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List of British Rail modern traction locomotive classes facts for kids

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This page lists every locomotive allocated a TOPS classification and all modern traction (e.g. diesel, electric, gas turbine, petrol) stock used on the mainline network since 1948 (i.e. British Railways and post-privatisation).

Diesel locomotives

The 1955 diesel locomotive classes are given in brackets where applicable.

A large number of different shunter types were purchased by British Rail and its predecessors, many of which were withdrawn prior to the introduction of TOPS. The tables below attempt to list the different types and the different classifications used to describe them as clearly as possible:

Small shunters: under 300 hp

Shunter classes are listed by 1955 class, which puts TOPS classes in ascending order, and generally puts 1948 and 1962 classes in ascending order. Unclassed shunters are placed at the start of the table; TOPS class 07 has been placed so its 1962 class is in the logical place.

Class Numbers Year(s)
built
Quantity
built
Year(s)
withdrawn
Image
TOPS 1948 1955 1962 1948 1957
One-off 52 hp (39 kW) loco: 11104 1950 1 1967
ex-LMS diesel shunter 13000 N/A 1934 1 1949
DY1 D1/1 1/15 11500-11502 D2950-D2952 1954-55 3 1966-67
Class 01 DY2 D1/2 1/12 11503-11506, 81 D2953-D2956, D2956 (ii) 1956-58 5 1966-81
DY5 D1/3 1/16 11507-11508 D2957-D2958 1956 2 1967-68
Class 02 D1/4 1/17 D2850-D2869 1960-61 20 1969-75 Yorkshire Engine 2813 on Middleton Railway 94.jpeg
DY11 D2/1 2/4A 11700-11707 D2700-D2707 1953-56 8 1964-68
Class 03 DJ15 D2/2 2/1 11187-11211 D2000-D2199
D2370-D2399
1957-62 230 1968-93
except 03079 still in use
British Rail Class 03 diesel shunter 03090.jpg
Class 04 DJ12/1 D2/4 2/13 11100-11115 D2200-D2214 1952-62 (D2341 1948) 142 1967-72 D2298 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre 1.jpg
DJ12/2 D2/13 2/13 11116-11229 D2215-D2341
DJ14 D2/5 2/12A 11177-11186 D2400-D2409 1956-57 10 1967-69
D2/7 2/14 11116-20, 11144-48 D2500-D2509 1955-56 10 1967 Hudswell D707 at the Rutland Railway 05-09-25 31.jpeg
Class 05 DJ13 D2/8 2/15A 11136-43, 11161-76 D2550-D2573 1955-61 79 1966-83 BR Class 05 DL26 2.jpg
DJ13/2 D2/9 2/15 D2574-D2618
Class 06 D2/6 2/12 D2410-D2444 1958-60 35 1967-84 06009 as the works pilot at Dunfermline Townhill Wagon Repair Works in July 1975
DY11 D2/10 2/4 11708-11719 D2708-D2719 1957 12 1967
2/4B D2720-D2780 1958-61 61 1967-68
D2/11 2/2 D2999 1958 1 1967 British Steel No.91, (D2999).jpg
D2/12 2/14A D2510-D2519 1961 10 1967
Class 07 2/16 D2985-D2998 1962 14 1973-77 D2991 (07007) shunter at Eastleigh.jpg
D3/1 3/4 D2900-D2913 1958-59 14 1967
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers:

