British Rail Janus
Encyclopedia
Janus and Taurus were two models of diesel shunting locomotives by the Yorkshire Engine Company
; one prototype of each being loaned to British Rail
ways for demonstrations. However, BR did not buy any production versions after testing. At least one other Yorkshire Engine Company locomotive was loaned to British Rail
ways in the 1960s.
The names are class names, not the names of specific locomotives.
wheel arrangement
, diesel-electric, weighed 48 tons and had a maximum speed of 23 mile per hour. The two Rolls-Royce C6SFL diesel engines gave a total power output of 400 hp. The locomotive demonstrated on British Railways was the second of this type built (works number 2595/56), both the first two locomotives being demonstrated to potential customers before going to the Appleby-Frodingham Steelworks in Scunthorpe
. It is thought to have been in use there until being scrapped in 1982.
Eventually just short of 100 Janus locomotives were built (one even being built for operation in India
), some of which were still in industrial use in 2005.
The name Janus is from the two-faced god Janus
: the locomotive was symmetrical with two 'faces'. The similarity in power and speed would indicate that this type of locomotive could have been use in a similar role to the British Rail Class 08
shunter. In recent years Class 08 shunters
owned by EWS
have replaced Janus locomotives on some industrial railways.
, diesel-hydraulic, weighed 56 tons and had a maximum speed of 36 mile per hour. The two Rolls-Royce C8SFL diesel engines gave a total of 600 hp. The transmission of this locomotive worked on a similar principle to that of the Fell diesel
tested during the early 1950s. In this case, at low speeds only one engine was used, the second being engaged to allow higher speeds. The maximum speed with one engine was 12 mile per hour while the minimum speed with both engines was 3.5 mile per hour.
It would appear that the name came from Taurus
the bull while maintaining the ‘….us’ theme of Yorkshire Engine Co locomotive types (Janus, Olympus, Taurus, Indus).
The Taurus was demonstrated and tested on British Railways during 1961 and 1962. It was a ‘trip’ locomotive intended to carry out shunting work and hauling local (short distance) goods trains. This was the duty for which the British Rail Class 14
locomotives were built in 1963.
Following the trials, the Taurus was returned to the manufacturer's works in Sheffield
and was dismantled, leaving only the chassis
(which was scrapped in 1965). A second Taurus locomotive was built for use in Spain
to a gauge of 1674 mm (5 ft 6 inches). It is possible (but not proven) that all the components from the British Rail demonstrator were transferred onto the wider chassis built for Spain.
A works number is allocated to the chassis/frame
, so it is appropriate that the demonstrator No. 2875 has a different works number from the Spanish locomotive No. 2892), even if many parts were reused.
The Spanish Taurus locomotive survives in a railway museum in Madrid
. Photographs of it there have been published on the internet http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/diesel/historic/306/pix.html.
diesel-hydraulic locomotive was demonstrated on British Railways. It weighed 40 tons and was powered by a single Rolls-Royce C8SFL engine giving 300 hp. The design was similar to a lengthened British Rail Class 02
. The locomotive was tested near Derby
for four days, and following the demonstration was delivered to Llanwern steelworks
, Newport
.
Yorkshire Engine Company
The Yorkshire Engine Company was a small independent locomotive manufacturer in Sheffield, England. The Company was formed in 1865 and continued to produce locomotives and carry out general engineering work until 1965...
; one prototype of each being loaned to British Rail
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...
ways for demonstrations. However, BR did not buy any production versions after testing. At least one other Yorkshire Engine Company locomotive was loaned to British Rail
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...
ways in the 1960s.
The names are class names, not the names of specific locomotives.
The Janus
The Janus locomotive was of 0-6-00-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
wheel arrangement
Whyte notation
The Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte and came into use in the early twentieth century encouraged by an editorial in American Engineer and Railroad Journal...
