British Rail Class 20
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
(BR) Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive
. In total, 228 locomotives in the class were built by English Electric
between 1957 and 1968, the large number being in part because of the failure of other early designs in the same power range to provide reliable locomotives.
The locomotives were originally numbered D8000–D8199 and D8300–D8327. They are known by railway enthusiasts as "Choppers", a name derived from the distinctive beat the engine produces under load which resembles the sound of a helicopter.
traffic, they have no train heating facilities. Locomotives up to D8127 were fitted with disc indicators in the style of the steam era; when headcodes were introduced in 1960 the locomotive’s design was changed to incorporate headcode boxes. Although older locomotives were not retro-fitted with headcode boxes, a few of the earlier batch acquired headcode boxes as a result of repairs. Unusually for British designs, the locomotive had a single cab. This caused serious problems with visibility when travelling nose first, though in these circumstances the driver's view is comparable to that on the steam locomotive
s that the Class 20s replaced.
The Class 20 saw only limited service on passenger trains. A small number were fitted with a through pipe for steam heating
, primarily for use in conjunction with a Class 37
locomotive on the West Highland Line
. Otherwise their use was limited to summer relief services, particularly to Skegness
often under the adopted title of The Jolly Fisherman
starting from various places including Burton-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Leicester. Also occasionally other holiday resorts on the east coast of England, occasional duties as a pilot
, and short distance diversions of electric-hauled trains over non-electrified lines.
The shift of light mixed freight to the road network left British Rail with an oversupply of small locomotives. The Class 20s, however, could work in multiple
and so handle heavier traffic. Most spent the majority of their working lives coupled nose to nose in pairs to provide a more useful 2000 hp unit and to solve the visibility problems.
Most have now been withdrawn but a few remain with DRS
and other minor and industrial operators. Several which are usually operated singly have been fitted with nose-mounted video cameras in order to solve the visibility problems.
, London
to work cross-London transfer freights, with the following eight locos allocated to Hornsey depot
. After a trial with D8006, D8028–D8034 were allocated for work in highland Scotland, and had tablet
catcher recesses built in to the cabsides. D8035–D8044 were originally to be allocated to Norwich
, but were actually used for empty coaching stock (ECS) workings in and out of London Euston
. D8050–D8069 were allocated to the new Tinsley
TMD
in Sheffield
, from where they regularly worked into Lincolnshire
and Humberside
. D8070–D8127 were sent to operate in the Scottish lowlands
, particularly in the Forth
-Clyde
area, and the Fife
coalfield
. This completed the original orders for 128 locos, the last being delivered in August 1962.
With the subsequent order for a further 100 Class 20 locos, deliveries recommenced with D8128 in January 1966. Tests in 1967 using D8179 and D8317 resulted in locos from D8316 being delivered from the manufacturer with the new electronic control system for working merry-go-round
(MGR) coal trains. Trains to Longannet Power Station
sometimes required locos to triple-head trains.
and High Speed 1 and some even made their way to France
to work for the Compagnie des chemins de Fer Départementaux (CFD) in industry there, although these have since been repatriated. Some locos have in the past been hired by Hunslet-Barclay to provide motive power for weedkilling trains. These trains sprayed a weedkiller onto the track bed.
Direct Rail Services
' (DRS) fleet of Class 20/3s has at times seen frequent work across Britain in pairs, or with Class 37s, on nuclear flask
trains, the company's speciality. Perhaps the most unusual train hauled by a Class 20 was the Kosovo
Train for Life charter train in Autumn 1999 which carried 8000 tonnes of aid. Leaving London's Kensington Olympia station on 17 September 1999, the train was hauled by 20901, 20902 and 20903 throughout, reaching Prague
by 20 September and arrived at Pristina
station at 10:00 on 25 September 1999.
In 2005, Harry Needle Railroad Company
(HNRC) acquired a large number of 20/0s and 20/9s from the DRS stored fleet. By May 2008 HNRC had 16 Class 20s in storage and 8 operational of which two are on hire at Corus
Scunthorpe (nos 81 and 82). DRS have 15 Class 20/3 locos operational.
HNRC now plan to re-engine many of the 20s and put them up for sale, together with many shunters that they presently own.
