The Peaks

The Peaks

Being born in Nottingham in 1956 and having lived in the Nottingham area for all my life the class of engine that I most associate with my youth has to be the British Railways Type 4, more commonly known as the Peaks. The Peaks actually consisted of three similar but slightly different batches of locomotives that were given three separate class identities. The ten Class 44 locomotives were the initial Pilot series locomotives. These were followed by the one hundred and twenty seven Class 45 locomotives and finally the fifty six Class 46 locomotives fitted with Brush electrical equipment. The first locomotives entered traffic in 1959 and construction finished in 1963. Withdrawals commenced in 1976 but the last locomotive was not withdrawn until 1989.

D115 (45067), Entered Traffic 8/61, Withdrawn 7/77, Broken Up 6/80
Although not the first Peak to be withdrawn, with a service life of 15 years, 11 months D115 (45067) holds the number one spot for shortest service life. Although a number of Peaks had survived serious accident damage in the 1960’s and early 1970’s by 1977 this was becoming less likely and proved to be the case when 45067 was damaged in a collision with a derailed coal train at Bennerley on the Erewash Valley. Although the damage was not considerable, repair was denied and 45067 was withdrawn in July 1977. It was broken up by Derby Works during June 1980.

D142 (46005), Entered Traffic 12/61, Withdrawn 12/77, Broken Up 3/78
Holding second spot for shortest service life at 16 years is D142 (46005). At the end of the 1977 summer timetable 46005 was stored unserviceable at Laira and rather surprisingly repair was denied and it was withdrawn in December 1977. During January 1978 it made its way to Derby Works who immediately stripped it of usable parts and unusually for Derby Works then broke it up immediately during March 1978.
46005 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5707860317/

D161 (46024), Entered Traffic 3/62, Withdrawn 4/78, Broken Up 10/78
Holding third spot for shortest service life at 16 years, 1 month is D161 (46024). In April 1978 46024 was involved in a minor collision at Hereford and although the damage was not considerable, repair was denied and 46024 was withdrawn in April 1978. It was broken up by Derby Works during October 1978.

D3 (44003), Entered Traffic 9/59, Withdrawn 7/76, Broken Up 8/76
Holding fourth spot for shortest service life at 16 years, 10 months is the first to be withdrawn D3 (44003) Skiddaw. After a short career as passenger locomotives generally on West Coast Main Line duties in 1962 the ten Pilot series locomotives were allocated to Toton for freight traffic in the East Midlands. From then until withdrawal the Class 44's would be synonymous with Toton, in general only working to the limits of the route knowledge of Toton's goods link drivers and usually on out and back turns. 44003 was withdrawn in July 1976 and its end came quickly as by the end of September 1976 it had been broken up by Derby Works.
44003 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5528101869/
44003 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5631454289/

To be continued.

 

Memories of a (mis spent) youth......

Thank you

 

D140 (46003), Entered Traffic 11/61, Withdrawn 10/78, Broken Up 3/80
Holding fifth spot for the shortest service life at 16 years, 11 months is D140 (46003). It would spend the first half of its career predominantly on the old Midland Railway lines being allocated to Nottingham, Toton and Holbeck. In 1971 a major fleet re-organisation occurred and 46003 was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road as replacements for the then rapidly disappearing diesel-hydraulic fleet on the Western Region. This was followed by a transfer to Laira in November 1972. In the summer of 1978 it suffered a major bogie fire and was sent to Derby Works for evaluation. The result was withdrawal in October 1978 and it was broken up at Derby Works in March 1980.
46003 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/12450694933/
46003 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/19631833089/

D1 (44001), Entered Traffic 8/59, Withdrawn 10/76, Broken Up 2/77
D6 (44006), Entered Traffic 11/59, Withdrawn 1/77, Broken Up 2/77
Holding the sixth and seventh spots for the shortest service life at 17 years, 2 months are two of the Pilot series, the first of the class D1 (44001) Scarfell Pike and D6 (44006) Whernside After a short career as passenger locomotives generally on West Coast Main Line duties in 1962 the ten Pilot series locomotives were allocated to Toton for freight traffic in the East Midlands. From then until withdrawal the Class 44's would be synonymous with Toton, in general only working to the limits of the route knowledge of Toton's goods link drivers and usually on out and back turns. 44001 was the second Peak to be withdrawn and was withdrawn with fire damage after failing in the Stoke area on 8L21, Toton – Garston. Its end came four months later being broken up by Derby Works during February 1977. 44006 was the third Peak to be withdrawn and its end came rather more quickly being broken up by Derby Works also during February 1977.
44006 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/22928339783/

To be continued.

