British Rail 10800

British Railways 10800
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder North British Locomotive Company Serial number 26413 Build date 1950
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m) Minimum curve 3.75 chains (75 m) Wheelbase 31 ft 0 in (9.45 m) Length 41 ft 10+1⁄2 in (12.76 m) Width 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) Height 12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.90 m) Fuel capacity 300 imp gal (1,400 L; 360 US gal) Coolant cap. 85 imp gal (390 L; 102 US gal) Water cap. 90 imp gal (410 L; 110 US gal) Prime mover Paxman 16RPHXL Series 2 Traction motors BTH 159, four (4) off Cylinder size 7 in × 7.25 in (178 mm × 184 mm) Transmission DC generator DC traction motors MU working Not fitted Train heating Clarkson steam generator Loco brake Brakeforce: 45 long tons-force (450 kN) Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Power output 827 hp (617 kW) Tractive effort 34,500 lbf (153.5 kN)
Career Power class 3MT; later: Type 1 Axle load class Route availability: 4 Retired August 1959 Disposition Sold Brush Traction, rebuilt into research locomotive Hawk, retired 1968, cannibalised 1972–1976, scrapped 1976.

British Railways 10800 was a diesel locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company for British Railways in 1950. It had been ordered by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1946 but did not appear until after the 1948 nationalisation of the railways.

Design was by George Ivatt and the locomotive was intended as a possible replacement for steam locomotives on secondary and branch lines. The single-cab layout (long bonnet forward) gave the driver a poor view of the road ahead but it was no worse than in a steam locomotive so it would have been considered acceptable at the time.

Description

Due to having been ordered by the LMS before the creation of British Railways (BR), 10800 became the first BR mixed-traffic Diesel-Electric locomotive when it was delivered in 1950. Operationally it was successful enough for BR to order a batch of 54 in 1955 although these, destined to be come BR Class 15 and BR Class 16, used the improved YHXL engine.

Specification

• Bogie wheelbase: 8 ft 6 in
• Bogie pivot centres: 22 ft 6 in
• Sanding equipment: Pneumatic
• Heating type: Steam- Clarkson
• Multiple coupling restriction: Not fitted
• Engine Type: Paxman 16RPHXL Mk2
  • Cylinder bore: 7 in
  • Piston stroke: 7¼ in
  • Engine horsepower: 827 hp
• Main generator type: BTH
• Aux generator type: BTH
• Number of traction motors: 4
• Traction motor type: BTH 159
• Gear ratio: 66:15
• Cooling water capacity: 85 gal
• Boiler water capacity: 300 gal
• Boiler fuel capacity:* 90 gal

Rebuilding

In 1961 or 1962 (sources differ) No. 10800 was bought by Brush Traction and rebuilt for experiments in a.c. power transmission. Brush named the locomotive "Hawk". Specifications that changed after rebuilding were:

• Sanding equipment: Not known
• Heating type: Not fitted
• Engine Type: Maybach MD655
  • Cylinder bore: 7¼ in
  • Piston stroke: 8¾ in
  • Engine horsepower: 1,400 hp
• Main alternator type: Brush
• Aux alternator type: Brush
• Traction motor type: Modified rewound BTH 159
• Gear ratio: Not known
• Cooling water capacity: Not known
• Boiler water capacity: Not applicable
• Boiler fuel capacity: Not applicable

It was used until 1968, and slowly stripped for pars from April 1972, until it was finally scrapped at Brush Traction, Loughborough in 1976.

External links

• The Railway Centre
• The Railway Raptors