British Rail Class 26

British Rail Class 26
26014 and 26008 ready to depart Inverness with a passenger train, September 1977
Builder:	BRCW
Introduced:	1958
Early numbers:	D5300 - D5346
TOPS numbers:	26001 - 26046
Engine:	Sulzer 6LDA-28
Transmission:	Diesel Electric
Wheel layout:	Bo-Bo
Wheel diameter:	3ft 7in
Brakes:	Vacuum
Brake force:	34 tons
Wheelbase:	10ft 0ins
Length:	50ft 9ins
Width:	8ft 10ins
Height:	12ft 8ins
Weight:	D5300-D5319, 77 tons 10cwt D5320-D5346, 74 tons
Maximum speed:	80 mph
Engine power:	1160hp
Rail power:	900hp
Maximum TE:	42,000 lbf
Continuous TE:	30,000 lbf
Heating type:	Steam
Multiple working:	Blue Star
Fuel capacity:	600 imp gallons
Route availability:	6 (D5300-D5319) 5 (D5320-D5346)

The British Rail Class 26 diesel locomotives, also known as the BRCW Type 2, were built from 1958-1959. 47 of these locomotives were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company, the first twenty of which were ordered as part of the 1955 British Rail modernisation plan. This class was used as the basis for the development of the Class 27 locomotives - although, ironically, they outlasted them in service.

The first 20 of the class were initially used in the London area, but were soon transferred to Scotland, hauling both passenger trains and light freight. The class were extensively used on passenger trains from Inverness, notably on the lines to Wick/Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh. They were later superseded on these routes by Class 37s.

The final locomotives were withdrawn from Inverness depot in late-1993.

Origins

In the 1950's the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW), in association with the Swiss diesel engine manufacturers Sulzer Brothers, entered the competition to provide British Railways (BR) with modern diesel locomotives. In 1951 Sulzer had provided the power units for 2 locomotives for CIE which had been built at Inchicore works. A follow-on order was placed, but due to capacity problems at Inchicore manufacture was undertaken by BRCW. BRCW had, as the name implies, no history of locomotive manufacture, but were making Diesel Multiple Units for BR, and as a result of the Irish contract a partnership between Sulzer and BRCW was set up.

The BR Pilot Scheme contained a large requirement for locomotives in the 800hp - 1250hp range and the Sulzer LDA28 range, along with the equivalent English Electric design, was particularly suited. The smaller 6LDA28 variant was used in Type 2 locomotives from both BRs Derby works (later Class 24) and BRCW. However the good intentions of the original Pilot Scheme were soon left in a flurry of orders and a follow-on order was placed with BRCW for a further batch of 69 locos. As a new uprated variant, the 6LAD28-B was available from Sulzer, this was fitted in what became the Class 27.

Technical details

• Introduced: 1958
• Weight:
  • D5300-D5319, 77 tons 10 cwt
  • D5320-D5346, 74 tons
• Engine: Sulzer 6LDA28 of 1,160 bhp at 750 rpm
• Transmission: Electric, four Crompton Parkinson traction motors
• Maximum tractive effort: 42,000 lb
• Driving wheel diameter: 3ft 7in
• Coupling code: Blue star (electro-pneumatic)
• Train heating (where fitted): Steam generator

Preservation

Preserved no. D5301 painted in original green livery without yellow warning panels inside the shed on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway on 31st May 2005. This was one of the final locomotives in traffic, being withdrawn in late 1993.

Thirteen locomotives have been preserved.

Sources

• Oakley, Michael (1981). BR Class 26/27 Diesels. Truro: D Bradford Barton. ISBN 0 85153 418 X. 
• 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 Combined Volume. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 0751 9. 
• Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, summer 1966 edition

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British Rail Class 26

External links

• Caledonian Railway Diesel Group.

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