 

Slight correction John; the transfer of Class 46s to Bristol was part of a locomotive shuffle that included the transfer of Class 45s D32-42 from Bristol to Leeds and Derby. The Westerns were nominally replaced by Class 50s and the other hydraulic classes replaced by a mix of Classes 25 and 31 but this replacement was also affected by the changeover from steam heat to ETH on passenger services and the need for locomotives with good brake force on the heavier unfitted freight services then still operating on the Western Region.

 

D10 (44010), Entered Traffic 2/60, Withdrawn 5/77, Broken Up 7/78
Holding the eighth spot for the shortest service life at 17 years, 3 months is the last of the Pilot series, D10 (44010) Tryfan. After a short career as passenger locomotives generally on West Coast Main Line duties in 1962 the ten Pilot series locomotives were allocated to Toton for freight traffic in the East Midlands. From then until withdrawal the Class 44's would be synonymous with Toton. 44010 was was stored at Toton during February 1976 and then withdrawn in August 1976 only to be re-instated in October 1976 as a replacement for 44001 which. 44010's reprieve ended on the 12th May 1977 when it suffered main generator damage working a Rufford Colliery - Avenue Coking Plant coal train near Mansfield Colliery Junction. It was withdrawn the same month and eventually towed to Derby Works where it was broken up during July 1978.
44010 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5632033562/
44010 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5528109001/

D190 (46053), Entered Traffic 1/63, Withdrawn 2/81, Broken Up 7/81
Holding the ninth spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 1 month is D190 (46053). Apart from two spells at Holbeck in 1963/64 and 1967-70 it would spend the majority of its career at Gateshead where it would remain until withdrawn during February 1981. Following withdrawal it was moved to Derby works and broken up during July 1981
46053 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8025578403/
46053 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/18603592120/


To be continued.

 

D178 (46041), Entered Traffic, 9/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 8/83
D179 (46042), Entered Traffic, 9/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 12/82
D180 (46043), Entered Traffic, 9/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 5/84
Holding tenth, eleventh and twelfth spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 3 months are D178 (46041), D179 (46042) and D180 (46043). Allocated on delivery to Gateshead all three locomotives would spend their virtually their entire careers allocated to this depot and all three locomotives were stored at Swindon Works at the end of the 1980 Summer Timetable and withdrawn in December 1980.
46041 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/7674507826/
46042 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/18822878680/

D171 (46034), Entered Traffic 7/62, Withdrawn 11/80, Broken Up 11/82
D177 (46040), Entered Traffic 8/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 4/82
Holding thirteenth and fourteenth spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 4 months is D171 (46034) and D177 (46040). Allocated on delivery to Gateshead both locomotives would spend their entire career allocated to this depot and both locomotives were stored at Swindon Works at the end of the 1980 Summer Timetable. 46034 was withdrawn in November 1980 and 46040 was one of five Class 46 locomotives withdrawn in December 1980 from those stored at Swindon Works awaiting their fate. Neither was amongst those reinstated at the end of 1981 and the Swindon cutting torches beckoned with 46034 being broken up at Swindon Works during November 1982. However one final journey remained for 46040. During the first week of January 1982 recently reinstated 46032 was in Derby Works for power unit repairs and 46040 was sent up to Derby from Swindon as a source of spares to assist with the repair. By April all useful parts had been recovered and the remains of 46040 were broken up by Derby Works.
46040 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/7674504768/

D5 (44005), Entered Traffic 10/59, Withdrawn 4/78, Broken Up 11/78
Holding the fifteenth spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 6 months is another of the Pilot series, D5 (44005) Cross Fell. After a short career as passenger locomotives generally on West Coast Main Line duties in 1962 the ten Pilot series locomotives were allocated to Toton for freight traffic in the East Midlands. From then until withdrawal the Class 44's would be synonymous with Toton. It was withdrawn at the end of April 1978 with generator damage and was initially stored at Toton but moved to Derby Works on the 31st July 1978. It was broken up at Derby Works in November 1978.
44005 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5528693004/
44005 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5792756338/

To be continued.

