Ex-BR (‘Main line’) DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES AT BLAENAVON

Uploaded 30 July 2009

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This page tabulates details of our ex-British Railways ‘main line’ diesel locomotives, and became necessary as our loco fleet expanded. It replaces a single page that included all our diesel locos – both industrial and ‘main line – and which was first uploaded May 2006’

	English Electric Type 3 (TOPS Class 37/4) No.37421 (added 30 July 2009) Locomotive details:- Builder: English Electric Co Ltd. Built:1963 at Vulcan Foundry. Wheel Arrangement: Co-Co Weight: 105 Tons Tractive effort:45,000 Power unit: English Electric supercharged 12CSVT diesel engine delivering 1750 hp at 850rpm to an EE type 822/10G main generator. Transmission: Electric Traction motors: 6xEE538-A, axle hung, nose suspended Driving wheels:3ft 7ins Maximum speed: 80mph
	Brush A1A-A1A D5627 (TOPS Class 31/1 No.31 203) ‘Steve Organ GM’ (added 30 July 09) Locomotive details:- Builder: Brush Traction Built: 1957-1962 at Loughborough Wheel Arrangement: A1A-A1A Weight: 107-111 Tons Tractive effort:39,500lbs Power unit: English Electric 12SVT diesel engine delivering 1470 hp (originally Mirrlees JVS12T). Transmission: Electric Traction motors: Four Brush TM 73-68 traction motors Driving wheels:3ft 7ins, Idling wheels: 3ft 3.5ins Maximum speed: 80mph
	Class 73/1 Electro-diesel No.73128 ‘OVS Bulleid CBE’ Locomotive details:- Builder: English Electric Co Ltd. Built:1966 at Vulcan Foundry. Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo Power unit: Third rail electric yielding 1600hp or diesel 4SRKT, Mk2 engine yielding 600hp Transmission: Electric Traction motors - 4xEE546-1B These are primarily electric locomotives, and were designed to work normally on the Southern Region third rail electrified lines. However in order for them to work into those few areas where the third-rail had not been laid, they were also fitted with relatively small diesel engine and generator sets. The first six of this class were built at Eastleigh in 1962, when they were called class JA, but so successful were they that many more were ordered from English Electric at Newton-le-Willows. These were called class JB. In the later TOPS scheme they were referred to as class 73/0 and class 73/1 respectively.. It once carried the nameplates 'OVS BULLEID CBE’ but currently works with nameplates ‘Silver Jubili / Jiwbili Arian’. It is finished in original EW&S cream and red. 73128, which is on hire for two years, at least, arrived on 12 March 2008. Original name ‘OVS BULLEID CBE, re-applied and rededicated 26 July 2009, at the PBR Diesel Gala Right New nameplates added 26 July 2009
	English Electric Type 3 (TOPS Class 37/2) No.37216 Locomotive details:- Builder: English Electric Co Ltd. Built:1963 at Vulcan Foundry. Wheel Arrangement: Co-Co Weight: 105 Tons Tractive effort:45,000 Power unit: English Electric supercharged 12CSVT diesel engine delivering 1750 hp at 850rpm to an EE type 822/10G main generator. Transmission: Electric Traction motors: 6xEE538-A, axle hung, nose suspended Driving wheels:3ft 7ins Maximum speed: 80mph Our first permanently resident main-line diesel loco, privately owned, and which arrived 20 July 2007. Too large and powerful for everyday work on the line, and reserved for special events, it will become every day traction when the line is extended to Blaenavon (High Level) by the beginning of 2010, and the necessary run-round loops are installed.
37216 (as D6916) was delivered to Landore Swansea on 02/01/64, moving to Cardiff in the September, back to Landore in February 65 before departing for Healey Mills on the Eastern region in October 1967. The locomotives proved themselves to be strong and reliable performers and eventually worked to all points of the rail network from Penzance to Wick and even more recently abroad. During the 1980s many were refurbished to extend there life and usefulness. This included a complete engine refurbishment, replacement of the electrical system and changes to auxiliary equipment. 37216 wasn’t picked for refurbishment and carried on hard at work, primarily in East Anglia. In 1992 however 37216 was plucked from obscurity and repainted into a heritage green livery and given the name Great Eastern In the run up to privatisation 37216 was allocated to the Mainline train company and repainted in their aircraft blue with silver trimmings livery which it carried on arrival at Blaenavon. In October 2003, 37216 was placed into tactical reserve and stored pending use if required but this never happened and in May 2007 was sold for scrap being moved from Motherwell (Glasgow)  to EMR Kingsbury in June.  A month later it was purchased privately and bought to Blaenavon. photo: Mark Henderson
		B.R.Type 1, 0-6-0DM, No D2141 (TOPS Class 03, No. 03141) Locomotive details:- Builder: British Railways Built:1960 at Swindon. Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0DM Weight: 30 Tons Tractive effort:15,300 lbs Power unit: Gardner 4-cylinder type 8L3 of 204BHP. Transmission: Mechanical, Vulcan-Sinclair type 23 fluid coupling. Wilson-Drewry Type CA5 R7 type five-speed epicyclic gearbox. Tupe RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final drive unit Wheel diameter: 3ft 7ins Maximum speed: 28.5mph Withdrawn from Landore in July 1985, this loco has beena bit of a Mayfly in preservation. It went to the Dean Forest Railwaqy in early 2002, and to the Swansea Vale in 2005. It finally arrived here on 29 April 2008. It has now taken up residence in the bottom shed, and work, both to fix its engine, which has a missing piston, and to give it a sorely needed paintjob is well underway. This is a modified version of the 03 with a cut down cab in order to work the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley line, where there are severe height constraints, caused by low bridges. The loco is seen here on the day of her arrival – she is looking very different now! .

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