British Rail Class 29

Infobox Locomotive
name = British Railways Class 29
powertype = Diesel-electric


caption = D6130 at Fort William MPD on 4 September 1966
roadnumber = D6100–03/06–08/12–14/16/19, D6121/23/24/29/30/33/34/37
builder = North British Locomotive Co.
builddate = 1958–1960
"Rebuilt:" 1963, 1965–1967
totalproduction = 20
gauge = RailGauge|ussg|lk=on|al=on
primemover = Paxman Ventura
generator =
tractionmotors =
transmission = DC generator, DC traction motors
whytetype = Bo-Bo
uicclass = Bo'Bo'
wheeldiameter = convert|3|ft|7|in|m|3|abbr=on
minimumcurve = convert|3.5|chain|m|lk=in
trainbrakes = Vacuum
locobrakeforce = convert|50|LTf|kN|sigfig=3|abbr=on|lk=on
wheelbase = convert|37|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on
length = convert|51|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on
width = convert|8|ft|8|in|m|2|abbr=on
height = convert|12|ft|8|in|m|2|abbr=on
weight = convert|73|LT|lk=on
topspeed = convert|75|mph|abbr=on|lk=on
poweroutput = "Engine:" convert|1350|hp|abbr=on|lk=on
tractiveeffort = "Maximum:" convert|45000|lbf|kN|sigfig=3|abbr=on|lk=on
fuelc
convert|460|impgal|abbr=on|lk=on
trainheating = Steam
multipleworking = ● Red Circle
axleloadclass = Route availability 6 (RA 5 from 1969)
railroad = British Railways
retiredate = 1969–1971 The British Rail Class 29 consisted of 20 diesel locomotives which were rebuilt from the North British Class 21. The original license-built MAN engines of the Class 21s had proved unreliable, so in 1963 locomotive D6123 was dispatched to Paxman's Colchester works to receive a new Paxman Ventura V12 engine. A further 19 were re-engined in 1964-1965 at Polmadie Works, with other modifications carried out at the same time comprising the fitting of four-character headcode displays in the nose ends. After rebuilding, they returned to service from Eastfield depot in Glasgow.

Although these offered more power and much improved reliability over the original Class 21s, they did not survive much longer, due to their small class size and the use of a non-standard high-speed diesel engine. D6108 was withdrawn in May 1969 and scrapped by McWilliams of Shettleston in 1971, while the other 19 were withdrawn between April and December 1971 and scrapped at BR's Glasgow Works in 1971-72. No Class 21 or Class 29 locomotives survive today.

Numbering

The rebuilt locomotives were numbered:

* D6100–03
* D6106–08
* D6112–14
* D6116
* D6119
* D6121
* D6123
* D6124
* D6129
* D6130
* D6133
* D6134
* D6137

Technical details

* Introduced: 1964
* Weight: 72 tons 10 cwt
* Engine: Paxman 1,350 bhp
* Transmission: Electric, four GEC traction motors
* Maximum tractive effort: 45,000 lbf
* Driving wheel diameter: 3ft 7in
* Coupling code: Red Circle
* Train heating: Steam generator

Models

Hornby has produced a OO gauge ready-to-run Class 29, although the model was originally produced in the 1970s, and lacks the accuracy and detail found on the latest releases.

Sources

*cite book | last = Stevens-Stratten | first = S.W. | coauthors = Carter, R.S. | title = British Rail Main-Line Diesels | publisher = Ian Allen Ltd | date= 1978 | location = Shepperton | isbn = 0 7110 0617 2
*cite book | last = Sugden | first = S.A. | title = Diesel & Electric Loco Register (3rd edn) | publisher = Platform 5 | location = Sheffield | isbn = 1 872524 55 9
*cite book | last = Grindlay | first = Jim | title = British Railways Locomotive Allocations 1948-1968 (Part 6 - Diesel & Electric Locomotives) | publisher = Modelmaster Publications | location = Troon | isbn = 978 0 9544264 6 0Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, summer 1966 edition

External links

* [http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/paxrailt.htm#yjrail Paxman Ventura Engine]