British Rail Class 03

Infobox Locomotive
name = British Rail Class 03
powertype = Diesel-mechanical


caption = Class 03 D2069 at Doncaster Works open day on 27 July 2003
roadnumber = 11187–11209, 91, 92;
later D2000–D2199, D2370–D2399;
later 03004–03199, 03370–03399
builder = BR Swindon & Doncaster
builddate = 1957–1961
gauge=RailGauge|ussg|lk=on
primemover = Gardner 8L3
transmission = Wilson-Drewry CA5 R7, 5-speed epicyclic gearbox, RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final-drive unit.
whytetype = 0-6-0
uicclass = C
wheeldiameter = convert|3|ft|7|in|m|3|abbr=on
minimumcurve = convert|2|chain|m|lk=on
trainbrakes = Vacuum (some dual Air & Vacuum)
locobrakeforce = convert|13|LTf|kN|abbr=on|lk=in
wheelbase = convert|9|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on
length = convert|26|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on
width = convert|8|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on
height = convert|11|ft|10|in|m|2|abbr=on
weight = convert|30.2|LT|sigfig=3|lk=on
topspeed = convert|28.5|mph|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on
poweroutput = "Engine:" convert|204|hp|0|abbr=on|lk=on
"At rail:" convert|152|hp|0|abbr=on
tractiveeffort = "Max:" convert|15650|lbf|kN|1|abbr=on|lk=on
fuelc
convert|510|impgal|abbr=on|lk=on
trainheating = None
multipleworking =
axleloadclass = RA 1
railroad = British Railways
retiredate = from April 1968
disposition = One still in service, over 50 preserved, most scrappedThe British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399 (later 03004 to 03399). D2370 and D2371 were used as departmental locomotives and originally numbered 91 and 92 respectively.

Overview

Like other shunters of this size, the Class 03 was built for light duties where a larger locomotive was not needed, especially for shunting at locomotive and carriage depots and as station pilots. The reduction over time in the demand for shunting locomotives meant that they were progressively withdrawn from 1968 onwards, many being sold to private industry. However, some remained in service much longer, with two examples on the Isle of Wight lasting until 1993 (mainland examples had gone by 1987). In 1998, one of the Isle of Wight locos, no. 03 179, was re-instated into service by the West Anglia Great Northern Railway Company (WAGN) for service at their Hornsey depot. This remains the last operational Class 03 locomotive on the network. It is named "Clive" after a depot employee. It is now owned by First Capital Connect, and was recently painted into a variant of FCC's urban lines colours.

Technical details

The engine is a Gardner 8-cylinder, 4-stroke 8L3 of 204 hp 152 kW connected to a Wilson-Drewry CA5 R7, 5-speed epicyclic gearbox with RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final-drive unit. Drive is through a jackshaft mounted beneath the cab, driving the wheels through coupling rods (US: side rods).

During their later life, some locomotives were fitted with Dual (Air and Vacuum) Brakes. These were 03059, 03063, 03073, 03078, 03084, 03086, 03089, 03094, 03112, 03152, 03158, 03162, 03179, 03180, 03371, 03397 and 03399.

Operation

hunting

Originally the Class 03s were often deployed where their attributes of short wheelbase and light weight enabled them to operate where other shunters could not. On lines such as that to Ipswich Docks, bridge weight restrictions prevented the ubiquitous Class 08s from operating. Another common use was as Station Pilot, usually coupled to a shunters' truck to ensure operation of track circuits which did not always register the passage of the short Class 03.