In 1966, D8048 was selected by the BR design panel for livery experiments and was painted in the prototype standard blue, including the bufferbeams and roof. The exceptions were the full yellow front ends and a black underframe. After the adoption of Rail Blue as the BR livery, D8178 became one of the first locomotives to be delivered in this livery (along with Class 25
D7660 and Class 47
D1953) and all subsequent locomotives were delivered in this livery. Despite this, some locos continued to be returned to traffic in green livery, although often with the later BR "double arrow" logo and data panel; thus 20141 was the final main line loco to carry BR green livery.
Some locomotives, including 20227, were repainted in the Railfreight grey livery with red sole bars, yellow ends and large double arrows on the sides.
At least four of the class were painted in the British Rail Telecommunications
livery:
have been painted in Corus livery; previously silver but currently a bright yellow-green with red solebar and silver cab sides.
Four locomotives have also carried the orange and white livery of the CFD (Compagnie de Chemins de Fer Departementaux) : 20035, 20063, 20139, 20228 whilst working in France.
Number 20227 has been used extensively on the London Underground
network. In the mid-2000s was painted in Metropolitan
maroon livery and named "Sir John Betjeman
" by the Class 20 Locomotive Society as acknowledgement of this work. It is now back in Railfreight
red-stripe livery.
film Goldeneye
, British Rail Class 20 No. D8188 was used as the locomotive of an escape train, with the addition of armour plating to give the impression of a Russian armoured locomotive. In addition, the distinctive engine noise was overdubbed with the sounds of an EMD 16-567.
in York
.
produced several of the Class 20 in various liveries in 00 gauge, which were based on old Lima
tooling
. Bachmann Branchline
(00) have their own version of the model in various liveries. Also with DCC sound fitted locomotives. Bachmann (Graham Farish
) have also produced a model in various liveries in N gauge.
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
(BR) Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
. In total, 228 locomotives in the class were built by English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
between 1957 and 1968, the large number being in part because of the failure of other early designs in the same power range to provide reliable locomotives.
The locomotives were originally numbered D8000–D8199 and D8300–D8327. They are known by railway enthusiasts as "Choppers", a name derived from the distinctive beat the engine produces under load which resembles the sound of a helicopter.
Overview
Designed around relatively basic technology, the 73-tonne locomotives produce 1000 hp and can operate at up to 75 mph (33.5 m/s). Designed to work light mixed freightFreight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
traffic, they have no train heating facilities. Locomotives up to D8127 were fitted with disc indicators in the style of the steam era; when headcodes were introduced in 1960 the locomotive’s design was changed to incorporate headcode boxes. Although older locomotives were not retro-fitted with headcode boxes, a few of the earlier batch acquired headcode boxes as a result of repairs. Unusually for British designs, the locomotive had a single cab. This caused serious problems with visibility when travelling nose first, though in these circumstances the driver's view is comparable to that on the steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s that the Class 20s replaced.
The Class 20 saw only limited service on passenger trains. A small number were fitted with a through pipe for steam heating
Steam generator (railroad)
Steam generator is the term used to describe a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars...
, primarily for use in conjunction with a Class 37
British Rail Class 37
The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
locomotive on the West Highland Line
West Highland Line
The West Highland Line is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic...
. Otherwise their use was limited to summer relief services, particularly to Skegness
Skegness
Skegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910....
often under the adopted title of The Jolly Fisherman
The Jolly Fisherman
The Jolly Fisherman is a poster created by artist John Hassall in 1908 after he had been commissioned by the Great Northern Railways . It is regarded as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time and is believed to have significantly influenced the success of Skegness, Lincolnshire...
starting from various places including Burton-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Leicester. Also occasionally other holiday resorts on the east coast of England, occasional duties as a pilot
Pilot (locomotive)
In railroading, the pilot is the device mounted at the front of a locomotive to deflect obstacles from the track that might otherwise derail the train. In some countries it is also called cowcatcher or cattle catcher....
, and short distance diversions of electric-hauled trains over non-electrified lines.
