British Rail Class 11

British Rail Class 11
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder LMS/BR Derby & BR Darlington Build date 1945–1952 Total produced 120
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0  • UIC C Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 0+1⁄2 in (1.232 m) Minimum curve 3.5 chains (70 m) Wheelbase 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) Length 29 ft 1+1⁄2 in (8.88 m) Width 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) Height 12 ft 5+1⁄2 in (3.80 m) Fuel capacity 660 imp gal (3,000 L; 790 US gal) Prime mover English Electric 6KT Generator English Electric 801 — 441 A, 430 V Traction motors English Electric 506, 2 off Cylinders Straight 6 Transmission DC generator, DC traction motors, double reduction gearing MU working Not fitted Train heating None Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Power output Engine: 350 hp (261 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 34,900 lbf (155.2 kN) Brakeforce 32.2 long tons-force (321 kN)
Career Number in class WD: 14 (10 to NS) LMS/BR: 106 Axle load class RA 5

The British Rail Class 11 was applied to a batch of diesel shunting locomotives built from April 1945 to December 1952, based on a similar earlier batch built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) between 1939 and 1942.

Overview

Numbering

The fourteen locomotives were built for the War Department, with the first ten subsequently going the Nederlandse Spoorwegen as NS 50–501). LMS numbers 7120-7129 went straight into LMS stock, with 7129 being the last diesel shunter to be built for the LMS. British Railways continued to build the class from 1948 to 1952, using numbers M7130–M7131 and 12045-12138. 7120-7129 and M7130–M7131 became BR numbers 12033-12044. The whole class of 12033-12138 became Class 11. Locomotives up to 12102 were built at LMS/BR Derby and 12103-12138 at BR Darlington.

Export locomotives

Close to 100 almost identical machines were built by English Electric and supplied to Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) as their 500 Class & 600 Class diesel locomotives. Sixty-five of the 600 Class locomotives were built, numbered 601-665. They were built by English Electric between 1950 and 1957 at either Dick, Kerr & Co. Works (601-610) in Preston or Vulcan Foundry Works (rest) in Newton-le-Willows.

Another export order was to Australia, with 16 locomotives built for use on 5'3" broad gauge in 1951. Victorian Railways bought ten as the F class, while six were bought by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.

Technical details

The diesel engine is an English Electric 6-cylinder, 10 in bore by 12 in stroke (254 by 305 mm); 4-stroke, 6KT and the traction motors are 2 x EE506 axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated traction motors with 21.7:1 double reduction gear drive. The main generator is an English Electric EE801, 441 A at 430 V.

Post-BR use

The following locomotives are, or were, at Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC):

• 12074 Scrapped
• 12082 Operational. It has been re-registered as 01553, in TOPS Class 01/5. It carries both numbers
• 12088 Operational
• 12098 Scrapped

Preservation

The following Class 11 diesel shunters are preserved:

• 12049 at Watercress Line [1]
• 12052 at Caledonian Railway (Brechin)
• 12061 by Heritage Shunters Trust
• 12077 at Midland Railway, Butterley
• 12083 at Battlefield Line Railway
• 12093 at Caledonian Railway (Brechin)
• 12099 at Severn Valley Railway
• 12131 at North Norfolk Railway