By 1979, Class 03s' operations included: [cite book | last = Woodley | first = Geoff | coauthors = Wood, Ron | title = Shunter Duties | publisher = Inter City Railway Society | date = 1979 ]
*Depot Pilot duties at Hull Botanic Gardens DMU depot and Bradford Hammerton Street DMU depot
*Docks at Ipswich, Kings Lynn and Poplar (London)
*Freight trips along the Team Valley branch (Gateshead) and the Gwendraeth Valley line
*Shunting duties at Boston Yard, Ipswich Upper and Lower yards, Lincoln engineers yard and Tweedmouth yard near Berwick-upon-Tweed
*Spare loco on standby at Boston and Kings Lynn.
*Station Pilot duties at Bradford Exchange, Hull Paragon, Ipswich, Newcastle Central, Norwich Thorpe, and Sunderland

Passenger duties

Despite the limited scope for the use of such a small locomotive on passenger duties, in 1980 a Class 03 at Ipswich was booked to shunt the 23:20 Peterborough - Liverpool Street onto the rear of the 23:45 Norwich - Liverpool Street, [cite book | last = Lund | first = E | title = To the last drop | publisher = Longden technical Publications | date = 1980 | location = Chesterfield | isbn = 0 9507063 0 2] possibly the only time that a Class 03 was designated to haul a train in normal service conditions.

Also, according to Mangapps Railway Museum, [ [http://www.mangapps.co.uk/ Mangapps Railway Museum] (see Stock List page) - Accessed 7 June 2008] 03 089 once hauled a Liverpool to Scarborough Express along the York to Scarborough Line from Malton to Scarborough.

Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line

Several examples were rebuilt with cut-down cabs for working on the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line as there were several low bridges on the line, which normal height locomotives would not be able to clear without incident.

The modified examples were nos. 03119, 03120, 03141, 03142, 03144, 03145, 03151 and 03382. [cite book | last = Williams | first = Alan | coauthors = Percival, David | title = British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977 Combined Volume| publisher = Ian Allen Ltd | date = 1977 | location = Shepperton | isbn = 0 7110 0751 9] Their duties included shunting (for example at Burry Port) but also hauling full coal trains down from the valley's pits. For this latter duty they sometimes worked triple-headed.

They were replaced by Class 08/9 locomotives, which were also rebuilt to a reduced height. Several cut-down locomotives have been preserved.

The Isle of Wight shunters, nos. 03079 and 03179, were also rebuilt with cut-down cabs, to enable them to pass through a low tunnel in Ryde.

Preservation

A fairly large number (over 50) of the class survive in preservation.

* 03079 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03079] D2079 Derwent Valley Light Railway
* 03081 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03081] D2081 Mangapps Farm Railway Museum - was used between 1981-2000
* 03084 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03084] D2084 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
* 03089 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03089] D2089 Mangapps Farm Railway Museum
* 03094 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03094] D2094 Barrow Hill Roundhouse - Cambrian Railways Trust
* D2117 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2117] Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
* 03119 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03119] D2119 West Somerset Railway
* 03120 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03120] D2120 Fawley Hill Railway
* 03128 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03128] D2128 Appleby Frodingham RPS, Scunthorpe - between 1976 and 1993 based in Belgium.
* D2133 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2133] West Somerset Railway. Worked at Cellophane's Bridgwater factory in 1970s
* 03134 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03134] D2134 Royal Deeside Railway - between 1976 and 1993 based in Belgium.
* D2138 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2138] Midland Railway Centre - Used at Pye Hill Colliery 1969-1984.
* 03141 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03141] D2141 Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.
* 03144 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03144] D2144 Wensleydale Railway
* 03145 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03145] D2145 Private Location
* D2148 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2148] Ribble Steam Railway.
* 03152 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03152] D2152 Swindon & Cricklade Railway
* 03158 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03158] D2158 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
* 03162 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03162] D2162Llangollen Railway
* 03170 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03170] D2170 Battlefield Railway- owned by Otis Euro Transrail between 1989-1999
* D2178 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2178] Gwili Railway
* 03180 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03180] D2180 Battlefield Railway
* D2182 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2182] Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway
* D2184 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2184] Colne Valley Railway
* 03189 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03189] D2189 Ribble Steam Railway
* D2192 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2192] Paignton & Dartmouth Railway
* 03196 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03196] D2196West Coast Railway Co Carnforth
* 03197 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03197] D2197Lavender Line
* 03371 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03371] D2371 Rowden Mill Station Museum
* D2381 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=D2381] West Coast Railway Company, Carnforth
* 03399 [http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_shunter.php?class=3&loco=03399] D2399 Mangapps Farm Railway Museum

References