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British Rail Class 43 (Warship Class)
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 43 diesel-hydraulic locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company
(NBL) from 1960–1962.
wheel arrangement
, was constructed by two different builders. Those locomotives built by British Railways at Swindon Works were originally numbered D800-D832 and D866-D870. They were allocated Class 42 with the advent of TOPS
, while those built by the North British Locomotive Company
(NBL) were originally numbered D833-D865 and allocated Class 43. Because of their early withdrawal dates, neither the Swindon- nor the NBL-built locomotives carried TOPS numbers. More detail on factors common to both types can be found in the article on the Swindon-built British Rail Class 42
.
ways would be seeking large quantities of such locomotives when the "Modernisation Plan" was announced. MAN were equally keen to obtain a slice of the UK market for themselves. The first results of this collaboration were the D600-D604 locomotives
which failed to take advantage of the weight-saving potential of light alloy stressed-skin construction allied to hydraulic transmissions.
No further examples of this design were ordered but NBL then received an order for 33 locomotives to a more advanced design, the D800 design
drawn up by Swindon Works. The prime mechanical components of these were two MAN L12V18/21B diesel engines, each rated at 1100 hp at 1530 rpm and coupled to a Voith LT306r hydraulic transmission; each engine/transmission combination drove one bogie. Unlike the Mekydro four-speed transmissions in the Swindon-built locomotives, the Voith was only a three-speed design but was chosen because it kept compatibility with D600-4 and because NBL already had a licence to manufacture it. Whereas the Swindon-built locomotives had all their engines and transmissions supplied by the German manufacturers (albeit with ten engines and three transmissions supplied as kits of parts for the British licensee to re-assemble) the engines and transmissions required for D833-65 were all built by NBL.
s and these components were prone to fracture. Not only did this result in a loss of exhaust pressure to drive the turbochargers but also the driving cabs rapidly filled with exhaust fumes. The MAN-built engines used in the German DB class V 200
design had nickel-resist steel manifolds and were far less troublesome. The engine design also suffered from being quite highly rated for a design with no active piston cooling and piston ring
life expectancy was decreased as a result. One MAN L12V18/21B was sent to the British Internal Combustion Engine Research Association for various tests and potential modifications to improve the deficiencies but nothing ever came of this. Further problems arose because of the conversion from metric
to imperial feet and inches when the MAN drawings were received by NBL. It is almost certain that rounding errors in these conversions resulted in poor tolerances and lowered reliability in practice. Despite all this figures for 1965 show the North British Warships covering a far greater annual mileage than contemporary type 4's such as the Westerns, Peaks and Brush type 4.
, Laira Plymouth
, Newton Abbot and Old Oak Common
.
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 43 diesel-hydraulic locomotives were 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...
(NBL) from 1960–1962.
Classification
The D800 series diesel-hydraulic 'Warship Class', of B-BUIC classification
The UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements describes the wheel arrangement of locomotives, multiple units and trams. It is set out in the International Union of Railways "Leaflet 650 - Standard designation of axle arrangement on locomotives and multiple-unit sets". It is used in much...
wheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
, was constructed by two different builders. Those locomotives built by British Railways at Swindon Works were originally numbered D800-D832 and D866-D870. They were allocated Class 42 with the advent of TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
, while those 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...
(NBL) were originally numbered D833-D865 and allocated Class 43. Because of their early withdrawal dates, neither the Swindon- nor the NBL-built locomotives carried TOPS numbers. More detail on factors common to both types can be found in the article on the Swindon-built British Rail Class 42
British 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...
.
Mechanical details
The NBL-built D800s differed mechanically from the Swindon-built batch: the Swindon locomotives used Maybach engines connected to Mekydro hydraulic transmissions whereas the NBL-built examples used MAN engines and Voith transmissions. NBL had entered into an arrangement with the German company MAN AG in the early 1950s to market MAN's engine designs in the UK: NBL were anxious to enter the diesel locomotive market, especially once it became apparent that British RailBritish 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...
ways would be seeking large quantities of such locomotives when the "Modernisation Plan" was announced. MAN were equally keen to obtain a slice of the UK market for themselves. The first results of this collaboration were the D600-D604 locomotives
British Rail Class 41 (Warship Class)
The British Railways Class D600 diesel-hydraulic locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow during 1957 and 1958. Although never assigned a TOPS class as they were withdrawn before TOPS was introduced British Loco enthusiasts coined the term "Class 41"...
which failed to take advantage of the weight-saving potential of light alloy stressed-skin construction allied to hydraulic transmissions.