The shift of light mixed freight to the road network left British Rail with an oversupply of small locomotives. The Class 20s, however, could work in multiple
Multiple working
Multiple working is a term used on the UK rail network to describe the practice of having more than one diesel or electric locomotive hauling a train under the control of one driver.-Terminology:...
and so handle heavier traffic. Most spent the majority of their working lives coupled nose to nose in pairs to provide a more useful 2000 hp unit and to solve the visibility problems.
Most have now been withdrawn but a few remain with DRS
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought...
and other minor and industrial operators. Several which are usually operated singly have been fitted with nose-mounted video cameras in order to solve the visibility problems.
British Rail
The first batch of Class 20s were allocated to Devons Road depot in BowBow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to work cross-London transfer freights, with the following eight locos allocated to Hornsey depot
Hornsey TMD
Hornsey Electric Multiple Unit Depot is a railway maintenance depot for First Capital Connect's Great Northern fleet of electric multiple units, as well as carrying out those maintenance tasks on FCC's Thameslink Class 319 and 377 units which Bedford Cauldwell depot is unable to do...
. After a trial with D8006, D8028–D8034 were allocated for work in highland Scotland, and had tablet
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
catcher recesses built in to the cabsides. D8035–D8044 were originally to be allocated to Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, but were actually used for empty coaching stock (ECS) workings in and out of London Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
. D8050–D8069 were allocated to the new Tinsley
Tinsley Motive Power Depot
Tinsley Motive Power Depot, latterly Tinsley Traction Maintenance Depot was built as part of the Sheffield district rail rationalisation plan of the 1960s opening during 1965 and situated adjacent to, but at a higher level than the new Tinsley Marshalling Yard alongside the Sheffield District...
TMD
Traction maintenance depot
In the United Kingdom, a traction maintenance depot, or TMD, is a railway depot where locomotives are serviced and maintained. A traction and rolling stock maintenance depot, or T&RSMD, is a maintenance depot where locomotives, multiple units and rolling stock are serviced and maintained. Each rail...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, from where they regularly worked into Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and Humberside
Humberside
Humberside was a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in Northern England from 1 April 1974 until 1 April 1996. It was composed of land from either side of the Humber Estuary, created from portions of the East and West ridings of Yorkshire and parts of Lindsey, Lincolnshire...
. D8070–D8127 were sent to operate in the Scottish lowlands
Scottish Lowlands
The Scottish Lowlands is a name given to the Southern half of Scotland.The area is called a' Ghalldachd in Scottish Gaelic, and the Lawlands ....
, particularly in the Forth
River Forth
The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...
-Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
area, and the Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
coalfield
Coalfield
A coalfield is an area of certain uniform characteristics where coal is mined. The criteria for determining the approximate boundary of a coalfield are geographical and cultural, in addition to geological...
. This completed the original orders for 128 locos, the last being delivered in August 1962.
With the subsequent order for a further 100 Class 20 locos, deliveries recommenced with D8128 in January 1966. Tests in 1967 using D8179 and D8317 resulted in locos from D8316 being delivered from the manufacturer with the new electronic control system for working merry-go-round
Merry-go-round train
A Merry-go-round train, often abbreviated to MGR, is a block train of hopper wagons which both loads and unloads its cargo while moving. In the United Kingdom, they are most commonly coal trains delivering to power stations...
(MGR) coal trains. Trains to Longannet Power Station
Longannet power station
Longannet power station is a large coal-fired power station in Fife capable of co-firing biomass, natural gas and sludge. The station is situated on the north bank of the Firth of Forth, near Kincardine on Forth. Its generating capacity of 2,400 megawatts is the highest of any power station in...
sometimes required locos to triple-head trains.
After privatisation
Some Class 20s were used on the construction of the Channel TunnelChannel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
and High Speed 1 and some even made their way to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to work for the Compagnie des chemins de Fer Départementaux (CFD) in industry there, although these have since been repatriated. Some locos have in the past been hired by Hunslet-Barclay to provide motive power for weedkilling trains. These trains sprayed a weedkiller onto the track bed.
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought...