Large shunters: 300 - 799hp

CLASS NUMBERS Built Quantity Withdrawn Image
TOPS 1948 1955 1962 1948 1957
One-off 360 hp shunter 15107 1949 1 1958
One-off 500 hp shunter 11001 1949 1 1959
Class 08
(Gronk)
DEJ4 D3/2 3/1 13000-13366 D3000-D4192 except those
listed under class 09
1953-62 936 still in use Yeoman Class 08.JPG
Class 09 D3665-71, D3719-21,
D4099-D4114
1959-62 26 still in use 09012 at Brighton.jpg
D3/3 3/1B 13117-13126 D3117-D3126 1955 10 ?
Class 10 DEJ5 D3/4 3/1C 13137-13151 D3137-D3151, D3439-D3453,
D3473-D3502, D3512-D3651,
D4049-4094
1955-62 15 ? Class 10 (D3452) in BR blue livery at Bodmin General on 28 August 2003
DEJ7 D3/5 3/1D 13152-13166 D3152-D3166 1955 15 ?
D3/6 12000-12002 1935 11 ?
D3/7 3/8 12003-12032 1939-42 30 1966-67
Class 11 DEJ3 D3/8 3/8A 12033-12138 1945-52 136 ?
DEJ1 D3/9 3/10 15000-15003 1944 4 ?
D3/10 3/11A 15100 1936 1 ?
D3/11 3/11 15101-15106 1948 6 By 1968
D3/12 3/9A 15201-15203 1937 3 circa 1965
Class 12 D3/13 3/9 15211-15236 1949-52 24 still in industrial use
DEJ2 D3/14 3/2 15004 1949 1 1962
Class 13 7/1 D4500-D4502 1965 3 1983-1985
Class 14
(Teady Bear)
6/1 D9500-D9555 1964 56 1968-69
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers:

Type 1 locomotives: 800 - 1000hp

CLASS 1957 numbers Introduced Quantity Withdrawn Image
TOPS 1955 1962
pre-1955: 10800 (prototype for Class 16) 1950 1 1972
Class 15 D8/1 8/5 D8200-D8243 1957-61 44 1969-71
D8233Wiki.jpg
Class 16 D8/2 8/4 D8400-D8409 1958 10 from 1968
Class 17 N/A 9/18 D8500-D8587 1962-65 117 by 1971 D8574 at Glasgow.jpg
9/19 D8588-D8616
Class 18 1985
(Proposed)
Never Built
Class 20 D10/3 10/3 D8000-199,
D8300-27
1957-67 228 still in use
D8000 at NRM.jpg
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers (unless otherwsie given):

Type 2 locomotives: 1001 - 1499hp

Locomotive class are listed by TOPS class. Locomotives for TOPS classes 24 and 26 have their original sub-classes shown, as each wholly comprised locomotives from a distinct 1962 class.

CLASS 1957 numbers Introduced Quantity Withdrawn Image
TOPS 1955 1962
Class 21 (NBLC) D10/1 10/4 D6100-D6157 1959 58 1967
D11/2 11/4
Class 21 (Vossloh) N/A N/A N/A 2004-05 4 still in use MaK G1206-2.jpg
Class 22 D10/2A 10/4A D6300-D6305 1959 58 1967-72
D6343, d7072 - old oak common - 1965.jpg
D11/5 11/4A D6306-D6357
Class 23 (Baby Deltic) D11/1 11/3 D5900-D5909 1959 10 1968-71 Class 23 D5901.jpg
Class 24 24/0 11/1 D5000-D5049 1958-61 50 by 1980
24081 departing Cheltenham Racecourse.JPG
24/1 D11/3 11/1A D5050-5150 101
Class 25 D12/1 12/1 D5151–D5299,
D7500–D7677
1961-67 323 1971-87
Diesel locomotive Paignton.jpg
Class 26 26/0 D11/4 11/6 D5300-D5319 1958 20 1975-93
26/1 none 11/6A D5320-D5346 1958 26
Class 27 D12/3 12/6 D5347-D5415 1961-62 69 1987
27001 at Bo'ness Railway Museum.jpg
Class 28 D12/1 12/5 D5700-D5719 1958-59 20 1968-71
Class 29 N/A N/A N/A 1965-1967 20 1971
Class 30 & 31 D13/1, D14/2 14/2 D5500-D5862 1957-62 263 plus 81
conversions
1976 - date
still in use
31271 'Stratford 1840-2001' at York Railfest.JPG
  • Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 3 locomotives: 1500 – 1999hp

CLASS Pre-TOPS
numbers
Introduced Quantity Withdrawn Image
TOPS 1955 1962
Class 33 D15/1 15/6 D6500—D6585 1957-59 98 still in use
D15/2 15/6A D6586-D6597
Class 35
(Hymek)
D17/2 17/7 D7000–D7100 1961-64 101 1971-1975
D7017 at Minehead Station on the West Somerset Railway in August 1979
Class 37 D17/1 17/3 D6600-D6608
D6700-D6999
1960 - 65 309 still in use
37019 at Tinsley TMD open day, 29 September 1990
Class 38 1980s
(Proposed)
Never Built
Class D16/1 16/8 10000-10001 1947-48 2 1962-66
Class D16/2 16/9 10201-10203 1951-1954 3 1968
10203 at Bletchley
  • Relation between TOPS, 1955 and 1962 classes, and pre-TOPS and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 4 locomotives: 2000 – 2999hp

