The British Rail Class 10 diesel locomotive was a variant of the standard Class 08 diesel-electric shunter with a Lister Blackstone diesel engine and General Electric Company plc (GEC) traction motors. The locomotives were built at the BR Works in Darlington and Doncaster over the period 1955–1962, and were withdrawn between February 1967 and June 1972.

British Rail Class 10
D3634 (never renumbered in the "10" series) in BR green at Stratford MPD, July 1967.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder BR Darlington Works (140) and Doncaster Works (6) Build date 1955–1962 Total produced 146
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0  • UIC C Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 6 in (1.372 m) Wheelbase 11 ft 6 in (3.505 m) Length 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m) Width 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) Height 12 ft 8+1⁄2 in (3.874 m) Loco weight 48.6 long tons (49.4 t; 54.4 short tons) Fuel capacity 668 imp gal (3,040 l; 802 US gal) Prime mover Blackstone ER6T Traction motors GEC WT821 nose suspended, 2 off Transmission Diesel-electric, double reduction gearing MU working Not fitted Train heating None Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 20 mph (32 km/h) Power output Engine: 350 hp (261 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 35,000 lbf (155.7 kN) Continuous: 11,100 lbf (49.4 kN)
Career Operators British Railways Numbers 13137–13151; later D3137–D3151, D3439–D3453, D3473–D3502, D3612–D3651, D4049–D4094 Axle load class RA 5 Withdrawn February 1967- June 1972 Disposition Four preserved, remainder scrapped

Background

British Railways built four main variants of its standard large diesel-electric shunter. Those fitted with a Lister Blackstone diesel engine were classified D3/4 if they had GEC traction motors and D3/5 with British Thomson-Houston (BTH) traction motors. The D3/4 locomotives were later reclassified to become Class 10 under TOPS. [1]

Technical details

The locomotives had the same general outline, 0-6-0 wheel arrangement and outside frames as the earlier Class 11, built originally for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway after 1945, and perpetuated by British Railways as the Class 08. However, they were fitted with Lister Blackstone 6-cylinder, 4-stroke, ER6T engines and two GEC nose suspended motors. [2]

Building and use

The first batch of thirty locomotives, originally numbered 13137-13151, (later renumbered D3137-D3151) were built at Darlington works during 1955, and allocated to motive power depots in the North Eastern Region of British Railways, notably Thornaby.[3] [4] Further batches were built at Darlington as follows: D3439-D3453 (1957); D3473-D3491 (1957/8); D3612-D3651 (1958); D4049-D4094 (1961/2). These were allocated to the Eastern Region of British Railways particularly in the London area. Six examples, D3497-D3502, were built at Doncaster (1957/8). The class eventually numbered 146 locomotives.

Withdrawal

As they were non-standard, compared to the 08 class they had relatively short lives and were withdrawn between February 1967 and June 1972. Twenty locomotives were sold to industrial customers.

Post BR Use

Preservation

Four examples have been preserved:

• D3452 at Bodmin and Wenford Railway
• D3489 at Spa Valley Railway
• D4067 at Great Central Railway
• D4092 at Barrow Hill Engine Shed
• A fifth example, D3476, was stored on the Colne Valley Railway, though has since been scrapped.

References

• Strickland, David C. (September 1983). Locomotive Directory: Every Single One There Has Ever Been. Camberley: Diesel and Electric Group. pp. 53–61. ISBN 978-0-906375-10-5. OCLC 16601890. OL 27959920M. Wikidata Q105978499.