' (DRS) fleet of Class 20/3s has at times seen frequent work across Britain in pairs, or with Class 37s, on nuclear flask
Nuclear flask
A nuclear flask is a shipping container that is used to transport active nuclear materials between many nuclear power stations in the UK. Each flask weighs more than 50 tonnes, and transports usually not more than 2.5 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel....
trains, the company's speciality. Perhaps the most unusual train hauled by a Class 20 was the Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
Train for Life charter train in Autumn 1999 which carried 8000 tonnes of aid. Leaving London's Kensington Olympia station on 17 September 1999, the train was hauled by 20901, 20902 and 20903 throughout, reaching Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
by 20 September and arrived at Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
station at 10:00 on 25 September 1999.
In 2005, Harry Needle Railroad Company
Harry Needle Railroad Company
The Harry Needle Railroad Company is a railway spot-hire company, based at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in Derbyshire. The company is also a scrap dealer and has dismantled many railway vehicles, either on site, or at the European Metal Recycling scrapyard in...
(HNRC) acquired a large number of 20/0s and 20/9s from the DRS stored fleet. By May 2008 HNRC had 16 Class 20s in storage and 8 operational of which two are on hire at Corus
Corus Group
Tata Steel Europe is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the second-largest steel-maker in Europe and is a subsidiary of Tata Steel of India, one of the ten largest steel producers in the world.Corus Group was formed through the merger of Koninklijke...
Scunthorpe (nos 81 and 82). DRS have 15 Class 20/3 locos operational.
HNRC now plan to re-engine many of the 20s and put them up for sale, together with many shunters that they presently own.
Sub-classes
| Sub-Class | Description |
|---|---|
| 20/0 | Standard as built locos |
| 20/3 (under British Rail) | Small fleet of standard Class 20/0s modified for Peak Forest Peak Forest Peak Forest is a small village on the main road the from Chapel-en-le-Frith to Chesterfield in England.The village grew from the earlier settlement of Dam at the conjunction of Perrydale and Damdale. There is an inn, a village shop and a Primary School... aggregate Construction Aggregate Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world... workings |
| 20/3 (DRS Direct Rail Services Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought... ) |
DRS-owned/operated locos fitted with modified cab equipment and fully refurbished |
| 20/9 | Modified from Class 20/0 after withdrawal and sold to Hunslet-Barclay for contract freight use. Few technical differences from standard locos. Later sold to DRS and recently some to HNRC. |
British Rail
D8000 was delivered in 1957 in overall green livery, with grey footplate, red bufferbeams and a grey roof extending down the bodyside to the edge of the roof panels. The original batch of 10 locos bore the BR crest facing towards the nose on both sides, used yellow sans serif numerals, and had green cab roofs; locos from D8010 had the correct pattern BR crest, white numerals and grey cab roof. This was adjusted after D8103 to include a small yellow warning panel, although the precise size and detail of such panels varied somewhat.In 1966, D8048 was selected by the BR design panel for livery experiments and was painted in the prototype standard blue, including the bufferbeams and roof. The exceptions were the full yellow front ends and a black underframe. After the adoption of Rail Blue as the BR livery, D8178 became one of the first locomotives to be delivered in this livery (along with Class 25
British Rail Class 25
The British Rail Class 25 diesel locomotives were also known as Sulzer Type 2 and nicknamed Rats, as it was alleged they could be seen everywhere in Britain, and hence were "as common as rats"...
D7660 and Class 47
British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
D1953) and all subsequent locomotives were delivered in this livery. Despite this, some locos continued to be returned to traffic in green livery, although often with the later BR "double arrow" logo and data panel; thus 20141 was the final main line loco to carry BR green livery.
Some locomotives, including 20227, were repainted in the Railfreight grey livery with red sole bars, yellow ends and large double arrows on the sides.
At least four of the class were painted in the British Rail Telecommunications
British Rail Telecommunications
In May 1837 William Fothergill Cooke and Professor Charles Wheatstone entered into a partnership, and on 10th June patented a five-needle telegraph for which five wires were necessary. The telegraph worked by deflecting any two of the needles at the same time to point to any one of 20 letters on...
livery:
- 20075 - Sir William CookeWilliam Fothergill CookeSir William Fothergill Cooke was, with Charles Wheatstone, the co-inventor of the Cooke-Wheatstone electrical telegraph, which was patented in May 1837...