No further examples of this design were ordered but NBL then received an order for 33 locomotives to a more advanced design, the D800 design
British 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...
drawn up by Swindon Works. The prime mechanical components of these were two MAN L12V18/21B diesel engines, each rated at 1100 hp at 1530 rpm and coupled to a Voith LT306r hydraulic transmission; each engine/transmission combination drove one bogie. Unlike the Mekydro four-speed transmissions in the Swindon-built locomotives, the Voith was only a three-speed design but was chosen because it kept compatibility with D600-4 and because NBL already had a licence to manufacture it. Whereas the Swindon-built locomotives had all their engines and transmissions supplied by the German manufacturers (albeit with ten engines and three transmissions supplied as kits of parts for the British licensee to re-assemble) the engines and transmissions required for D833-65 were all built by NBL.
Operation
In operational service, the NBL locomotives were less reliable than their Swindon-built cousins. Mild steel was used for the exhaust manifoldExhaust manifold
In automotive engineering, an exhaust manifold collects the exhaust gases from multiple cylinders into one pipe. The word manifold comes from the Old English word manigfeald and refers to the folding together of multiple inputs and outputs.In contrast, an inlet manifold is the part of an engine...
s and these components were prone to fracture. Not only did this result in a loss of exhaust pressure to drive the turbochargers but also the driving cabs rapidly filled with exhaust fumes. The MAN-built engines used in the German DB class V 200
DB class V 200
DB Class V 200.0 was one of the first diesel-hydraulic express locomotives of the German Deutsche Bundesbahn and - as Am 4/4 - of the SBB-CFF-FFS in Switzerland.-DB Service:...
design had nickel-resist steel manifolds and were far less troublesome. The engine design also suffered from being quite highly rated for a design with no active piston cooling and piston ring
Piston ring
A piston ring is a split ring that fits into a groove on the outer diameter of a piston in a reciprocating engine such as an internal combustion engine or steam engine.The three main functions of piston rings in reciprocating engines are:...
life expectancy was decreased as a result. One MAN L12V18/21B was sent to the British Internal Combustion Engine Research Association for various tests and potential modifications to improve the deficiencies but nothing ever came of this. Further problems arose because of the conversion from metric
Metric system
The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...
to imperial feet and inches when the MAN drawings were received by NBL. It is almost certain that rounding errors in these conversions resulted in poor tolerances and lowered reliability in practice. Despite all this figures for 1965 show the North British Warships covering a far greater annual mileage than contemporary type 4's such as the Westerns, Peaks and Brush type 4.
Withdrawal
The NBL-built D800s were withdrawn before their Class 42 sisters, themselves doomed to a short life because of the decision to standardise on diesel-electric transmission for mainline locomotives. None has survived into preservation. They 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...
.
