British Rail Class 44
Derby Type 4 British Rail Class 44 | |
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Preserved Class 44 number D8 at Darley Dale, on Peak Rail | |
Specifications | |
Power type | Diesel-electric |
Builder | British Railways’ Derby Works |
Build date | 1959–1960 |
Total produced | 10 |
Configuration | 1Co-Co1 |
UIC classification | (1Co)'(Co1)' |
Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Wheel diameter | 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) |
Minimum curve | 5 chains (100 m) |
Wheelbase | 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m) |
Length | 67 ft 11 in (20.70 m) |
Width | 8 ft 10 1⁄2 in (2.71 m) |
Height | 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) |
Locomotive weight | 133 long tons (135 t; 149 short tons) |
Fuel capacity | 840 imp gal (3,800 l; 1,010 US gal) |
Prime mover | Sulzer 12LDA28-A |
Engine type | Diesel |
Generator | Crompton Parkinson GC426-A1 |
Traction motors | Six Crompton Parkinson C171-B1 |
Multiple working | ★ Blue Star |
Top speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
Power output |
Engine: 2,300 bhp (1,715 kW) At rail: 1,800 hp (1,342 kW) |
Tractive effort | Maximum: 50,000 lbf (222 kN) |
Train heating | Steam |
Locomotive brakeforce | 63 long tons-force (628 kN) |
Train brakes | Vacuum |
Career | |
Railroad(s) | British Railways |
Number | D1–D10; later 44001–44010 |
Nicknames | ‘Peak’ |
Axle load class | Route availability 7 |
The British Rail Class 44 or Sulzer Type 4 diesel locomotives were built by British Railways' Derby Works between 1959 to 1960. They were named after British mountains, and consequently nicknamed Peaks.
Overview
In part inspired by LMS prototypes 10000 and 10001, and by Southern Railway 10201-10203, the Class 44 diesels were some of the first big diesels commissioned for the British Rail modernisation project and were the precursors to the Class 45 and Class 46 locomotives of similar design.
Powertrain
A Sulzer 12LDA28-A diesel engine drove a Crompton Parkinson GC426-A1 main generator which supplied power to six Crompton Parkinson C171-B1 traction motors.[1]
Train heating
When initially put into service the locomotives were fitted with multi-unit working and steam heating boilers for passenger service. They worked regularly over the West Coast Main Line for a couple of years, also between St.Pancras and Manchester.
Freight service
Once the Class 45 units were available the steam heating boilers were removed and the Class 44 locomotives were assigned to freight duties, largely in the East Midlands where they were all based at Toton, where they stayed until 1980.
Fleet details
Numbers | Name | Withdrawn | Disposal details | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-TOPS | TOPS | |||
D1 | 44001 | Scafell Pike | 10/1976 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (02/1977) |
D2 | 44002 | Helvellyn | 02/1979 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (10/1979) |
D3 | 44003 | Skiddaw | 07/1976 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (08/1976) |
D4 | 44004 | Great Gable | 11/1980 | Preserved at Midland Railway – Butterley |
D5 | 44005 | Cross Fell | 04/1978 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (11/1978) |
D6 | 44006 | Whernside | 01/1977 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (02/1978) |
D7 | 44007 | Ingleborough | 11/1980 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (11/1981) |
D8 | 44008 | Penyghent | 11/1980 | Preserved at Peak Rail Matlock Derbyshire |
D9 | 44009 | Snowdon | 03/1979 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (07/1980) |
D10 | 44010 | Tryfan | 05/1977 | Scrapped at BREL Derby Works (07/1978) |
Preservation
Two locomotives have survived to preservation.
Number(s) (Current in bold) |
Name | Livery | Location | Image | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
D4 | 44004 | Great Gable | BR Green | Midland Railway - Butterley | |
D8 | 44008 | Penyghent | BR Green | Peak Rail |
References
- ↑ "class 44, D1, 44001, scafell pike, BR Sulzer Type 4". Derbysulzers.com. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 44. |
- Harris, Roger (1985). The Allocation History of BR Diesels and Electrics. (2nd ed.). Bromsgrove: Roger Harris.
- McManus, Michael. Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 - 1968. Wirral. Michael McManus.
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