- rebuilt as 20309 and in service with DRS - 20128 - Guglielmo MarconiGuglielmo MarconiGuglielmo Marconi was an Italian inventor, known as the father of long distance radio transmission and for his development of Marconi's law and a radio telegraph system. Marconi is often credited as the inventor of radio, and indeed he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand...
- rebuilt as 20307 and in service with DRS - 20131 - Almon B. Strowger - rebuilt as 20306 and in service with DRS
- 20187 - Sir Charles WheatstoneCharles WheatstoneSir Charles Wheatstone FRS , was an English scientist and inventor of many scientific breakthroughs of the Victorian era, including the English concertina, the stereoscope , and the Playfair cipher...
- rebuilt as 20308 and in service with DRS
Privatisation
Class 20/9 locomotives operated by DRS have all been painted in DRS blue, with grey roof, red buffer beams and full yellow ends. There have been small variations in the shade of yellow used on these locos, and the penetration of blue from the sides onto the ends. Some locomotives owned by HNRC, of subclasses 20/0 and 20/9, have been painted in a variation of two-tone grey livery. These have dark grey roof, mid-grey upper body and light grey lower body, black underframe and buffer beam. The nose end is painted yellow, which the lower part of the cab end is yellow and the upper part black, this continuing round the cab sides but with the light grey instead of yellow. However, HNRC Class 20s on long-term hire to CorusCorus Group
Tata Steel Europe is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the second-largest steel-maker in Europe and is a subsidiary of Tata Steel of India, one of the ten largest steel producers in the world.Corus Group was formed through the merger of Koninklijke...
have been painted in Corus livery; previously silver but currently a bright yellow-green with red solebar and silver cab sides.
Four locomotives have also carried the orange and white livery of the CFD (Compagnie de Chemins de Fer Departementaux) : 20035, 20063, 20139, 20228 whilst working in France.
Number 20227 has been used extensively on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
network. In the mid-2000s was painted in Metropolitan
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
maroon livery and named "Sir John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
" by the Class 20 Locomotive Society as acknowledgement of this work. It is now back in Railfreight
Railfreight
Railfreight was a sector of British Rail responsible for all freight operations on the British network. The division was created in 1982 when BR sought to assign particular stock and management to the evolving requirements of freight traffic...
red-stripe livery.
In popular culture
In the 1995 James BondJames Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Goldeneye
GoldenEye
GoldenEye is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell and is the first film in the series not to take story elements from the works of novelist Ian Fleming...
, British Rail Class 20 No. D8188 was used as the locomotive of an escape train, with the addition of armour plating to give the impression of a Russian armoured locomotive. In addition, the distinctive engine noise was overdubbed with the sounds of an EMD 16-567.
Preservation
A total of 25 Class 20 locomotives are preserved, including the first of the class built, D8000, which is part of the National Railway Collection at the National Railway MuseumNational Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
| TOPS number | Currentnumber | Preserved by | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20001 | D8001 | Class 20 Locomotive Society | Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Ecclesbourne Valley Railway The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is a long heritage railway in Derbyshire, the headquarters of the railway centre around Wirksworth station and services operate between Wirksworth and Duffield and Wirksworth and Ravenstor... |
| 20007 | D8007 | English Electric Preservation | Great Central Railway, Nottingham Great Central Railway (preserved) The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and... |
| 20020 | 20020 | Scottish Railway Preservation Society | Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a Heritage railway in Falkirk, Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, and operates some 5 miles of track, virtually the entire Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway that became part of the former North British Railway on the Firth... |
| 20031 | 20031 | Privately owned | Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 20035 ex CFD Sutton Coldfeild |
| 20048 | D8048 | Midland Class 20 Association | Midland Railway, Butterley |
| 20050 | D8000 | National Collection | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... |
| 20059 | D8059 | Somerset & Dorset Loco Company | Severn Valley Railway Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route... |
| 20069 | D8069 | Privately owned | Mid-Norfolk Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway.... |
| 20087 | 20087 | Bury Diesel Group |
East Lancs Railway |
| 20096 | 20096 | Based at barrow Hill | |
