British Rail Class D16/1
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British Railways Class D16/1 or 10000 and 10001 were the first mainline diesel locomotives in Great Britain. They were built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at its Derby Works, using the EE16SVT 1600 hp transmission, in association with English Electric and the Vulcan Foundry, with whom the LMS had had a long working relationship. 10000 had its maiden run in November 1947, and after several weeks of proving trials entered service on the Midland route in February 1948. This was only two months before nationalisation, and when 10001 appeared in July 1948 it had British Railways livery. They operated over a number of routes out of St Pancras or Euston but their low power outputs meant they were less than inspiring when used on heavily loaded or express services.
In March 1953 they were both transferred to the Southern Region to allow direct comparison to be made between them and the SR's 10201, 10202 & 10203 and remained there until spring 1955. They (and the SR locomotives) were sent to Derby where they were overhauled and received green livery and then run side by side on midland duties. Trials of both types proved interesting, and success was demonstrated in that 10000 and 10001 proved to be (with uprated power units and other modifications) the fore-runner of BR's Peak classes of 44, 45 and 46. Whilst 10203 with its larger power output of 2000HP (over the 1750HP of 10201 & 10202) went on to be the basis for the English Electric Class 40 design (Comparison of the bogies, diesel engine, power equipment and distinctive exhaust sound reveal they are almost identical.) This was an odd turn of events as neither manufacturer utilised their own original designs, favouring their counterparts'. Both subsequent locomotive groups proved highly successful.
10001 was withdrawn in 1962 and 10000 was withdrawn in 1966. Both were scrapped. 10000 was scrapped at Cashmores Great Bridge in 1/68 and 10001 was scrapped at Cox & Danks North Acton in 2/68 both where allocated to Willesden.
[edit] References
- David Hunt (2005) LMS locomotive Profiles Vol. 9: Main Line Diesel-Electrics Nos. 10000 and 10001 Wild Swan Publications. ISBN 1-905184-04-2
- Whitehouse, P., St. John Thomas, D., (2002) LMS 150. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway: A century and a half of progress, David and Charles
- Marsden, C.J., http://www.therailwaycentre.com
