British Rail Class 26
26014 and 26008 ready to depart Inverness with a passenger train, September 1977
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company |
| Serial number | DEL45–DEL91 |
| Build date | 1958–1959 |
| Total produced | 47 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Bo-Bo |
| UIC class | Bo-Bo |
| Gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) (CIÉ) |
| Wheel diameter | 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m) |
| Minimum curve | 5 chains (100 m) |
| Wheelbase | 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m) |
| Length | 50 ft 9 in (15.47 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m) |
| Loco weight |
D5300–D5319: 77.5 long tons (78.7 t; 86.8 short tons) D5320–D5346: 74 long tons (75.2 t; 82.9 short tons) |
| Fuel capacity | 600 imp gal (2,700 l; 720 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Sulzer 6LDA-28 |
| Generator | DC |
| Traction motors | four Crompton Parkinson DC traction motors |
| Transmission | Diesel electric |
| MU working | ★ Blue Star |
| Train heating | Steam (when fitted) |
| Train brakes | Vacuum |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Power output |
Engine: 1,160 hp (865 kW) @750 rpm At rail: 900 hp (671 kW) |
| Tractive effort |
Maximum: 42,000 lbf (187 kN) Continuous: 30,000 lbf (133 kN) |
| Loco brakeforce | 34 long tons-force (340 kN) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | British Railways |
| Numbers | D5300–D5346; later 26001–26046 |
| Axle load class |
D5300–D5319: Route availability 6 D5320–D5346: Route availability 5 |
| First run | 1958 |
The British Rail Class 26 diesel locomotives, also known as the BRCW Type 2, were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRCW) at Smethwick in 1958-59. Forty seven examples were built, and the last were withdrawn from service in 1994. Like their higher-powered sisters, the BRCW Classes 27 and 33, they had all-steel bodies and cab ends with fibreglass cab roofs.
The BR Modernisation Plan contained a large requirement for small diesel locomotives in the 800 hp (600 kW) - 1,250 hp (930 kW) range and under BR's 'Pilot Scheme', small batches of locomotives were ordered from numerous different manufacturers for evaluation. BRCW obtained an order for 20 mixed traffic diesel-electric locomotives powered by 1,160 hp (870 kW) Sulzer 6LDA28 engines.
The Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company was a rolling stock manufacturer, although they were building diesel multiple units for BR. The first standalone locomotives made by the company were produced in 1956-57 BRCW : 12 diesel locomotives for the Irish railways Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE 101 Class), the order going to BRCW due to capacity problems at CIÉ's own Inchicore Works; a partnership was established between BRCW and the Swiss diesel engine manufacturers Sulzer Brothers at that time.
The Sulzer LDA28 range was found to be particularly suited to BR's needs. In addition to BRCW's Class 26, the 1160 hp 6LDA28 variant was also used in BR's own Class 24 design, while the 1250 hp 6LDA28-B was fitted in the later BRCW Class 27 and BR Class 25.
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