British Rail Class 15

British Rail Class 15
Sole surviving Class 15 no D8233 seen at Baron Street Loco Shed, East Lancashire Railway, February 2006
Builder:	BTH / Clayton
Years built:	1957 - 1961
Early numbers:	D8200-D8243
TOPS numbers:	Never carried
Engine:	Paxman 16YHXL
Transmission:	Diesel Electric
Wheel layout:	Bo-Bo
Wheel diameter:	3ft 3in
Minimum curve:	3½ chains
Brakes:	Vacuum
Brake force:	31 tons
Wheelbase:	8ft 6ins
Length:	42ft 0ins
Width:	9ft 2ins
Height:	12ft 6ins
Weight:	69 tons
Maximum speed:	60 mph
Engine power:	800hp
Rail power:	627hp
Maximum TE:	37,500 lbf
Multiple working:	Blue Star
Fuel capacity:	400 imp gallons
Route availability:	4

The British Rail Class 15 diesel locomotives, also known as the BTH Type 1, were built by BTH and Clayton from 1957-61.

Design History

Originally developed as part of the British Railways modernisation plan, British Thompson-Houston built the 'pilot scheme' ten of the Class, to be used on local freight and empty coaching stock trains on the Eastern Region of British Railways. The design was a large collaboration, with Paxman supplying the power unit and BTH constructing and providing the electrical equipment.

An order for 34 more locomotives was made soon after and was subcontracted to the Clayton Equipment company.

Technical

The engine was a Paxman 16YHXL with 7 in (178 mm) cylinder bore and 7 ¾ in (197 mm) cylinder stroke. The traction motors were 4 x BTH 137BZ, nose suspended with single reduction gear drive. The Main Generator was a BTH RTB10858 and the Auxiliary Generator was a BTH RTB7420.

Working Life

The Class was originally allocated to run in East Anglia, however due to the Clean Air Act Of 1956 the locomotives were re-allocated to East London to replace steam locomotives in the area. This class was troubled by poor reliability however, almost alarmingly, for their several problems, these locos were arguably the second most successful Type 1s after the British Rail Class 20s - the other two fleets, British Rail Class 16 and British Rail Class 17, were worse.

With a decline in freight duties in the London area, the Class was considered redundant, and was withdrawn between 1969 and 1971.

A Reprive

Four of the Class (D8203, D8233, D8237 and D8243) were converted into Non-powered Electric Train Pre-Heating units at Doncaster Works, these duties keeping the locomotives 'in service' for another ten years, until again they were rendered redundant and withdrawn. One of these final four lclocs, D8233, was bought for preservation in 1984 buit the other three were scrapped.

Preservation

D8233, as previously mentioned, entered preservation in 1984, originally being moved to the South Yorkshire Railway in Sheffield, later being moved to the East Lancashire Railway in 1986. In 1988, the locomotive was again relocated, this time to the Mangapps Farm Railway, where it remained until 1993. Another move beckoned, and D8233 moved to Crewe following an agreement with the Waterman Heritage Trust, however since its initial preservation the locomotive had received little work apart from cosmetic attention. Some work was carried out by the Waterman Heritage Trust, however the locomotive's restoration remained dormant until the end of 2005, until a reformed owning group, alongside the WHT, agreed the time was right to accelerate the locomotives return to service. With an active plan for work agreed, the locomotive returned to the East Lancashire Railway in February 2006, where its restoration to working order is now underway.

Sources

• Stevens-Stratten, S.W.; Carter, R.S. (1978). British Rail Main-Line Diesels. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0617 2. 
• Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0751 9. 
• British Railways Locoshed Book 1977. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0752 7. 

External links

• Class 15 Preservation Society, Owners of sole surviving Class 15, D8233

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