Class details
| Running number | Name | Date to traffic | Date withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D833 | Panther HMS Panther Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Panther, after the panther, whilst another two were planned: was a 54-gun fourth-rate ship of the line launched in 1703. She was rebuilt in 1716, hulked in 1743 and sold in 1768. was 50-gun fourth rate launched in 1746 and broken up in 1756. was a... |
6 July 1960 | 3 October 1971 | Built by NBL, date of order 3 July 1958, maker's order no. L100, Swindon lot no. 443 Cut up 05.02.72 at Swindon |
| D834 | Pathfinder HMS Pathfinder Two ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Pathfinder., launched in 1904, was a light cruiser, the lead ship of her class. She was sunk at the start of World War I by U-21, becoming the first ship to ever be sunk by a torpedo fired by submarine., launched in 1941, was a P-class destroyer... |
26 July 1960 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 18.02.72 at Swindon |
| D835 | Pegasus HMS Pegasus HMS Pegasus is the name which has been given to nine ships in the British Royal Navy. Pegasus was a winged horse in Greek mythology. These ships included:... |
5 August 1960 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 11.12.71 at Swindon |
| D836 | Powerful HMS Powerful Four ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Powerful.Ships was a 74-gun third rate launched in 1783 and broken up in 1812. was an 84-gun second rate launched in 1826. She was used as a target from 1860 and was broken up by 1864. was a protected cruiser launched in 1895. She became a... |
13 September 1960 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 10.03.72 at Swindon |
| D837 | Ramillies HMS Ramillies Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ramillies after the Battle of Ramillies :*HMS Ramilles was 82-gun second-rate launched in 1664 as HMS Royal Katherine. She was renamed HMS Ramillies in 1706, and was wrecked in 1760. was a 74-gun third rate launched in 1763. She was damaged in a... |
8 November 1960 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 23.06.72 at Swindon |
| D838 | Rapid HMS Rapid Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Rapid: was a 12-gun gun-brig launched in 1804 and sunk in 1808. was a 12-gun schooner captured from the French in 1808 and wrecked in 1814. was a 14-gun brig-sloop launched in 1808 and sold in 1814. was a 10-gun Cherokee class brig-sloop launched... |
3 October 1960 | 27 March 1971 | Cut up 29.07.72 at Swindon |
| D839 | Relentless HMS Relentless (H85) HMS Relentless was an R-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II. She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F185.... |
12 November 1960 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 04.08.72 at Swindon |
| D840 | Resistance HMS Resistance (1861) HMS Resistance was the second and last ship of the Defence class to be commissioned. She served in the English Channel from 1862 to 1864, and was then posted to the Mediterranean, where she was the first British ironclad to see service... |
3 February 1961 | 26 April 1969 | Cut up 26.05.71 at Swindon |
| D841 | Roebuck HMS Roebuck Fourteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Roebuck after a small deer native to the British Isles. was a flyboat purchased in 1585. was a 10-gun vessel launched in 1636 and sunk in 1641 as a result of a collision. was a 14-gun ship captured in 1646 and commissioned into the Royalist Navy... |
14 December 1960 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 25.02.72 at Swindon |
| D842 | Royal Oak HMS Royal Oak Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Royal Oak, after the Royal Oak in which Charles II hid himself during his flight from the country in the English Civil War:... |
20 December 1960 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 17.03.72 at Swindon |
| D843 | Sharpshooter | 2 January 1961 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 21.04.72 at Swindon |
| D844 | Spartan HMS Spartan HMS Spartan may refer to one of these vessels of the British Royal Navy named in recognition of the military abilities of the Spartans of ancient Greece. was a 38-gun fifth-rate launched in 1806 and broken up 1822... |
16 March 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 26.05.72 at Swindon |
| D845 | Sprightly HMS Sprightly (1901) HMS Sprightly was a B-class torpedo boat destroyer of the British Royal Navy. She was built speculatively by Laird, Son & Company, Birkenhead, pre-empting further orders for vessels of this type, and was bought by the navy in 1901.... |
7 April 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 19.05.72 at Swindon |
| D846 | Steadfast | 12 April 1961 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 24.12.71 at Swindon |
| D847 | Strongbow HMS Strongbow (P235) HMS Strongbow was an S class submarine of the Royal Navy, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built by Scotts, of Greenock and launched on August 30, 1943.... |
22 April 1961 | 27 March 1971 | Cut up 17.03.72 at Swindon |
