Diesel Locomotive & Engine Classes
Chart diesel’s development from dirty shunter to high speed service courtesy of our potted locomotive history, from Class 03 to Class 55.
Class 50 Diesel at Crewe Open Day
British Rail Class 03 Diesel Locomotive
Discover more about this hard-working diesel-mechanical shunter that saw over a decade of active service in yards in the 1950s and 60s.
British Rail Class 20 Diesel Locomotive
Explore the 1000-horsepower English Electric Type 1 and its extended service life as a freight-hauling workhorse.
British Rail Class 23 Diesel Locomotive
Read more about the iconic ‘Baby Deltics’ and the reasons behind their withdrawal from service in the early 1970s.
British Rail Class 26 Diesel-electric Locomotive
The British Rail built class 26 was ordered along with a number of other pilot scheme Diesels in the 1950s with delivery taking place between 1958-1959.
British Rail Class 27 Diesel-electric Locomotive
The British Rail built class 27 also known as BRCW Type 2 during 1961-1962.
British Rail Class 31 Diesel Locomotive
Take a trip with the Brush Type 2 locomotive, designed for life on Britain’s regional railways in the 50s and 60s.
British Rail Class 33 Diesel Locomotive
Climb aboard Southern Region’s BRCW Type 3 and learn more about where you can get up close and personal with it today.
British Rail Class 37 Diesel Locomotive
Discover more about the English Electric Type 3, and its reputation for reliability on a whole different range of routes, all the way to the 1990s.
British Rail Class 40 Diesel Locomotive
Read all about the Class 40 and discover why a locomotive originally intended for great things ended up being demoted to secondary duties.
British Rail Class 45 Diesel Locomotive
Explore the Sulzer Type 4 – workhorse of the Midland Mainline and Transpennine routes from the 60s until after the arrival of HSTs.
British Rail Class 47 Diesel Locomotive
Find out why the ultra-durable Class 47 was made in vast numbers – and how long it survived as a stalwart of the diesel age.
British Rail Class 50 Diesel Locomotive
Read more about the story of the English Electric Type 4, born to service the West Coast Main Line in the years before electrification.
British Rail Class 55 Diesel Locomotive
Discover more about the legendary Deltic, which survived in regular high speed service until the introduction of HSTs along the east coast.
