British Rail Class 42
Warship locomotives were divided into two batches: those built at BR's Swindon works were numbered in the series D800-D832 and D866-D870,[1] had a maximum tractive effort of 52,400 pounds-force (233,000 N) and eventually became British Rail Class 42.In the mid-1960s, the WR decided upon maroon as its new house colour for mainline diesel locomotives, this going very much against standard schemes imposed by BR's overall management.A handful of Maroon examples, including D809, D815 & D817 remained in traffic until 5 October 1971, and were finally withdrawn in this colour scheme, although by now wearing full yellow ends.The D800s were originally intended for the Paddington–Birmingham Snow Hill route and tests proved that their lighter weight and higher power allowed them to run to a two-hour schedule with 368 tons in tow: one coach more than a Class 40 could manage.These plans were put back when Paddington became the temporary London terminus of choice for Birmingham during the early 1960s, whilst BR's preferred route from Euston via Rugby was electrified.Loads of greater than 370 tons would be required and the service remained steam-hauled until the advent of the more powerful Class 52 Western diesel-hydraulic locomotives.The root cause of this worry was the effect of small-diameter powered wheels carrying far more weight per inch of tread than those of a steam locomotive.These concerns arose particularly from experiences in the United States of America although the significant rail damage reported there was mostly caused by wheel sliding under braking with heavy trailing loads which were very unlikely to occur on BR.Around this time, several D800 drivers began reporting uncomfortable lurching over points or on poorly maintained track at high speeds.All speed running ceased after autumn 1960, when BR's timetabling methodology as a whole changed towards making all inter-city services more regular interval with standardised train formations and more intermediate stops.The WR also took the opportunity to reduce its former rival's main line to single track for long stretches west of Salisbury and to sell off the "surplus" land – a move that is widely regretted today.By 1969 only two services were booked for a pair of D800s, albeit losing a further 15 minutes off the schedule, and the timetable was largely recast into separate Torbay and Plymouth trains, instead of being split en route.[6] Prejudice against hydraulic transmission among the heads of BR's engineering divisions led them to announce in 1967 that all the WR's diesel-hydraulics were non-standard and should be withdrawn as soon as possible.It was, for example, physically impossible to accommodate a compressor as well as an exhauster, so the locomotives were unable to haul newer designs of air-braked coaching stock.Many withdrawn examples were hastily cannibalised for spare parts to keep the others going as stocks had been reduced in anticipation of a swifter end to D800 operation than was in the event possible.D829 Magpie had gained celebrity status due to its appearance on the popular TV show of the same name and there was an attempt to preserve the engine.[2][11] D818 became a "pet" of the employees of Swindon Works and was repainted from Rail Blue with full yellow ends back into its original green livery.For example, the correspondent claims to have seen D828 Magnificent throughout June 1971 and on 4 July 1971 being hauled dead by Class 22 D6326 with fire damage and presumed to be heading for withdrawal at Newton Abbot depot.In 1980 a further livery was offered in the form of D823 Hermes in BR Maroon with small yellow warning panels, and the class appeared once more in the 1981 catalogue.
Crowcombe HeathfieldWest Somerset RailwayBritish RailwaysSwindon Worksstandard gaugeMinimum curvechainslong tonsshort tonsPrime moverPaxman VenturaBristol SiddeleyMaybach MD650Diesel engineMekydroHydraulicMU workingTrain brakesVacuumTractive effortBritish RailRoute availabilitydiesel-hydraulic locomotivesWest GermanyWestern Region of British RailwaysGerman Federal Railway's "V200"loading gaugeBR's Swindon worksmaximum tractive effortNorth British Locomotive CompanyBritish Rail Class 43Bristol Bath RoadPlymouth LairaNewton AbbotOld Oak CommonCastleExeter to Plymouth lineDeutsche Bundesbahn V 200 classMaybachPaxmanClass 44 Peak locomotiveNorth British LocomotivesMercedesPaddingtonBritish Transport CommissionBirmingham Snow HillClass 40Class 52 WesternNewburyWestburyCornish Riviera ExpressPlymouthBristolianHatfield rail crashChippenhamClass 47Waterloo–Exeter routeGreat Western RailwaySouthern Region of British RailwaysSouthern RailwayAtlantic Coast ExpressBirmingham New StreetClass 52 WesternsClass 33selectric train heatingTV show of the same nameClass 22East Lancashire RailwayRailway Technical CentreSevern Valley RailwaySir Brian RobertsonJ Cashmore LtdVanguardFormidableAlbionAvengerBenbowCambrianCaradocCentaurChampionCockadeDaringThe Royal Naval Reserve 1859–1959DiademDragonnarrowboatEclipseFoxhoundGoliathGrenvilleGreyhoundHerculesHermesHighflyerIntrepidJupiterMagnificentMagpieMajesticMonarchOnslaughtZenithZephyrDiesel 10Thomas & FriendsThomas and the Magic RailroadMinitrixBritish N gaugeRail BlueBachmannOO gaugePalitoyHornby RailwaysIan AllanAllen, Geoffrey FreemanRail Enthusiast18 (I)18 (II)21 (I)21 (II)22 (I) 41 (I)41 (II)41 (III)43 (I)