British Rail Class 28

Infobox Locomotive
name = Metropolitan Vickers Type 2
British Rail Class 28
powertype = Diesel-electric

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caption = D5705, the sole survivor of the class, at Worksop Open Day on 1 September 1991
roadnumber = D5700–D5719
totalproduction = 20
builder = Metropolitan-Vickers’ Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees.
builddate = 1958–1959
gauge = RailGauge|ussg|lk=on|al=on
primemover = Crossley HST V8
generator =
tractionmotors = Metropolitan-Vickers 137BZ, 5 off
transmission = DC generator, DC traction motors
whytetype = Co-Bo
uicclass = Co'Bo'
wheeldiameter = convert|3|ft|3+1/2|in|m|3|abbr=on
minimumcurve = convert|3.5|chain|m|lk=in
trainbrakes = Vacuum
locobrakeforce =
wheelbase = convert|42|ft|9|in|m|2|abbr=on
length = convert|56|ft|7+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on
width = convert|8|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on
height = convert|12|ft|1+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on
weight = convert|97|LT|sigfig=3|lk=on
topspeed = convert|75|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on|lk=on
poweroutput = "Engine:" convert|1200|hp|0|abbr=on|lk=on
tractiveeffort = "Maximum:" convert|50000|lbf|kN|sigfig=3|abbr=on|lk=on
fuelc
convert|510|impgal|abbr=on|lk=on
trainheating = Spanner steam generator (railroad) of convert|1500|lb per hour
multipleworking = ● Red Circle
axleloadclass = Route availability 8
railroad = British Railways
retiredate = December 1967 – September 1969
disposition = One preserved, remainder scrappedThe British Rail Class 28 (Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2) diesel locomotives, or 'Metrovicks' as they were popularly known, were built as part of the British Railways Modernisation plan. The locomotives had a Co-Bo wheel arrangement (a 6-wheel bogie at one end, a 4-wheel bogie at the other) – unique in British Railways practice though not uncommon in other countries, notably Japan. This affected their route availability, due to the different axle loading at each end of the loco, and made maintenance more complicated. The maximum tractive effort of 50,000 lbf was unusually high for a Type 2 locomotive but, as there were five (not four) driving axles, the risk of wheelslip was minimal.

Engine

With low-speed Crossley 8-cylinder HST Vee8 two stroke engines, they represented an experiment in two stroke versus four stroke engines for diesel-electric traction.

The engines had exhaust pulse pressure charging and developed 1,200 horsepower (895 kW) at 625 rpm. There were no valves, and inlet and exhaust were via ports in the cylinder walls. The same engine was originally fitted in the Irish A Class and the Western Australian Government Railways X class

Almost from the beginning the Metrovick's Crossley engines were problematic. They suffered frequent failures and by 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. The engines were also extremely noisy and prone to unacceptable levels of exhaust fumes.

Operation

All 20 were initially allocated to the Midland Division of BR's London Midland Region, where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London–Glasgow “Condor” express freight service. Later they were transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness area prior to withdrawal after only 11 years at work and in service.

Despite the locomotives being otherwise reliable the Crossley engines were still giving problems and British Rail considered replacing the engines, as was done with the Class 31 diesels. Instead the entire class was withdrawn from service during 1967–1969, and all but one were scrapped by the end of 1969.

Preservation

A single locomotive, D5705, survived by historical accident as a technical services engine and then carriage heating unit TDB968006 before being preserved in 1980. It is currently on the East Lancashire Railway.

In fiction

The Class 28 was the basis for "BoCo", a character in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Models

The Class 28 has been made as a 00 gauge model in several forms, including a ready-to-run version by Hornby Dublo and a kit by Silver Fox Models.

External links

* [http://www.d5705.org.uk Co-Bo World]
* [http://www.silverfoxmodels.co.uk/brd/class28.htm Silver Fox Models (Class 28)] – "includes brief history of class and photo of model in rail blue livery"