The British Rail Class 13 was a type of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. The type was designed in 1965 because of the need to provide more powerful shunters for the Tinsley Marshalling Yard. Because of Tinsley's status as a hump yard, it was not possible to use a single locomotive owing to the risk of grounding. So, to achieve the required power, a pair of Class 08 shunters were permanently coupled in 'master and slave' formation, with the slave unit having had its cab removed. Both units were then ballasted to improve traction. Initially coupled cab-to-cab, it was found more practical to couple master nose to slave cab.

British Rail Class 13
Master and slave unit D4501, Tinsley Marshalling Yard 1972
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder British Railways Darlington Works (builder and rebuilder) Build date 1965 (rebuilt) Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0+0-6-0  • AAR C-C  • UIC C+C Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 6 in (1.372 m) Wheelbase 42 ft 1+1⁄2 in (12.84 m) Length 60 ft 1 in (18.31 m) Width 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) Height 12 ft 8+1⁄2 in (3.87 m) Loco weight 120 long tons (122 t; 134 short tons) Fuel capacity 1,336 imp gal (6,070 l; 1,604 US gal) Prime mover English Electric 6KT, 2 off Generator DC Traction motors EE, four off Transmission Diesel electric, double reduction gearing MU working Not fitted (except control of slave by master) Train heating None Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 20 mph (32 km/h) Power output Engine: 350 hp (261 kW) × 2 Tractive effort Maximum: 70,000 lbf (311.4 kN) Brakeforce 37 long tons-force (370 kN)
Career Operators British Railways Numbers D4500–D4502, later 13 001–13 003 Axle load class RA 8 Retired 1981–1985 Scrapped 1982 (13 002) 1985-6 (13 001 and 13 003) Disposition All scrapped

Units

Three pairs were formed as follows:

Withdrawal

With the end of hump shunting at Tinsley the class became obsolete. The unique qualities of the locomotives were not required elsewhere and so withdrawal was inevitable; 13 002 was withdrawn in 1981, with the remaining two locomotives going with the closure of Tinsley hump in 1985. None of this unusual class survives.[4]

References

• Strickland, David C. (1983). Locomotive Directory—every single one there has ever been. Camberley, Surrey: Diesel and Electric Group. pp. 53–55. ISBN 0-906375-10-X.

Further reading

• McManus, Michael. Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 - 1968. Wirral. Michael McManus.
• Vehicle Diagram Book No. 120 for Shunting Diesel Locomotives (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. Derby: British Railways Board. April 1974. 13-a.
• Pobgee, Ray (February 1983). "We're two of a kind...". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 22–23. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
• Cooke, B.W.C, ed. (March 1966). "Composite Hump Shunters". Railway Magazine. Vol. 112, no. 779. pp. 164–166.

External links

• Image of 13001 at Tinsley MPD
• Photographs of 13003 at work at Tinsley hump Marshalling Yard

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