British Rail Class 05

British Rail Class 05

D2587 as preserved in 2012

Type and origin Power type Diesel-mechanical Builder Hunslet Engine Co. Build date 1955–1961 Total produced 69

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0  • UIC C Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 3 ft 4 in (1.016 m) Minimum curve 2 chains (40.23 m) Wheelbase 9 ft 0 in (2.743 m) Length 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m) Width 8 ft 3 in (2.515 m) Height 11 ft 0 in (3.353 m) Loco weight D2550-D2573 31 tonnes (31 long tons; 34 short tons) other locos 32 tonnes (31 long tons; 35 short tons) Fuel capacity 300 imp gal (1,400 l; 360 US gal) Prime mover Gardner 8L3 Engine type Four-stroke diesel Transmission Hunslet 4-speed gearbox, Hunslet patent friction clutch, Hunslet reversing gearbox and final drive. Train heating None Train brakes Vacuum

Performance figures Maximum speed 18 mph (29 km/h) Power output Engine: 204 hp (152 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 14,500 lbf (64 kN) Brakeforce 14 long tons-force (139 kN)

Career Operators British Railways Number in class 69 Numbers 11136-11143; 11161-11176 renumbered D2550-D2573; D2574-D2618; D2554 later 05 001/97 803 Axle load class RA 2 Retired 1966–1968 (except D2554) Disposition Four preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 05 is a class of 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters built by Hunslet Engine Company from 1955 to 1961. They were used on the Eastern and Scottish Regions of British Railways. The first two batches were delivered as 11136-11143 (later D2550-D2557) and 11161-11176 (later D2558-D2573) Subsequent locos were delivered as D2574-D2618

The British Rail Class D2/5 built by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. were reported in several sources as having received the TOPS class number 05, though this was in error, and they are not listed as such in the latest works by Marsden, 2011.

Most were withdrawn early and replaced by classes 03 and 04 with the exception of D2554, which was transferred to the Isle of Wight in 1966 to aid the electrification of the Island Line. Owing to its apparent suitability for working on the island, it was retained in working order and given the TOPS number 05 001. It was transferred to departmental stock in 1981, being given the number 97803, and remained in service until 1985, when it was withdrawn and sold to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Didcot Railway Centre has an industrial example (numbered DL26 and built to a design based on the Class 05) preserved after being used by the National Coal Board in the northeast. DL26 has a larger engine (264 hp, 60 hp larger than the Class 05s) and a higher bonnet to accommodate it. It is currently painted in a British Railways black livery with an early crest on the cab sides, a livery it never carried in service; it was an industrial locomotive from built until preservation. It was the main shunter on the site until displaced by a Class 08, though it still sees maintenance and use in its shunting role. It cannot be used on passenger trains due to its lack of vacuum brakes. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway's own 05001/D2554 can be seen frequently but it cannot run passenger trains, due to the Island's unique vintage air braked .