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British Rail Class 13

The British Rail Class 13 was a type of diesel–electric shunting locomotive. The type was designed in 1965 because of the need to provide more powerful shunters for the Tinsley Marshalling Yard. Due to Tinsley's status as a hump yard, it was not possible to use a single locomotive owing to the risk of grounding. So, to achieve the required power, a pair of Class 08 shunters were permanently coupled in master and slave formation, with the slave unit having had its cab removed. Both units were then ballasted to improve traction. Initially coupled cab-to-cab, it was found more practical to couple master nose to slave cab.

British Rail Class 13
A British Rail Class 13 at Tinsley Marshalling Yard, 1974
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel–electric
BuilderBritish Railways Darlington Works (builder and rebuilder)
Build date1965 (rebuilt)
Total produced3
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0+0-6-0
 • AARC-C
 • UICC+C
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter4 ft 6 in (1.372 m)
Minimum curve3 ch (60 m)[1]
Wheelbase42 ft 1+1⁄2 in (12.84 m)
Length60 ft 1 in (18.31 m)
Width8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)[1]
Height12 ft 8+5⁄8 in (3.88 m)[1]
Loco weight120 long tons (122 t; 134 short tons)
Fuel capacity1,336 imp gal (6,070 L; 1,604 US gal)
Prime moverEnglish Electric 6KT, 2 off
GeneratorDC
Traction motorsEE, four off
TransmissionDiesel electric, double reduction gearing
MU workingNot fitted (except control of slave by master)
Train heatingNone
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed15[1] or 20[2] mph (24 or 32 km/h)
Power outputEngine: 400 hp (298 kW)[3] × 2
Tractive effortMaximum: 70,000 lbf (311.4 kN)
Brakeforce37 long tons-force (370 kN)
Career
OperatorsBritish Railways
NumbersD4500–D4502, later 13 001–13 003
Axle load classRA 8
Retired1981–1985
Scrapped1982 (13 002)
1985-6 (13 001 and 13 003)
DispositionAll scrapped

Units

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Three pairs were formed as follows:

Unit number Master unit Slave unit Withdrawn Fate Notes
Original TOPS
D4501 13001 D4190 D4189 January 1985 Scrapped at BREL Swindon, May 1985 [4]
D4502 13002 D4187 D3697 June 1981 Scrapped at BREL Swindon, October 1982 [5]
D4500 13003 D4188 D3698 January 1985 Scrapped at BREL Doncaster, September 1986 [6]
 
D4501 (later 13 001) at Tinsley

Withdrawal

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With the end of hump shunting at Tinsley the class became obsolete. The unique qualities of the locomotives were not required elsewhere and so withdrawal was inevitable; 13 002 was withdrawn in 1981, with the remaining two locomotives going with the closure of Tinsley hump in 1985. None of this unusual class survives.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Class 08/09/13 Locomotives: General Data, Preparation & Disposal, Driving Instructions & Fault Finding Information. British Rail. July 1980. BR 33056/70.
  2. ^ Diesel Electric Shunting Locomotives D3000 - D4192, D4500 - D4502, 12033 - 12138, 15211 - 15238: Driving Instructions Including Locomotive Data and Description, Preparation and Disposal, Fault Finding Charts – Part 1: Locomotive Data and Equipment Fitted. British Railways. June 1968. B.R.33003/252.
  3. ^ "Preface, General Data". Diesel Engine Instruction and Maintenance Manual. Strand, London: English Electric. p. Instruction 701/9/1/1, Instruction 703/10/2/1–703/10/2/2, Instruction 704/1/1/1–704/1/1/2.
  4. ^ "Class 13 Number 13001". Diesel/Electric Locomotive Information. Rail UK. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Class 13 Number 13002". Diesel/Electric Locomotive Information. Rail UK. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Class 13 Number 13003". Diesel/Electric Locomotive Information. Rail UK. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  7. ^ Bickerdyke, Paul, ed. (October 2015). "Class 13 Tinsley shunters". Rail Express. No. 233. Horncastle: Mortons Media Publishing. p. 25. ISSN 1362-234X.
  • Strickland, David C. (1983). Locomotive Directory—every single one there has ever been. Camberley, Surrey: Diesel and Electric Group. pp. 53–55. ISBN 0-906375-10-X.

Further reading

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  • McManus, Michael. Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 - 1968. Wirral. Michael McManus.
  • Vehicle Diagram Book No. 120 for Shunting Diesel Locomotives (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. April 1974. 13-a – via Barrowmore MRG.
  • Pobgee, Ray (February 1983). "We're two of a kind...". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 22–23. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  • Cooke, B.W.C, ed. (March 1966). "Composite Hump Shunters". Railway Magazine. Vol. 112, no. 779. pp. 164–166.
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