 

D149 (46012), Entered Traffic 12/61, Withdrawn 7/80, Broken Up 10/80
D167 (46030), Entered Traffic 5/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 11/82
Holding the sixteenth and seventeenth spots for the shortest service life at 18 years, 7 months are D149 (46012) and D167 (46030). By the summer of 1980 only three class 46 locomotives had been withdrawn (46003/05/24 with collision or fire damage) and although class 46 locomotives were still generally up to the tasks demanded of them the introduction of the HST’s, the reduction of traditional freight traffic flows and the steady delivery of new freight locomotives meant that there days were numbered. Although Derby Works continued to undertake classified repairs until January 1981 the withdrawal program commenced in July 1980 when 46012 was withdrawn with a cracked frame. 46012 was towed to Swindon Works and broken up within three months of withdrawal during October, the first Class 46 to be broken up at Swindon. 46030 was one of the Class 46 locomotives stored at Swindon at the end of the 1980 summer timetable and arrived for storage at Swindon during November 1980. It was officially withdrawn in December 1980 and was not among those reinstated at the end of 1981. It would languish at Swindon until finally broken up in November 1982.
46012 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6334015498/
46030 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/14056048271/

D150 (46013) Entered Traffic 12/61, Withdrawn 8/80, Broken Up 5/85
Holding the eighteenth spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 8 months is D150 (46013). Initially allocated to Derby MPD for Midland Main Line and North East – South West cross country duties it would remain a Midland engine (although allocated to Toton) until 1969, when it was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road. In October 1975 it transferred to Laira followed by a short spell at Cardiff before moving back to Laira. It was an early casualty being withdrawn in August 1980, however it was not broken up until May 1985 at Swindon Works.


D157 (46020), Entered Traffic 3/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken up 12/84
Holding the nineteenth spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 9 months is D157 (46020). Initially allocated to Derby MPD for Midland Main Line and North East – South West cross country duties it would remain a Midland engine (although allocated to Toton) until 1969, when a fleet re-organisation occurred. 46020 was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road. In October 1975 it transferred to Cardiff before moving on to Laira where it was to remain until October 1980 when it was stored unserviceable at Swindon. 46020 was one of five Class 46 locomotives withdrawn in December 1980 from those stored at Swindon Works awaiting their fate. It was not amongst those reinstated at the end of 1981 and the Swindon cutting torches beckoned. However it would take four years after being condemned before its turn arrived, eventually broken up at Swindon Works during December 1984.

D152 (46015), Entered Traffic 2/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 1/85
D156 (46019), Entered Traffic 2/62, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 8/83
Holding twentieth and tenty first spots for the shortest service life at 18 years, 10 months are D152 (46015) and D156 (46019). Both were initially allocated to Midland Main Line duties (Derby/Toton) before migrating to the Western Region initially at Bristol and eventually allocated to Laira. Both locomotives were stored at Swindon Works at the end of the 1980 Summer Timetable and both were withdrawn in December 1980. 46015 would escape being broken up for over four years until eventually disposed of at Swindon Works during January 1985. 46019 survived at Swindon Works until being broken up during August 1983

46015 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6452506621/
46019 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8746011369/

To be continued.

 

D185 (46048), Entered Traffic 10/62, Withdrawn 9/81, Broken Up 9/83
Holding the twenty first spot for the shortest service life at 18 years, 11 months is D185 (46048). D185 was initially allocated to Gateshead MPD for North East – South West cross country and secondary East Coast Main Line duties. In November 1970 it transferred to Holbeck and October 1971 it began a five year spell as a Western Region engine initially allocated to Bristol and then from May 1975 Cardiff before returning to Gateshead in October 1976. 46048 was withdrawn in September 1981 after sustaining fire damage near Gloucester and broken up at Swindon Works in September 1983.
46048 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/14600321404/

