Sutton's Locomotive Workshop British Railways Sulzer Type 2 Operating Manual - page 5
2. Prototype overview
By way of nostalgic introduction to the prototype, no description could be better
provided than by reproducing the official trade press handout that accompanied the
official unveiling of the first locomotive - No. D5000 - in 1958 for formal inspection by
General Sir Brian Robertson, Chairman of the British Transport Commission.
BRITISH RAILWAYS
TYPE 2 1,160h.p.
DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
On view at
MARYLEBONE STATION
24th July 1958
By courtesy of the British Transport Commission
The locomotive which is exhibited at Marylebone Station today is the first of a batch
of 30 which are being built at British Railways’ Derby Locomotive Works. The total
number of locomotives to be erected by British Railways workshops, incorporating
B.T.H. electrical apparatus and Sulzer 6LDA28 engines, is now 114*.
* The ‘pilot scheme’ build was for 20 locomotives placed in 1955. In June 1957, a further 10
locomotives were ordered for the Eastern Region. Just a month before this presentation, in June
1958, an additional 84 machines were authorised (66 for ER and 16 for the NER). So much for
the plan to gain in-service experience before placing big orders!
At the beginning, the first 15 of these 30 locomotives will be allocated to the
Southern Region. There they will be used to implement this Region’s policy whereby
steam traction will be eliminated as soon as possible from their Eastern and Central
Sections. Afterwards, when the 1,550hp locomotives on order with the Birmingham
Railway Carriage & Wagon Co., also with Sulzer diesel engines, arrive, these 15 built
at Derby will be re-allocated.
Mechanical Design
These locomotives, Nos. D5000 – D5029, are being designed and constructed to the
requirements of the British Transport Commission under the general direction of
Messrs. R. C. Bond and S. B. Warder (Chief Mechanical Engineer and Chief Electrical
Engineer respectively, of the British Railways Central Staff, British Transport
Commission), the detailed design and supervision of construction being the
responsibility of Mr. J. F. Harrison (Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, Derby,
London Midland Region). The whole design has been co-ordinated with
the British Thomson-Houston Co. who are the main contractor for the power
equipment, and with Sulzer Brothers, the diesel engine manufacturers.
SLW Class 24 Operating Manual
Page 9
Page 8
SLW Class 24 Operating Manual