British Rail 11001

Infobox Locomotive
name = British Rail 11001
powertype = Diesel-mechanical


caption = 11001
roadnumber = 11001
builder = British Railways’ Ashford Works
ordernumber = 3410
builddate = 1949
totalproduction = 1
gauge = RailGauge|ussg|lk=on|al=on
primemover = Paxman RPH Series 1
transmission = Mechanical, SSS Powerflow 3-speed gearbox
whytetype = 0-6-0 dm
uicclass = C
wheeldiameter = convert|4|ft|6|in|m|3|abbr=on
minimumcurve =
trainbrakes =
locobrakeforce =
wheelbase =
length =
width =
height =
weight = convert|49.45|LT|lk=on
topspeed = convert|36|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on|lk=on
poweroutput = "Engine:" convert|500|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on|lk-on
tractiveeffort = convert|33500|lbf|kN|1|abbr=on|lk=on
fuelc

trainheating = None
multipleworking =
axleloadclass = Route availability
railroad = British Railways
retiredate = August 1959
disposition = Scrapped, December 1959

11001 was one of the first British Railways diesel locomotives, built in 1949 at British Railways' Ashford Works. It was designed by O. V. S. Bulleid when he was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway. It was powered by a Paxman RPH Series 1 engine, capable of delivering 500 bhp at 1,250 rpm. It was driven via a Vulcan Sinclair fluid coupling to an SSS (Synchro-Self-Shifting) Powerflow gearbox. The gearbox provided three forward and reverse gears in either high or low range, with top speed ranging from 5 mph (8 km/h) in 1st gear, low range up to 36 mph (58 km/h). It had an 0-6-0 wheel formation.

Its main duties were on branch lines and shunting. It survived until 1959, when it was withdrawn in August and cut up at Ashford Works in December.

Oddly, the locomotive's controls were laid out as in a steam locomotive, because there were at that time no drivers with experience of driving diesel engines.

In fiction

Dennis, from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, is based on 11001. He carries the same number.

External links

* [http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/paxrailt.htm Richard Carr's Paxman History pages]