| D848 | Sultan HMS Sultan HMS Sultan is a shore base of the Royal Navy in Gosport, Hampshire, England.Formerly RAF Gosport and then the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Siskin,-External links:*... |
27 April 1961 | 26 March 1969 | Cut up 26.05.71 at Swindon |
| D849 | Superb HMS Superb Eleven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Superb, or HMS Superbe:*HMS Superb was a 64-gun third rate, previously the French ship Superbe... |
29 May 1961 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 07.07.72 at Swindon |
| D850 | Swift | 8 June 1961 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 03.03.72 at Swindon |
| D851 | Temeraire HMS Temeraire Five ships and two shore establishments of the Royal Navy have been called HMS Temeraire. The name entered the navy with the capture of the first Temeraire from the French in 1759:... |
10 July 1961 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 09.06.72 at Swindon |
| D852 | Tenacious HMS Tenacious (R45) HMS Tenacious was a T-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built by Cammell Laird, of Birkenhead and launched on 24 March 1943. She was later converted to a Type 16 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F44. Tenacious was sold... |
24 July 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 02.06.72 at Swindon |
| D853 | Thruster | 30 August 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 16.06.72 at Swindon |
| D854 | Tiger HMS Tiger Fifteen ships of the British Royal Navy have carried the name HMS Tiger after the feline tiger, with a number of others provisionally bearing the name at various stages in their construction:... |
26 September 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 05.05.72 at Swindon |
| D855 | Triumph HMS Triumph Ten ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Triumph. Another was planned, but renamed before being launched: was a 68-gun galleon built in 1561. She was rebuilt in 1596, and sold in 1618. was a 44-gun ship launched in 1623 and broken up in 1687. was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line... |
25 October 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 28.04.72 at Swindon |
| D856 | Trojan | 16 November 1961 | 22 May 1971 | Cut up 07.01.72 at Swindon |
| D857 | Undaunted HMS Undaunted Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Undaunted:*HMS Undaunted was a 28-gun sixth rate, formerly the French storeship Bien Venue. She was captured in 1794 during the British capture of Fort Royal and Fort Saint Louis and sold in 1795.*HMS Undaunted was previously HMS Arethusa, a... |
11 December 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Last NBL-built D8xx to be withdrawn; Undaunted was simply switched off in full working order. Cut up 28.04.72 at Swindon |
| D858 | Valorous HMS Valorous HMS Valorous has been the name of four ships of the Royal Navy:*HMS Valorous was a Combatant-class sixth rate sloop. She was launched at Hull in 1804, became an army depot ship in 1810, and was sold in 1817.... |
15 December 1961 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 09.06.72 at Swindon |
| D859 | Vanquisher | 9 January 1962 | 27 March 1971 | Cut up 30.06.72 at Swindon |
| D860 | Victorious HMS Victorious Five ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Victorious.*The first Victorious, launched in 1785 at Blackwall Yard, London, was a third-rate ship of the line, with an armament of 74 guns.... |
22 January 1962 | 27 March 1971 | Cut up 04.12.71 at Swindon |
| D861 | Vigilant HMS Vigilant Thirteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Vigilant:*HMS Vigilant was a schooner, which served on the Canadian lakes. She was captured by the French in 1756.... |
14 February 1962 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 29.07.72 at Swindon |
| D862 | Viking HMS Viking Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Viking, after the Vikings, whilst another Viking was in service with the Royal New Zealand Navy:*HMS Viking was a Tribal class destroyer launched in 1909 and sold for scrap in 1919... |
13 March 1962 | 3 October 1971 | Cut up 12.05.72 at Swindon |
| D863 | Warrior HMS Warrior At least five ships and one shore establishment of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Warrior.*HMS Warrior was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line launched in 1781. She became a receiving ship after 1818, a convict ship after 1840, and was broken up in 1857.*HMS Warrior was the Royal Navy's first... |
7 April 1962 | 26 March 1969 | Cut up at J Cashmore Ltd John Cashmore Ltd John Cashmore Ltd was a company based at Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales... , Newport |
| D864 | Zambesi | 10 May 1962 | 27 March 1971 | Was to have been named Zealous Cut up 19.11.71 at Swindon |
| D865 | Zealous HMS Zealous Three ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Zealous, whilst another had been planned, but was cancelled.*HMS Zealous, a 74 gun ship, launched in 1785 and broken up in 1816... |
28 June 1962 | 22 May 1971 | Was to have been named Zenith Cut up 09.06.72 at Swindon |