British Rail Class 44
Preserved Class 44 number D8 at Darley Dale, on Peak Rail
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | British Railways’ Derby Works |
| Build date | 1959–1960 |
| Total produced | 10 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration: |
|
| • Whyte | 1Co-Co1 |
| • UIC | (1'Co)(Co1') |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Wheel diameter | 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) |
| Minimum curve | 5 chains (100 m) |
| Wheelbase | 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m) |
| Length | 67 ft 11 in (20.70 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 10 1⁄2 in (2.71 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) |
| Loco weight | 133 long tons (135 t; 149 short tons) |
| Fuel capacity | 840 imp gal (3,800 l; 1,010 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Sulzer 12LDA28-A |
| Engine type | Diesel |
| Generator | Crompton Parkinson GC426-A1 |
| Traction motors | Six Crompton Parkinson C171-B1 |
| MU working | ★ Blue Star |
| Train heating | Steam |
| Train brakes | Vacuum |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Power output |
Engine: 2,300 bhp (1,715 kW) At rail: 1,800 hp (1,342 kW) |
| Tractive effort | Maximum: 50,000 lbf (222 kN) |
| Brakeforce | 63 long tons-force (628 kN) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | British Railways |
| Numbers | D1–D10; later 44001–44010 |
| Nicknames | ‘Peak’ |
| Axle load class | Route availability 7 |
| Withdrawn | 1976-1980 |
| Disposition | Two preserved, remainder scrapped |
The British Rail Class 44 or Sulzer Type 4 diesel locomotives were built by British Railways' Derby Works between 1959 and 1960. They were named after British mountains, and consequently nicknamed Peaks.
In part inspired by LMS prototypes 10000 and 10001, and by Southern Railway 10201-10203, the Class 44 diesels were some of the first big diesels commissioned for the British Rail modernisation project and were the precursors to the Class 45 and Class 46 locomotives of similar design.
A Sulzer 12LDA28-A diesel engine drove a Crompton Parkinson GC426-A1 main generator which supplied power to six Crompton Parkinson C171-B1 traction motors.
When initially put into service the locomotives were fitted with multi-unit working and steam heating boilers for passenger service. They worked regularly over the West Coast Main Line for a couple of years, also between St.Pancras and Manchester.
Once the Class 45 units were available the steam heating boilers were removed and the Class 44 locomotives were assigned to freight duties, largely in the East Midlands where they were all based at Toton, where they stayed until 1980.
Two locomotives have survived to preservation.
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Wikipedia