| 20098 | D8098 | Type One locomotive company Ltd | Great Central Railway, Loughborough Great Central Railway (preserved) The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and... |
| 20107 | H010 | RMS Locotec | Weardale Railway Weardale Railway The Weardale Railway is a British single-track branch line railway providing regular daily passenger service between Bishop Auckland , Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope. Services began on 23 May 2010 after a lapse of almost sixty years. The railway originally ran from Bishop Auckland to... |
| 20110 | 20110 | South Devon Diesel Traction | South Devon Railway South Devon Railway South Devon Railway could mean:* South Devon Railway Company - the company that built the railway from Exeter to Plymouth* South Devon Railway Trust - the heritage railway from Totnes to BuckfastleighOther heritage railways in South Devon include:... |
| 20117 | 20117 | Somerset & Dorset Loco Company | Stored at Severn Valley Railway Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route... , being used as a source of spare parts for their other Class 20 locomotives |
| 20118 | 20118 | Harry Needle Railroad Company Harry Needle Railroad Company The Harry Needle Railroad Company is a railway spot-hire company, based at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in Derbyshire. The company is also a scrap dealer and has dismantled many railway vehicles, either on site, or at the European Metal Recycling scrapyard in... |
Currently running on the North Norfolk Railway North Norfolk Railway The North Norfolk Railway – also known as the "Poppy Line" – is a heritage steam railway in Norfolk, England, running between the coastal town of Sheringham and Holt, It cuts through the countryside to the east of Weybourne with views of its windmill and passes through the well preserved country... |
| 20137 | D8137 | Privately owned | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Warwickshire Borders that has reopened the closed railway line between Laverton Halt and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire., it currently... |
| 20142 | D8142 | Privately owned | West Ruislip LUL Depot |
| 20154 | 20154 | English Electric Preservation | Great Central Railway, Nottingham |
| 20166 | 20166 | Harry Needle Railroad Company Harry Needle Railroad Company The Harry Needle Railroad Company is a railway spot-hire company, based at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in Derbyshire. The company is also a scrap dealer and has dismantled many railway vehicles, either on site, or at the European Metal Recycling scrapyard in... |
Wensleydale Railway Wensleydale Railway The Wensleydale Railway is a railway line in Wensleydale and Lower Swaledale in North Yorkshire, England and the name of the company that operates services on the line.... |
| 20169 | D8169 | Privately owned | Kirkby Stephen East railway station Kirkby Stephen East railway station Kirkby Stephen East railway station was situated on the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway between Barnard Castle and Tebay. It served the town of Kirkby Stephen in England. The station opened to passenger traffic on 8 August 1861, and closed on 22 January 1962.The station had an extensive... |
| 20188 | D8188 | Somerset & Dorset Loco Company | Severn Valley Railway Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route... |
| 20189 | 20189 | Privately owned | West Ruislip LUL Depot |
| 20205 | 20907 | Class 20 Locomotive Society | Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 20214 | 20214 | Privately owned | Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway is a heritage railway in Cumbria, England.-Location:The L&HR runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere... |
| 20227 | 20227 | Class 20 Locomotive Society | West Ruislip LUL Depot |
| 20228 | 2004 | Privately owned | Barry Island Railway |
Models
Hornby Dublo, later Wrenn, made an 00-gauge plastic-bodied model class 20 from 1958 until the 1970's. In 2008, HornbyHornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
produced several of the Class 20 in various liveries in 00 gauge, which were based on old Lima
Lima (models)
Lima S.p.A was a brand of railway models made in Vicenza, Italy, for almost 50 years, from the early 1950s until the company ceased trading in 2004...
tooling
Injection molding
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity...
. Bachmann Branchline
Bachmann Branchline
Bachmann Branchline is a brand name of Bachmann Industries used for British outline 00 gauge model railways.Bachmann, a US company founded in 1835, was purchased by Kader Industries in 1987. Kader had previously produced models for Palitoy under the 'Mainline' brand...
(00) have their own version of the model in various liveries. Also with DCC sound fitted locomotives. Bachmann (Graham Farish
Graham Farish
Graham Farish is a company that produces large quantities of British outline model railway equipment in N gauge.-History:The Poole, Dorset based manufacturer of radio parts and kits entered the model railway business in the late 1940s, after the need for radio sets reduced post World War II...
) have also produced a model in various liveries in N gauge.