CLASS 1957 numbers Built Quantity Withdrawn Image
TOPS 1955 1962
Pre-1955 class: 10100 1950 1 1958
Class 40 D20/1 20/3 D200-D399 1958-62 200 by 1989 40135 at Crewe Works.jpg
D20/2 20/4 D600-D604 1958-59 5 1967
Class 41
(Prototype HST)
N/A 1972 2 renumbered
as Class 43
41001 At York Front.jpg
Class 41 N/A 1990s
(Proposed)
Never Built
Class 42 D22/1 22/1 D800-D832,
D866-D870
1958-61 38 1968-72 D824 at Swindon (1).jpg
Class 43 (original) D22/2 22/2 D833-D865 1960-62 33  ?
Class 43 (HST power cars) N/A 1977-82 197 Still in use EMT HST 43058 Leicester AB1.JPG
Class 44
(Peak)
D23/1 23/1 D1-D10 1959-60 10 1976-80
Class 45 D25/1 25/1 D11-D137 1960-63 127 by 1989
Class 46 N/A 25/1A D138-D193 1961 56 after 1983 but
before 1989
Class 47 N/A 27/2 D1100-D1999,
D1500-D1599
1962-67 576 including
62 rebuilds
still in use
47316 'Cam Peak' at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 50 N/A 27/3 D400-D449 1967-68 50 by 1992
Class 52
(Western)
D27/1 27/1 D1000-D1073 1961-1964 74 by 1977
Class 53
Falcon
? ? D0280, later D1200 1961 1 1976 British Rail Class 53 number D0280 (Falcon) at King's Cross station, London.jpg
Class 57 N/A 1964-1965 Rebuilt 1997 - 2004 33 still in use 57313 Tracy Island at Crewe 03.jpg

Type 5 locomotives: over 3000hp

TOPS class Built Quantity Withdrawn Image
Class 51 1960s
(Proposed)
Never Built
Class 55 (Deltic) 1961-62 22 1981 Napier Deltic, Alycidon.jpg
Class 56 1976-83 135 still in use Class 56 diesel locomotive number 56006.jpg
Class 58 1983-87 50 still in use
(In Europe)
58001 at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 59 1985-89 15 still in use 59001 'Yeoman Endeavour' at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 60 1989-93 100 still in use 60068 by Castleton East Junction.jpg
Class 62 1990s
(Proposed)
Never Built
Class 65 Never Built
Class 66 1998-date 402+ still in use 66108 at Didcot.JPG
Class 67 1999-2000 30 still in use 67001 at Kings Cross 1.jpg
Class 68 2009- 30 (planned) under construction

Electric locomotives

86613 and 86610 at Ipswich
Freightliner Class 86 nos. 86613 and 86610 at Ipswich.

DC electric locomotives

TOPS class pre-TOPS class Built Quantity Withdrawn Image
Class 70 1941-48 3 1968-69
Class 71 HA 1958 24 1977 E5001 at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 73 (electric and Diesel power) JA or JB 1962-67 82 still in use 73201 at Woking.jpg
Class 74 (electric and Diesel power) HB 1960s 10 1976 Class 74 74003.jpg
Class 75 1960s
(Proposed)
Never Built
Class 76 EM1 1952-53 56 1981 26020 at York NRM.JPG
Class 77 EM2 1953-55 7 1969 27000 at Crewe Works.JPG
Class EB1
(26502-26511)
? ? ?
Class EE1
(26600)
? ? ?
Class ES1
(26500-26501)
1905 2 1964 NorthEasternRailwayNo1-Locomotion-Shildon-April2008.JPG