, diesel-electric, weighed 48 tons and had a maximum speed of 23 mile per hour. The two Rolls-Royce C6SFL diesel engines gave a total power output of 400 hp. The locomotive demonstrated on British Railways was the second of this type built (works number 2595/56), both the first two locomotives being demonstrated to potential customers before going to the Appleby-Frodingham Steelworks in Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe is a town within North Lincolnshire, England. It is the administrative centre of the North Lincolnshire unitary authority, and had an estimated total resident population of 72,514 in 2010. A predominantly industrial town, Scunthorpe, the United Kingdom's largest steel processing centre,...
. It is thought to have been in use there until being scrapped in 1982.
Eventually just short of 100 Janus locomotives were built (one even being built for operation in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), some of which were still in industrial use in 2005.
The name Janus is from the two-faced god Janus
Janus (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god since he looks to the future and the past...
: the locomotive was symmetrical with two 'faces'. The similarity in power and speed would indicate that this type of locomotive could have been use in a similar role to the British Rail Class 08
British Rail Class 08
The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
shunter. In recent years Class 08 shunters
British Rail Class 08
The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
owned by EWS
EWS
DB Schenker Rail , before 2009 known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is a British rail freight company. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation in 1996 by acquisition of five of the six freight companies created by the privatisation of British...
have replaced Janus locomotives on some industrial railways.
The Taurus
The Taurus locomotive was an 0-8-00-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
, diesel-hydraulic, weighed 56 tons and had a maximum speed of 36 mile per hour. The two Rolls-Royce C8SFL diesel engines gave a total of 600 hp. The transmission of this locomotive worked on a similar principle to that of the Fell diesel
British Rail 10100
British Railways 10100 was an unusual experimental diesel locomotive known informally as The Fell Diesel Locomotive . It was the joint production of Davey Paxman & Co, Shell Refining & Marketing Co and Lt-Col L.F.R. Fell, built for them by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Derby. Sir...
tested during the early 1950s. In this case, at low speeds only one engine was used, the second being engaged to allow higher speeds. The maximum speed with one engine was 12 mile per hour while the minimum speed with both engines was 3.5 mile per hour.
It would appear that the name came from Taurus
Taurus (constellation)
Taurus is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is a Latin word meaning 'bull', and its astrological symbol is a stylized bull's head:...
the bull while maintaining the ‘….us’ theme of Yorkshire Engine Co locomotive types (Janus, Olympus, Taurus, Indus).
The Taurus was demonstrated and tested on British Railways during 1961 and 1962. It was a ‘trip’ locomotive intended to carry out shunting work and hauling local (short distance) goods trains. This was the duty for which the British Rail Class 14
British Rail Class 14
The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
locomotives were built in 1963.
Following the trials, the Taurus was returned to the manufacturer's works in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and was dismantled, leaving only the chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
(which was scrapped in 1965). A second Taurus locomotive was built for use in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to a gauge of 1674 mm (5 ft 6 inches). It is possible (but not proven) that all the components from the British Rail demonstrator were transferred onto the wider chassis built for Spain.
A works number is allocated to the chassis/frame
Frame
A frame is a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction.Frame may also refer to:-Engineering & construction:* A-Frame, a basic structure designed to bear a load in a lightweight economical manner...
, so it is appropriate that the demonstrator No. 2875 has a different works number from the Spanish locomotive No. 2892), even if many parts were reused.
The Spanish Taurus locomotive survives in a railway museum in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Photographs of it there have been published on the internet http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/diesel/historic/306/pix.html.
Other locomotives
In July 1961 an 0-6-00-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
diesel-hydraulic locomotive was demonstrated on British Railways. It weighed 40 tons and was powered by a single Rolls-Royce C8SFL engine giving 300 hp. The design was similar to a lengthened British Rail Class 02
British Rail Class 02
The British Rail Class 02 were a class of twenty 0-4-0 diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives built by the Yorkshire Engine Company in 1960 and 1961 for service in areas of restricted loading gauge and curvature such as docks...
. The locomotive was tested near Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
for four days, and following the demonstration was delivered to Llanwern steelworks
Llanwern steelworks
Llanwern Steelworks is located in Llanwern, east of the City of Newport, South Wales.Built by Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, the works was originally referred to locally as "The RTB", before being called Spencer Works and later Llanwern...
, Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.