The BR, British Railways, Class 28 (Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2; or 'Metrovicks' as they were popularly known) is a type of five-axled (or Co'Bo') diesel locomotive which was built as part of the British Railways 1955 Modernization Plan as a result of the End of the Steam Era in the UK (and subsequently in the United States during the same time period).
History[]
The locomotives had a unique Co'Bo' (UIC Notation) 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 (220 kN) was unusually high for a Type 2 locomotive but, as there were five (not four) driving axles, the risk of wheelslip was minimal.
The locomotive type was retired early due to ongoing issues with the Crossley power unit. Serious consideration was given to re-powering them with English Electric engines, as the electrical and other elements were well-regarded, but ultimately they were scrapped due to being non-standard. One (D5705) is preserved, on the East Lancashire Railway, just north of Manchester, UK.
Preservation[]
A single locomotive, D5705, survived by historical accident, being renumbered S15705 and used from December 1968 by the Research Division for its Tribology Test train. It was superseded by a Class 24, and was used as carriage heating unit TDB968006 (based at Bath Road Depot, Bristol) before being preserved in 1985. Prior to this, it spent several years in a semi-protected siding on the line from Gloucester, just outside Swindon Station. It is currently on the East Lancashire Railway. The Class 15 Preservation Society has signed an agreement with the owners of D5705 to become its custodians during its restoration and operation for the next ten years, although funding will remain separate
In Fiction[]
- The Class 28 is the basis for BoCo, a character in The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. He carries the number D5702.
Models[]
The Class 28 has been made as a 00 gauge model in several forms, including a ready-to-run version by Hornby Dublo. A ready to run model is being produced by Heljan on behalf of and exclusive to Hatton's Model Railways in Liverpool. Following the closure of Hatton's in early 2024 their model railway toolings were sold to Rails of Sheffield and Accurascale. Heljan still produces the 1961 variant of the Class 28 now available exclusively through Rails. The Silver Fox Models model has now been withdrawn. As of November 2021, Rapido Trains UK have announced production of an N-scale model.
Gallery[]
_geograph-2397690-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg "Millbrook Metropolitan-Vickers (later Class 28) geograph-2397690-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg (537 KB)")