D49 (45039), Entered Traffic 10/61, Withdrawn 10/80, Broken Up 5/83
D191 (46054), Entered Traffic 1/63, Withdrawn 1/82, Broken Up 8/83
Holding the twenty second and twenty third spots for the shortest service life at 19 years are D49 (45039) The Manchester Regiment and D191 (46054).
D49 spent its first eleven years on Midland Main Line duties until transferred to Holbeck in October 1972. 45039 was stored in the October and was withdrawn in December 1980. Following withdrawal it was quickly moved to Swindon Works, but lingered there until broken up in April 1983. 45039 was the only Derby built class 45 to carry a name. D191 was initially allocated to Gateshead MPD for North East – South West cross country and secondary East Coast Main Line duties. It would spend the 1960’s as a Gateshead or Holbeck engine being transferred between the two depots a number of times before settling down at Gateshead for the rest of its career. At the end of the Summer timetable in 1980 there was a massive cull of the class 46 fleet with over half the fleet stored. 46054 was stored at Swindon Works in November 1980 from where it was officially withdrawn in December 1980. However an increased demand for Type 4 locomotives at the end of 1981 would lead to eleven class 46 locomotives being re-instated with 46054 being officially reinstated on the 29th November 1981. The expectations demanded of these locomotives must have been something of a challenge as they had been in open storage for at least twelve months and the challenge proved beyond 46054 as it was again withdrawn in January 1982 having never actually left Swindon Works. It would be broken up at Swindon Works during August 1983.
45039 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8598883843/
45039 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8933086086/
45039 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6007135021/
46054 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/16962503021/
46054 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/16962110722/
46054 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6398311243/

To be continued.

 

D9 (44009), Entered Traffic 1/60, Withdrawn 3/79, Broken Up 7/80

Holding the twenty fourth spot for the shortest service life at 19 years 2 months is another of the Pilot series,D9 (44009) Snowdon. After a short career as passenger locomotives generally on West Coast Main Line duties in 1962 the ten Pilot series locomotives were allocated to Toton for freight traffic in the East Midlands. From then until withdrawal the Class 44's would be synonymous with Toton. D9 lost its disc headcodes and gained a headcode box at the No. 1 end following a collision at Trent in February 1969 and thus resembled a class 45 from that end. 44009 received its last classified repair at Derby works at the end of 1974 and was released to traffic in January 1975. 44009 was withdrawn on the 1st March 1979 with generator problems and had reached Derby works by November 1979, however it was broken up until August 1980.
44009 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6316931664/


To be continued.

 

D2 (44002), Entered Traffic 9/59, Withdrawn 2/79, Broken Up 10/79
D31 (45030), Entered Traffic 6/61, Withdrawn 11/80, Broken Up 5/81
D38 (45032), Entered Traffic 7/61, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 9/83
Holding the twenty fifth to twenty seventh spots for the shortest service life at 19 years 5 months are another of the Pilot series,D2 (44002) Helvellyn, D31 (45030) and D38 (45032). After a short career as passenger locomotives generally on West Coast Main Line duties in 1962 the ten Pilot series locomotives were allocated to Toton for freight traffic in the East Midlands. From then until withdrawal the Class 44's would be synonymous with Toton. Surprisingly D2 was used on a number of 100mph high speed tests on the West Coast Main Line in August 1962 and June 1964. 44002 was the sixth of the ten Class 44 locomotive condemned when withdrawn on the 1st February 1979. Following withdrawal it moved quickly to Derby works to surrender its engine for installation in 44007. The remains of 44002 were broken up during October 1979. D31 entered traffic in June 1961, allocated to Derby MPD and almost immediately it transferred to Leeds Neville Hill, moving across the city to Holbeck in December 1962. It would spend most of its career at Holbeck with its next transfer being its final transfer to Tinsley in October 1977. 45030 was one of the early Class 45 casualties being withdrawn in November 1980. It was quickly dealt with following withdrawal as Derby Works had broken it up by May 1981. D38. was initially allocated to Derby MPD and was one of nine Peaks (D33 - D42) transferred to the ex Midland Railway MPD at Bristol Barrow Road during October 1961 (though servicing was carried out at the recently opened Bath Road diesel depot) as replacements for Barrow Road’s Stanier Jubilee 4-6-0’s to cover four passenger diagrams between Bristol/Cardiff and Newcastle/Edinburgh and the majority of the fast freights between Bristol and Birmingham. It later transferred to Bristol Bath Road and returned to the London Midland Region January 1966 for Midland Main Line duties. In October 1974 it transferred to Holbeck and after four years transferred to Tinsley. 1980 would prove to be a bad year for the class 45 fleet as that was the year that withdrawals commenced in earnest and 45032 was one of four class 45 locomotives withdrawn.
44002 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/23692850485/
44002 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5528697784/
44002 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/7885352414/
44002 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6091693638/
45030 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8436664653/
45030 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5784058177/
45030 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8598884477/
45032 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5900029104/

To be continued.

