughborough in 1976.

References

Further reading

• Clough, David N. (2011). "2: Diesel-Electric Development after 1945". Hydraulic vs Electric: The battle for the BR diesel fleet. Ian Allan. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-0-7110-3550-8. 

External links

• The Railway Centre
• The Railway Raptors