British Rail Class 22
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 22 or "Baby Warship" was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives designed for the Western Region of British Railways
and built by the North British Locomotive Company
. They were very similar in appearance to the Class 21
diesel-electrics. The nickname Baby Warship related to the similarity in appearance (and internal equipment) to the British Rail Class D20/2 Warship Class
, Laira Plymouth
, Newton Abbot and Old Oak Common
. The majority of the class always operated in the West of England, on a range of local passengera and freight work, with smaller numbers of the later units operating on local work in the Bristol and around London Paddington (notably moving empty carriages between the mai station and Old Oak Common yard).
being available, the locomotives were displaced onto more secondary lines. By the mid 1960s, the locos had settled down to give reliable service, with availability over 85%.Average availability was 85%, with one locomotive permanently out of action, with no action being taken to fix it.
Class 31
diesel-electrics were drafted in as replacements.
locomotive at the same price and D821 Greyhound thus became the first preserved ex-BR mainline diesel locomotive.
Class locomotives belonging to SNCF
that were utilised on freight workings through the Channel Tunnel
prior to the delivery of the Class 92
locomotives during 1994 and 1995.
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
Class 22 or "Baby Warship" was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives designed for the Western Region of British Railways
Western Region of British Railways
The Western Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992...
and built by the North British Locomotive Company
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
. They were very similar in appearance to the Class 21
British Rail Class 21
The British Rail Class 21 was a type of Type 2 diesel-electric locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow for British Railways in 1958-1960....
diesel-electrics. The nickname Baby Warship related to the similarity in appearance (and internal equipment) to the British Rail Class D20/2 Warship Class
Introduction
D6300 was introduced to traffic in 1959 and deliveries continued through until 1962. The Class 22s were allocated to Bristol Bath RoadBristol Bath Road TMD
Bristol Bath Road TMD was a railway Traction Maintenance Depot situated in Bristol.Originally built for the Bristol and Exeter Railway, it was rebuilt in 1934 by the Great Western Railway. The depot was rebuilt again in the early 1960's as its role changed from maintaining steam locomotives to...
, Laira Plymouth
Laira TMD
Laira TMD is a railway Traction Maintenance Depot situated in Plymouth, Devon, England. The depot is operated by First Great Western and is mainly concerned with the overhaul and daily servicing of their fleet of High Speed Trains and also the DMUs used on local services...
, Newton Abbot and Old Oak Common
Old Oak Common TMD
Old Oak Common TMD is situated to the west of London, in Old Oak Common. The Traction Maintenance Depot is the main facility for the storage and servicing of locomotives and multiple-units which utilise Paddington Station. The depot codes are 'OC' for the diesel depot, and 'OO' for the carriage shed...
. The majority of the class always operated in the West of England, on a range of local passengera and freight work, with smaller numbers of the later units operating on local work in the Bristol and around London Paddington (notably moving empty carriages between the mai station and Old Oak Common yard).
Availability
Initially the locomotives had some problems with engine and transmission faults, but could be returned to North British Locomotive Works (NBL) for repair under the contractual agreement. By 1961, reliability had improved. With the more powerful Hymeks and WarshipsBritish Rail Class 42
British Railways' Type 4 Warship class diesel-hydraulic locomotives were introduced in 1958. It was apparent at that time that the largest centre of expertise on diesel-hydraulic locomotives was in Germany...
being available, the locomotives were displaced onto more secondary lines. By the mid 1960s, the locos had settled down to give reliable service, with availability over 85%.Average availability was 85%, with one locomotive permanently out of action, with no action being taken to fix it.
Decline
NBL went bankrupt in 1962 and, by the late 1960s, withdrawn locomotives were being used to provide spares. Attrition was inevitable and the withdrawals, which had commenced in 1967, finished with the withdrawal of 6333, 6336, 6338 and 6339 in December 1971. Ex-Eastern RegionEastern Region of British Railways
The Eastern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992...
Class 31
British Rail Class 31
The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62.- Description :...
diesel-electrics were drafted in as replacements.
Livery
The NBL type 2s were introduced in all-over green livery with a light grey skirt band, mid-grey roof, red buffer beams and black underframe. Numbers appeared below all four cab windows and the BR 'lion and wheel' emblem was placed high on the bodyside as centrally as possible. Later a small yellow warning was added. From 1967 locos were repainted in the new corporate rail blue livery with full yellow ends. The 'arrows of confusion' logo was placed immediately below each cab window, with the loco number below this; on some locos this was reversed.Preservation attempt
The class is now extinct, but an attempt was made to preserve D6319. A purchase price was agreed with BR but it was accidentally cut up by staff at Swindon Works. BR offered the purchaser a Warship classBritish Rail Class 42
British Railways' Type 4 Warship class diesel-hydraulic locomotives were introduced in 1958. It was apparent at that time that the largest centre of expertise on diesel-hydraulic locomotives was in Germany...
locomotive at the same price and D821 Greyhound thus became the first preserved ex-BR mainline diesel locomotive.
Class 22 electric locomotive
Class 22 was also used as the TOPS classification for the dual voltage BB 22200SNCF Class BB 22200
The BB 22200 is a class of electric locomotives in service with the French railways SNCF, built by Alsthom between 1976-1986. They are a dual voltage version of the BB 7200 and BB 15000 classesThe designation "22000" is in fact the sum of 7200 and 15000.From 1994 nine BB 22200 units were used for...
Class locomotives belonging to SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
that were utilised on freight workings through the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
prior to the delivery of the Class 92
British Rail Class 92
The British Rail Class 92 is a dual-voltage electric locomotive which can run on 25 kV AC from overhead wires or 750 V DC from a third rail. It was designed specifically to operate services through the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France...
locomotives during 1994 and 1995.
External links
- The Western Region Archive D6300 class introduction Brief class history, technical details and specifications greatwestern.org.uk