 

D27 (45028), Entered Traffic 4/61, Withdrawn 1/81, Broken Up 4/83
D175 (46038), Entered Traffic 8/62, Withdrawn 3/82, Broken Up 11/85.
Holding the twenty eighth and twenty ninth spots for the shortest service life at 19 years 7 months are D27 (45028) and D175 (46038). D25 entered traffic in April 1961, allocated to Derby MPD, Three months later it transferred to Leeds Neville Hill, moving across the city to Holbeck in December 1962 and would spend most of its career at Holbeck. It was one of three Tinsley allocated Class 45’s taken out of service in January 1981 and dispatched to Swindon Works where it was broken up during April 1983. D175 was allocated to Gateshead MPD for North East – South West cross country and secondary East Coast Main Line duties for its entire career. 46038 was one of the locomotives stored at Swindon Works at the end of 1980 and was officially withdrawn in December 1980. An increased demand for Type 4 locomotives at the end of 1981 led to the reinstatement of eleven of the class 46 locomotives dumped at Swindon and 46038 departed Swindon for Bristol Bath Road MPD for exam and reactivation on the 2nd December 1981. Unfortunately three months later 46038 suffered a major generator failure in the Kings Cross area and combined with its general condition after a year in open storage it was condemned at Finsbury Park in March 1982. It was towed from Finsbury Park to Stratford DRS for use as a source of spares during May 1982 and with 46036 towed to Swindon works in November 1982 where it was broken up three years later in November 1985.
46038 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/16144251902/
46038 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6398309585/

To be continued.

 

D25 (45021), Entered Traffic 4/61, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 4/83
D44 (45035), Entered Traffic 9/61, Withdrawn 5/81, Broken Up 11/81
Holding the thirtieth and thirty first spots for the shortest service life at 19 years 8 months are D25 (45021) and D44 (45035). D25 entered traffic in April 1961, allocated to Derby MPD, Three months later it transferred to Leeds Neville Hill, moving across the city to Holbeck in December 1962 and would spend most of its career at Holbeck. On the 10th August 1961 only four months after entering traffic D25 was in collision with a diesel multiple unit and derailed at Scarborough. At the end of 1980 the withdrawal of the class 45 fleet commenced in earnest and 45021 was one of a batch of four class 45’s (45008/21/32/39) withdrawn in December 1980 that were not victims of accident or fire damage. It was broken up at Swindon works in April 1983. D44 was initially allocated to Cricklewood MPD and would spend the majority of the 1960’s allocated to Midland Main Line depots before becoming a Holbeck engine in October 1972. Originally built with vacuum train brakes it was fitted with dual (air/vacuum) train brakes during a classified repair at Derby Works in October 1975. In October 1977 it transferred to Tinsley and in traffic for another three years before being withdrawn in May 1981, surplus to requirements. It was quickly disposed of, being broken up at its place of birth (Derby Works) in November 1981.
45021 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5596417824/
45021 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8302111043/
45021 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/14418558936/
45035 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8437745482/
45035 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8680288824/
45035 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5530091689/

To be continued.

 

