D2271 at work in Minehead
The British Rail Class 04 is a 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunter that was built between 1952 and 1962, and was the basis for the later Class 03 built in the British Railways workshops. The Class 04 locomotives were designed by the Drewry Car Co. and were built by the Vulcan Foundry (not to be confused for its US counter-part) and later examples being built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns.
History[]
The prototype locomotive was built in 1947 and served as a departmental shunter at Hither Green depot as number DS1173, before being transferred to the capital stock list as D2341 in 1967.
The Class 04 locomotives were supplied by the Drewry Car Co., which at the time (and for most of its existence) had no manufacturing capability. Drewry sub-contracted the construction work to two builders both of whom built other locomotives under the same arrangement. Early locomotives which became D2200-41 (including DS1173) were built by Vulcan Foundry in 1952–56, and later examples D2242-2339 were built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns in 1956–61.
Design evolution[]
A clear line of development can be seen in the Class 04 from the 0-4-0DM locomotives built by Andrew Barclay and Drewry/Vulcan Foundry in the early 1940s. Similar 0-6-0DM locomotives had been built before the first Class 04, and others were built for industrial use.
The design continued to develop during the construction period, although this was generally confined to minor changes, including the diameter of the wheels.
The first batch (four engines numbered 11100-11103, later D2200-D2203) were equipped for street-running (see below).
The second batch (six engines numbered 11105-11110, later D2204-D2209) were fitted with conical exhaust stacks (the first batch initially had a plain exhaust "hole", later having a long, thin, and straight exhaust pipe added) and shaped cab front windows (instead of the rectangular windows of the first batch); these changes continued on all subsequent batches.
From the fourth batch (commencing with 11121, later D2215) the small cab side window of the earlier batches was replaced with a much larger window, the rear half of which slid open. The wheel diameter was also increased from 3 ft 3 in to 3 ft 6 in.
From locomotive D2274 onwards, the wheel diameter was again increased, from 3 ft 6 in to 3 ft 7 in. The front running plate was cut out and the steps inset to provide a safer location for a shunter riding on the locomotive; to facilitate this, the locomotive straight air brake reservoir tank was relocated underneath the centre of the running plate. This is the version depicted by the Airfix/Dapol plastic kit.
Use on tramways[]
The first four of these locomotives (11100-11103, later D2200-D2203) were fitted with side skirting and cowcatchers for use on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway and on the Yarmouth Docks tramway system, since British law requires locomotives running on unfenced street trackage to be so equipped for the protection of pedestrians and animals. At least two later engines (11111/D2210 and 11113/D2212) were also fitted with cowcatchers and skirting for use on the Ipswich docks tramway system.
Usage[]
The class was distributed throughout the British Railways system, but the significant decline in the traffic for which they were designed resulted in a large surplus of shunting engines on the network. With this reduction in the need for shunters it was decided to standardise on the Class 03 as a light diesel-mechanical shunter and the Class 08 and 09 as larger, diesel-electric shunters, leading to the withdrawal of the class 04 engines.
Technical and Engineering Data[]
Mechanically, they are almost identical to the BR Class 03 however the Class 04 has a larger fuel tank as can be seen beneath the bulge at the rear of the bonnet. As per the 03 they are fitted a 24 litre Gardner 8L3 of 204 hp and a Wilson-Drewry 5 speed gearbox. They are of a C wheel arrangement with an RF11 final drive and the wheels being driven via a jackshaft beneath the cab which is connected to the coupling rods.
Career[]
The Class 04 locomotives were scattered all across the network during their brief service life with some being used on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway and the 2 being allocated to the Ipswich docks tramway. They were in use between 1952 and 1971 on British Railways with the first withdrawal taking place in 1968 and the last in 1971. There are 18 examples preserved with a further example having been exported to Italy where it remains at work. The Class 04 locomotives were fitted with cowcatchers and side plates for traveling on tramway at the ipswich docks.
Numbers[]
The prototype (of 1947) was numbered DS1173 in departmental service. The first 60 production units (from 1952) were numbered in the sequences 11100–11103, 11105–11115, 11121–11135, 11149–11160, and 11212–11229.
From 1957, new production units received numbers in the D-prefix ("Pre-TOPS") numbering series. All existing units were renumbered in the same series, sequentially from D2200 to D2259, with the new production units continuing from D2260 to D2340. Finally, the prototype locomotive left departmental service and entered the service fleet, being re-numbered as D2341; thus the oldest example of the class was allocated the last number in the numbering sequence.
Preservation[]
21 examples of the class were preserved. Of these, 20 were BR Class 04 locomotives, and 1 was of the same type, but operated privately by the CEGB. One preserved engine, D2267, was scrapped in 2003, leaving 20 in preservation, including 19 originally operated by British Rail.
Trivia[]
- Mavis the quarry engine from The Railway Series/Thomas & Friends is based on a British Rail Class 04.