Power type Diesel-electric Build date 1950 AAR wheel arr. B-B | Serial number 26413 | |
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British Railways 10800 was a diesel locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company for British Railways in 1950. It had been ordered by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1946 but did not appear until after the 1948 nationalisation of the railways.
Contents
Design was by George Ivatt and the locomotive was intended as a possible replacement for steam locomotives on secondary and branch lines. The single-cab layout (long bonnet forward) gave the driver a poor view of the road ahead. The view was no worse than a steam locomotive's, so it would have been considered acceptable at the time.
During its brief time on the Southern Region between 1952 and 1954, 10800 gained the nickname 'The Wonder Engine', from the locomotive department's daily query, 'I wonder if it will go today'.
Description
Due to having been ordered by the LMS before the creation of British Railways (BR), 10800 became the first BR mixed-traffic Diesel-Electric locomotive when it was delivered in 1950. Operationally it was successful enough for BR to order two classes of 54 similar locomotives in 1955 although these, destined to become BR Class 15 and BR Class 16, used the improved YHXL engine.
Extra Information
Rebuilding
In 1961 or 1962 (sources differ) No. 10800 was bought by Brush Traction and rebuilt for experiments in a.c. power transmission. Brush named the locomotive "Hawk".
It was used until 1968, and slowly stripped for parts from April 1972, until it was finally scrapped at Brush Traction, Loughborough in 1976.