D90 (45008), Entered Traffic 3/61, Withdrawn 12/80, Broken Up 9/83
D125 (45071), Entered Traffic 10/61, Withdrawn 7/81, Broken Up 7/83
D192 (46055), Entered Traffic 1/63, Withdrawn 10/82, Broken Up 12/84
D193 (46056), Entered Traffic 1/63, Withdrawn 10/82, Broken Up 11/85
Holding the thirty second to thirty fifth spots for the shortest service life at 19 years 9 months are D90 (45008), D125 (45071), D192 (46055) and D193 (46056). D90 would spend virtually its entire career allocated to Midland Main Line duties predominantly allocated to Toton. It was stored in at the end of the 1980 summer timetable and withdrawn in December 1980. It would be almost three years before it was eventually broken up at Swindon Works during August 1983. Apart from a short spell allocated to Holbeck from May 1973 until October 1976 D125 (45071) was always a Midland Main Line engine being allocated to Derby or Toton. On the 23rd October 1974 it was working 6V86, 19.42 Derby Exeter Riverside freight when at Bridgewater it ran into the rear of 6V35, Ince and Elton to Bridgewater freight. 125 was seriously damaged at both ends with both cabs crushed, the body frame distorted, the rear bogie displaced and extensively damaged and considerable pipe work and wiring damage. Behind the locomotive fifteen wagons of 6V86 piled up in confusion with one mineral wagon landing upside down on top of the rear cab of the locomotive. Regrettably the guard of 6V86 travelling in the rear cab of 125 was fatally injured. Following recovery it was returned to Derby works were it languished throughout 1975 awaiting a decision on its fate. Eventually towards the end of 1975 it was repaired and emerged from Derby works in December 1975 as 45071, the last locomotive to receive its new number under the 1973 TOPS renumbering scheme. During this repair it was fitted with dual train brakes and also was the first class 45 to have its headcode boxes (destroyed in the collision) replaced by sheet metal with two marker lights. The style of marker light carried by 45071 was unique with the other members of the classes 45/46 carrying a different style of marker light. Additionally over time the number of brackets and handholds on the cab fronts were simplified with those situated on the upper part of the nose being removed. 45071 was withdrawn in September 1981, was that due to some lingering issue from its 1974 accident or it was just due a classified repair? It was broken up at Swindon Works in July 1983. D192 and D193 were the final two Peaks to entered traffic. They were both allocated to Gateshead MPD for North East – South West cross country and secondary East Coast Main Line duties. They would both spend the 1960’s and early 1970’s as Gateshead or Holbeck engines being transferred between the two depots a number of times before both settling down at Gateshead for the rest of their careers. In May 1981 46055 was withdrawn and eventually dispatched to Swindon Works arriving in October 1981. However an increased demand for Type 4 locomotives at the end of 1981 found 46055 being officially reinstated and depart from Swindon on the 19th January 1982. By October 1982 46055 was in poor condition and suffering from multiple faults and was again withdrawn. Following storage at Healey Mills it returned to Swindon Works and was broken up in November 1984. 46056 was also withdrawn in October 1982 with multiple faults and migrated to Stratford DRS as a spares donor until dispatched to Swindon Works in June 1983. It was broken up during November 1985.
45071 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/13373913093/
45071 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8355966749/
46055 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8243947350/

To be continued.

 

D17 (45024), Entered Traffic 12/60, Withdrawn 10/80, Broken Up 8/83
D36 (45031), Entered Traffic 7/61, Withdrawn 5/81, Broken Up 10/81
D69 (45047), Entered Traffic 10/60, Withdrawn 8/80, Broken Up 2/81
D139 (46002), Entered Traffic 11/61, Withdrawn 9/81, Broken Up 9/84
D145 (46008), Entered Traffic 12/61, Withdrawn 10/81, Broken Up 12/82
D173 (46036), Entered Traffic 7/62, Withdrawn 5/82, Broken Up 1/83
Holding the thirty sixth to forty first spots for the shortest service life at 19 years 10 months are D17 (45024), D36 (45031), D69 (45047), D139 (46002), D145 (46008) and D173 (46036). D17 entered traffic in December 1960, allocated to Derby MPD. Its stay at Derby was short and it transferred to Leeds (initially Neville Hill and from 1963 Holbeck) where it would remain until October 1977 when it transferred to Tinsley. It was originally built with split headcode boxes, however it was one of a small number of class 45’s to lose these in favour of the single panel headcode box in the mid 1960’s. 45024 was one of the first “Peaks” to be withdrawn, initially stored in August 1980 at Derby Works following serious fire damage. It was denied repair and formally withdrawn in two months later in October 1980. From Derby it was eventually towed to Swindon Works and broken up in August 1983. D36 was initially allocated to Derby MPD and was one of nine Peaks (D33 - D42) transferred to the ex Midland Railway MPD at Bristol Barrow Road during October 1961 as replacements for Barrow Road’s Stanier Jubilee 4-6-0’s to cover four passenger diagrams between Bristol/Cardiff and Newcastle/Edinburgh and the majority of the fast freights between Bristol and Birmingham. It returned to the London Midland Region in January 1966 for Midland Main Line duties. In October 1974 it was allocated to Holbeck and in October 1977 to Tinsley from where it was withdrawn in May 1981. It was one of the early class 45 casualties and was quickly dealt with following withdrawal as Derby Works had broken it up by October 1981. D69 was the second of the Crewe built Peaks being delivered to Crewe North MPD in October 1960 before transferring to Derby one month later. After twelve years of Midland Main Line duties in October 1972 it was allocated to Holbeck and in October 1977 to Tinsley. 45047 would be one of the first non-accident damaged Peaks withdrawn when it was condemned in August 1980. It was quickly broken up by Derby Works in February 1981. D139 entered service allocated to Derby MPD. It would spend the first half of its career predominantly on the old Midland Railway lines being allocated to Nottingham, Toton and Holbeck. In 1971 a major fleet re-organisation occurred and 46002 was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road, this was followed by a transfer to Laira in October 1974. 46002 was stored and then withdrawn for a couple of months at the end of 1980, being reinstated in to traffic and transferred to Gateshead in February 1981. However this proved to be a mixed blessing as it was withdrawn nine months later in September 1981, its place in the operational fleet being taken by 46001 re-instated from store at Swindon. Following withdrawal it would linger for three years until finally broken up at Swindon Works in September 1984. D145 entered service allocated to Derby MPD however almost immediately was transferred to Sheffield Darnall for a five month spell before returning to Derby. It would spend the first half of its career predominantly on the Midland Main Line being allocated to Derby or Toton. In 1971 a major fleet re-organisation occurred and 46008 was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road, this was followed by a transfer to Laira in October 1974. 46008 would escape the mass storage of class 46 locomotives at Swindon at the end of 1980. However this proved to be a mixed blessing as it was withdrawn nine months later in October 1981. It was broken up at Swindon Works during December 1982. D173 and entered traffic allocated to Gateshead for North East – South West cross country and East Coast Main Line duties. Apart from a month on load to Edge Hill it would spend its entire career a Gateshead engine. On the 1st March 1979 46036 was working the 07:40 Cardiff – Newcastle when it was in collision with a large fully loaded skip lorry on a level crossing north of Chepstow. The force of the collision completely destroyed the leading cab up to the engine room bulkhead. The driver, secondman and lorry driver were all killed. Following the accident 46036 was towed to Derby Works and rather surprisingly repair was authorised and it received a classified repair (Light) including a completely rebuilt cab at Derby Works as late as January 1980. In May 1982 46036 was withdrawn with fire damage received at Rotherham on the 23rd April 1982 whilst working a Newcastle - Poole service. It was moved to Stratford DRS for spares recovery with its undamaged power unit going to 46025 and its bogies going to 46018. The remains were moved to Swindon Works where it was broken up during January 1983.
45024 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8375751250/
45024 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6452504389/
45031 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6605398213/
45031 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8302110203/
45047 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/8467613298/
46002 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6013393463/
46036 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/24267213205/


