British Rail Class 03

The British Rail Class 03 locomotive was, together with the similar Class 04, one of British Railways' most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. 230 were built at Doncaster and Swindon works between 1957 and 1962, and were 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.

British Rail Class 03
03008 at Cambridge station in October 1975
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-mechanical
BuilderBritish Railways
Doncaster & Swindon
Build date1957–1961
Total produced230
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0 DM
 • UICC
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Wheel diameter3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Minimum curve2 chains (40.23 m)[1]
Wheelbase9 ft 0 in (2.743 m)
Length26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)
Width8 ft 6 in (2.591 m)
Height12 ft 2 7⁄16 in (3.72 m)
11 ft 10 in (3.61 m) (cut down)
Loco weight30.2 long tons (30.7 t; 33.8 short tons)
Fuel capacity300 imp gal (1,400 l; 360 US gal)[1]
Prime moverGardner 8L3[1]
TransmissionWilson-Drewry CA5 R7,[1] 5-speed epicyclic gearbox, RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final drive unit.
Train heatingNone
Train brakesVacuum (some Dual Air & Vacuum)
Performance figures
Maximum speed28.5 mph (45.9 km/h)[1]
Power outputEngine: 204 hp (152 kW)
At rail: 152 hp (113 kW)
Tractive effortMax: 15,650 lbf (69.6 kN)[1]
Brakeforce13 long tons-force (130 kN)
Career
OperatorsBritish Railways
First Capital Connect
Numbers11187–11209, 91, 92;
later D2000–D2199, D2370–D2399;
later 03004–03199, 03370–03399
Axle load classRA 1
RetiredApril 1968–1993, 2008
Disposition56 preserved, remainder scrapped

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, or where larger or heavier locomotives could not be used. The reduction over time in the demand for shunting locomotives meant that they were progressively withdrawn from 1968 onwards, many being sold to private industry.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, 03179, was reinstated by the West Anglia Great Northern for service at Hornsey depot. It was named Clive after a depot employee.[2] It was not fitted with Train Protection & Warning System equipment and thus confined to the depot from 2002.[3] It was operated subsequently by First Capital Connect until withdrawal in 2008. In 2016 it was sold by Govia Thameslink Railway to the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway.[4][5][6]

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.

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

Shunting

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 03 due to its short wheelbase.

By 1979, Class 03s' operations included:[7]

Passenger duties

Despite the limited scope for the use of such a small locomotive on main line passenger duties, there were a number of duties rostered to the class. During the early 1970s Southern Region Class 03s worked Channel Island boat trains through the streets to the harbour along the Weymouth Quay tramway, displacing the last of the 1366 class 0-6-0 pannier tanks.[8] 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.[9] Also, according to Mangapps Railway Museum,[10] 03089 once hauled a Blackpool 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 that precluded the use of normal height locomotives.

The modified examples were nos. 03119, 03120, 03141, 03142, 03144, 03145, 03151, 03152 and late addition (ex-Bristol) 03382.[11] Their duties included shunting (for example at Burry Port), and 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

Fifty-six members of the class survive in preservation.

Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.