AC electric locomotives

TOPS class pre-TOPS class Built Quantity Withdrawn Image
Class 80 1958 1 1961
Class 81 AL1 1959 25 1986-91 A derelict British Rail Class 81, number 81015.
Class 82 AL2 1960-62 12 1983 82008 at Crewe Works
Class 83 AL3 1960-62 15 1983-89 83012 (peviously E3035) at Doncaster Works
Class 84 AL4 1960 10 1977-80 84001 at Crewe Works
Class 85 AL5 1961-64 40 1988-91
Class 86 AL6 1965-66 100 2002-date still in use 86213 'Lancashire Witch' at Crewe Works.JPG
Class 87 1973-75 36 2003-date still in use 87028 at Crewe in 1988
Class 88 1983-87
(planned)
Never Constructed
Class 89 1986 1 2001 89001 at Doncaster Works
Class 90 1987-90 76 still in use 90001 at Crewe
Class 91
(Electra)
1988-91 31 still in use 91111 at Kings Cross
Class 92 1993-96 46 still in use 92027 'George Eliot' at Stafford
Class 93 1992-95
(planned)
30
(planned)
Never Constructed

Miscellaneous locomotives

Type Class / number(s) Information Image
Channel Tunnel Class 22 SNCF Class BB 22200 class dual voltage electric locomotives used for freight duties through the Channel Tunnel by Railfreight Distribution during 1994-95, prior to the availability of the dedicated Class 92 locomotives. These locomotives were allocated the TOPS classification Class 22 for their use on British railways
Departmental Class 97 General departmental locomotives, used for special or engineering duties. Were therefore of many different classes, lumped together for numbering purposes. Forty-seven locomotives allocated Class 97 numbers, including five in subclass 97/6.
Class 97/6 Five diesel shunting locomotives purpose-built for departmental duties in 1953 (number 97650) and 1959 (numbers 97651-654). Withdrawn 1987-2005. Class 97/6 (97 651, also known as PWM651) at Pitsford and Brampton station
Various Pre-TOPS Departmental Locomotives
Steam Class 98 Used to cover all steam locomotives used on the mainline in Britain. Had particular usage for the three Vale of Rheidol Railway steam locomotives that remained in BR's ownership after the end of mainline steam traction in August 1968, and numbered 98007-98009.
Also used for privately-owned steam locomotives registered to run on the mainline since 1971, with numbers allocated in the following way:
  • First two digits: 98 (for class 98)
  • Third digit: 0-9 representing the Power Class 0-9
  • Fourth and fifth digits: The last two digits of the locomotive's original number. If this would duplicate an existing number, then the number is increased by 1.
Class 98 Vale of Rheidol locomotive taking on water
Petrol 15097-15099 Petrol powered locomotives built by Simplex, introduced 1919-1925 by the LNER, and subsequently inherited by BR
Gas turbine 18000 Prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built for BR in 1949 by Brown Boveri. Had been ordered by GWR in 1940, but construction was delayed due to World War II. 18000 at the ORE Arsenal Test Centre in 1988
18100 Prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built for BR in 1951 by Metropolitan Vickers. Had been ordered by the GWR in the 1940s, but construction was delayed due to World War II.

Class 99

When British Rail implemented the TOPS system for managing their operating stock, part of their shipping fleet was incorporated into the system as Class 99, in order to circumvent some of the restrictions of the application software.

Builders' demonstrators

These were locomotives built and owned by private firms, but used by British Rail to test them.

Locomotive Builder Year Fate Image
D0226 & D0227 English Electric 1956 D0226 preserved
D0227 scrapped
Experimental diesel-electric locomotive D0226 post-preservation at Haworth
D0260 Lion BRCWC 1962 Scrapped in 1963
D0280 Falcon
See Class 53, above
Brush Traction 1961 Scrapped 1976
D9998
See Class D2/11, above
Brush Traction 1958 ?
DHP1 Clayton 1965 ?
DP1 Deltic English Electric 1955 Withdrawn 1961,
preserved
DHP1 "Deltic" at National Rail Museum, Shildon, UK in October 2006
DP2 English Electric 1962 Scrapped 1967 Demonstration locomotive DP2 at Kings Cross in 1963
GT3
(Gas turbine)
English Electric 1961 Scrapped 1966
HS4000 Kestrel Brush Traction 1968 Scrapped 1989 Kestrel outside Derby Works during testing in 1968
Janus & Taurus
(Group of locomotives)
Yorkshire Engine Company Varied Demonstration shunter Janus (2787) at Shelton

Unbuilt locomotives

A number of TOPS class numbers were allocated to proposed locomotives, both diesel and electric, which for many reasons were not proceeded with.

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List of British Rail modern traction locomotive classes Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.