Projects

The Class 210 diesel electric multiple unit was designed in the early 80’s as a replacement for the multilple units built in the 1950’s and 60’s that were now showing their age. Two prototypes were built in 1982 using different engine and electrical makes, a Paxman and Brush Traction combination in a 4 car outer-suburban …

DHP1, or Diesel Hydraulic Prototype 1, was a joint venture between Clayton Equipment Company and Rolls Royce. The body was based on the Class 17 produced by Clayton as a standard Type 1 loco for British Rail, which unfortunately proved to be very unreliable and was withdrawn after a very short life. Power came from …

Hs4000 Kestrel was the most powerful diesel loco ever built in the UK. Kestrel had many firsts, the first alternator, first use of dynamic braking amongst others. Capable of pulling trains heavier and faster than the network could handle it was ahead of its time. With British Rail unwilling to order any production models the loco ended its days in the USSR, finally being scrapped in the mid 90's after giving up its secrets.

Falcon was designed in 1959 by Brush Traction as their competitor in the competition for a new Type 4 design, being lighter and more powerful than the existing designs. Although unsuccessful the design was taken into service with BR and eventually scrapped in Newport in 1976.

D0260 Lion was Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company's bid for the new Type 4 locos for British Rail. Although considered the superior design the cost and financial difficulties at the company meant it wasn't selected.

The Blue Pullmans were luxury trains used from 1960 to 1973 by British Railways, the first Pullman diesel-electric multiple units, incorporating several novel features. Named after their Nanking blue livery, the trains were conceived under the 1955 Modernisation Plan to create luxury diesel express trains aimed at competing with the motor car and the emerging domestic air travel market. Although not entirely successful – they were seen as underpowered, unreliable, and ultimately not economically viable – they demonstrated the possibility of fixed-formation multiple-unit inter-city train services, and inspired the development of the Inter City 125, which resembles them in having an integral power car at each end of the train.