TOPS
Number		 Pre-TOPS Original Number Allocated Image Preserved location Industrial use Notes
03018 D2018 11205 Mangapps Railway Museum - [12]
03020 D2020 11207 Lavender Line - [13]
03022 D2022 11209 Swindon and Cricklade Railway - [14]
- D2023 Kent & East Sussex Railway Tees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972-1980) [15]
- D2024 Kent & East Sussex Railway Tees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972-1980) [16]
03027 D2027 Peak Rail - [17]
03037 D2037 Peak Rail - [18]
- D2041 Colne Valley Railway Richborough Power Station (1970)
Rye House Power Station (1971)
Barking Power Station (1971)
Rye House Power Station (1974-1981)		 [19]
- D2051 North Norfolk Railway Ford Dagenham (06/1973-04/1997) [20]
03059 D2059 Isle of Wight Steam Railway Used as a general purpose shunter, and also to supplement any locomotive that has broken down. D2059 is affectionately nicknamed Edward by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's staff.[21] [22]
03062 D2062 East Lancashire Railway - [23]
03063 D2063 North Norfolk Railway - [24]
03066 D2066 Barrow Hill Engine Shed - [25]
03069 D2069 Vale of Berkeley Railway, Gloucestershire. Vic Berry, Leicester [26]
03072 D2072 Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway - [27]
03073 D2073 Crewe Heritage Centre Used for occasional loco shunting and brakevan rides to visitors to the heritage centre [28][nb 1]
03078 D2078 North Tyneside Steam Railway Newcastle Central Station, used as a station pilot. [31]
03079 D2079 Derwent Valley Light Railway Worked at Gateshead before moving to the Isle of Wight along with 03179. This loco has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde, withdrawn 1996. [32][33]
03081 D2081 Mangapps Railway Museum
03084 D2084 West Coast Railways, Carnforth Sold by the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway in 2010 or 2011. [34]
03089 D2089 Mangapps Railway Museum
03090 D2090 Locomotion Part of the National Collection [35]
- D2094 Royal Deeside Railway TBA [36]
03099 D2099 Heritage Shunters Trust - [37]
03112 D2112 Rother Valley Railway -
03113 D2113 Heritage Shunters Trust D2113 spent its entire B.R. life at York (50A), it was sold to Gulf Oil at Milford Haven upon withdrawal from BR service in August 1975 as 03113. For a number of years, after becoming surplus to the Gulf Refinery, it was placed on display, along with a four-wheel petroleum wagon, in Milford Haven Harbour. It is now preserved by the Heritage Shunters Trust at Rowsley in Derbyshire, entering service following full restoration during 2011. Number 8[38]
- D2117 Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway [39]
- D2118 Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Worked at Anglian Building Products, Lenwade, Norfolk from August 1973,
then at Dow-Mac near Stamford from December 1993.		 [40]
03119 D2119 Epping Ongar Railway [41]
- D2120 Fawley Hill Railway, Buckingamshire [42]
03901 D2128 Preserved at Peak Rail Sold for scrap to Birds, Long Marston, where engine and coupling removed and then exported to Belgium where fitted with Deutz V12 air-cooled engine, VM hydraulic pump and motor into original change speed box. Repatriated and operated at Peak Rail, eventually to Dean Forest where stored incomplete. Moved to Scunthorpe 2009, where repowered with Cummins 14 litre engine, hydraulic transmission and renumbered 03 901 to reflect this [43][44]
- D2133 West Somerset Railway Worked at Cellophane's Bridgwater factory in the 1970s, prior to preservation at the time. [45]
- D2134 Royal Deeside Railway Was based in Belgium between 1976 and 1993, has since been repatriated back to the UK. [46]
- D2138 Midland Heritage Railway Used at Pye Hill Colliery between 1969-1984, prior to preservation. [47]
- D2139 Heritage Shunters Trust - [48]
03141 D2141 Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway [49]
03144 D2144 Wensleydale Railway [50]
03145 D2145 D2578 Locomotive Group, Moreton Business Park [51]
- D2148 Ribble Steam Railway [52]
- D2152 Swindon & Cricklade Railway Cut-down cab variant[53]
03158 D2158 Mangapps Railway Museum [54]
03162[55] D2162 Llangollen Railway [56][nb 2]
03170 D2170 Epping Ongar Railway Was owned by Otis Euro Transrail between 1989-1999 and then latterly was present on the Battlefield Line [59][60][nb 3]
- D2178 Gwili Railway [62]
03179 D2179 Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway[4] Worked on the Isle of Wight along with 03079. This loco has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde. This engine was the last 03 to work for a main-line company, before being preserved. Also notable was its naming ceremony at Kings Cross station.[63]
- D2180 Battlefield Line [64]
- D2182 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway [65]
- D2184 Colne Valley Railway [66]
03189 D2189 Ribble Steam Railway [67]
03192 D2192 Dartmouth Steam Railway [68]
03196 D2196 West Coast Railways, Carnforth [69]
03197 D2197 Mangapps Railway Museum Was previously at the Mid Norfolk Railway to help build the new Kimberley Ballast Pit Sidings. Moved to Mangapps Railway Museum in August 2019. [70]
- D2199 Heritage Shunters Trust Sold to National Coal Board in 1974 after being overhauled and fitted with air brakes at Doncaster Works. Worked at Rockingham, North Gawber and Royston until being placed into store at Monkton in 1984. Was on hire to Eurotunnel as Cheriton Depot shunter 8/4/97.Was on loan to Hanson Aggregates, Machen Quarry near Newport 2003 (?)-2006 [71][72]
03371 D2371 Departmental 92 Dartmouth Steam Railway [73]
- D2381 West Coast Railways, Carnforth [74]
03399 D2399 Mangapps Railway Museum [75]
This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Models

Mainline and Replica each offered an OO gauge model.[76] Mainline's original 'split-chassis' tooling later passed to Bachmann. When the company later took the decision to produce the Class 04 in its place the tooling was altered, retaining the split chassis power arrangement. However, Bachmann later announced that they would be re-introducing several new variations of the 03 in OO gauge, including special edition examples of the Isle of Wight prototypes.[77]

Graham Farish currently offers an N gauge model.[78] Past models have included D2388 in BR green livery and 03066 in BR blue livery.[79]

Notes
  1. 03073 was allocated to Birkenhead North and used on the Birkenhead Dock Branch, prior to withdrawal on 23 May 1989.[29][30]
  2. 03162 was allocated to Birkenhead North, prior to withdrawal on 23 May 1989. The locomotive has a non-standard cone chimney and vertical air horn. Named Birkenhead South 1879-1985 and repainted in BR green livery on 8 January 1987.[57][58]
  3. 03170 was used on the Birkenhead Dock Branch prior to withdrawal in March 1989.[61]
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gollark: 503 would be if the server had turned into bees due to too many requests.
gollark: Some of the 500 codes also imply different actions; "service unavailable" means maybe "slow down and try again later".
gollark: It's more convenient for me and useful to users than me having to check the log.

References
  1. "Vehicle Diagram Book No. 120 for shunting diesel locomotives" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  2. WAGN 03 named Clive at King's Cross ceremony Rail issue 341 7 October 1998
  3. No main line runabouts for WAGN Clive Rail issue 446 16 October 2002 page 57
  4. GTR disposes of final Class 03 Rail issue 806 3 August 2016 page 29
  5. Final main lne 03 enters preservation Rail Express September 2016 page 16
  6. Clive finally Preserved Railways Illustrated October 2016 page 12
  7. Woodley, Geoff; Wood, Ron (1979). Shunter Duties. Inter City Railway Society.
  8. Caddy, C L. Weymouth Quay Tramway. Weymouth: Dorset Railway Circle. p. 5.
  9. Lund, E (1980). To the last drop. Chesterfield: Longden technical Publications. ISBN 0-9507063-0-2.
  10. "Stock List: Locomotives". Mangapps Railway Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  11. Williams, Alan; Percival, David (May 1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977 Combined Volume. Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-0751-9. CXX/0577.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  12. "Class 03 : : 03018". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  13. "Class 03 : : 03020". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  14. "Class 03 : : 03022". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  15. "Class 03 : : D2023". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  16. "Class 03 : : D2024". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  17. "Class 03 : : 03027". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  18. "Class 03 : : 03037". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  19. "Class 03 : : D2041". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  20. "Class 03 : : D2051". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  21. "Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Diesel Locomotives". www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  22. "Class 03 : : 03059". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  23. "Class 03 : : 03062". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  24. "Class 03 : : 03063". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  25. "Class 03 : : 03066". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  26. "Class 03 : : 03069". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  27. "Class 03 : : 03072". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  28. "Class 03 : : 03073". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  29. "Memories of Edge Hill, Birkenhead & Beyond". derbysulzers.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  30. "Results for D2073 03073". Railway Database. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  31. "Class 03 : : 03078". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  32. "Class 03 : : 03079". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  33. Final Class 03 withdrawn The Railway Magazine issue 1145 September 1996 page 61
  34. "AbRail Rail Databases - Preserved Diesel & Electric Locomotives". AbRail. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  35. "Class 03 : : 03090". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  36. "Class 03 : : 03094". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  37. "Class 03 : : 03099". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  38. "Class 03 : : 03113". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  39. "Class 03 : : D2117". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  40. "Class 03 : : D2118". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  41. "Class 03 : : 03119". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  42. "Class 03 : : 03120". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  43. Class 03 repatriated from Belgium The Railway Magazine issue 1109 September 1993 page 33
  44. "D2128 - Swindon-built class 03". Andrew Briddon Locos. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
  45. "Class 03 : : D2133". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  46. "Class 03 : : 03134". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  47. "Class 03 : : D2138". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  48. "Class 03 : : D2139". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  49. "Class 03 : : 03141". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  50. "Class 03 : : 03144". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  51. "Class 03 : : 03145". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  52. "Class 03 : : D2148". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  53. "Class 03 : : 03152". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  54. "Class 03 : : 03158". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  55. xp64mag.co.uk
  56. "Class 03 : : 03162". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
  57. "D2162 / 03162". Llangollen Railway. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  58. "Results for D2162 03162". Railway Database. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  59. "Rolling Stock Department Diesel Locomotives". Epping Ongar Railway. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  60. "Class 03 : : 03170". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  61. Hendry & Hendry 1992, p. 125
  62. "Class 03 : : D2178". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  63. Class 03 unveiled in WAGN livery The Railway Magazine issue 1172 December 1998 page 61
  64. "Class 03 : : 03180". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  65. "Class 03 : : D2182". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  66. "Class 03 : : D2184". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  67. "Class 03 : : 03189". PreservedShunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  68. "Class 03 : : D2192". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  69. "Class 03 : : 03196". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  70. "Class 03 : : 03197". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  71. Barclay Locomotive Group buys a British Coal 03 Rail Enthusiast issue 73 October 1987 page 10
  72. "Class 03 : : D2199". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  73. "Class 03 : : 03371". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  74. "Class 03 : : D2381". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  75. "Class 03 : : 03399". Preserved Shunters. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
  76. "Everyone likes Class 03 shunters don't they?". Rail Exclusive. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  77. Bayer, Gareth (16 September 2010). "REM: Shunter Clive is Bachmann Club release". Rail Express. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  78. "Graham Farish: BR Class 03 diesel shunter". Model Trains International (97). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  79. "Graham Farish Products by item number" (PDF). Bachmann. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

Sources
  • Hendry, R. Preston; Hendry, R. Powell (1992). Paddington to the Mersey: G.W.R's Forgotten Route from London to Birkenhead. OPC Railprint. ISBN 9780860934424. OCLC 24736274.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

Media related to British Rail Class 03 at Wikimedia Commons

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