To be continued.

 

D129 (45073), Entered Traffic 11/61, Withdrawn 10/81, Broken Up 11/82
D187 (46050), Entered Traffic 11/62, Withdrawn 10/82, Broken Up 2/85
Holding the forty third to forty fourth spots for the shortest service life at 19 years 11 months are D129 (45073) and D187 (46050). D129 entered traffic in November 1961 and apart from a spell at Holbeck from 1968, would spend the majority of its career allocated to Midland Main Line depots. 45073 would be an early Class 45 casualty being withdrawn in October 1981 and broken up at Derby Works in November 1982. D187 was built at Derby Works in 1962 and allocated to Gateshead MPD for North East – South West cross country and secondary East Coast Main Line duties. In July 1970 it transferred to Holbeck returning to Gateshead in January 1973. At the end of the Summer timetable in 1980 46050 was stored at Swindon Works where it was withdrawn in December 1980. However an increased demand for Type 4 locomotives at the end of 1981 found twelve class 46 locomotives re-instated, with 46050 being one of these. 46050 left Swindon Works on the 8th December 1981 and following a A Exam at Bristol re-entered traffic. 46050 gave another ten months service before it was again withdrawn and again sent to Swindon Works where it would be broken up in March 1985.
45073 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6297685136/
46050 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/7968612406/

 

D159 (46022), Entered Traffic 3/62, Withdrawn 3/82, Broken Up 10/83
Holding the forty fifth spot for the shortest service life at 20 years is D159 (46022). D159 would spend its early years on Midland Main Line duties until transfer to Bristol in April 1971. This was followed by transfers to Cardiff in May 1975 and Laira in July 1977. After eighteen years service it would fall victim to the mass storage of class 46 locomotives (at Swindon) at the end of the 1980 summer timetable. However at the end of 1981 an increased demand for Type 4 locomotives and brought back into service were 46006/07/10/17/18/21/22/25/38/50/54. Although officially reinstated on the 29th November 1981 46022 did not leave Swindon works until the 4th March 1982. However the eighteen months in open storage proved to be too much for 46022 as it suffered a main generator failure within four weeks of leaving Swindon Works and was withdrawn again on the 28th March 1982. Following withdrawal it was returned to Swindon Works where it was broken up in October 1983.
46022 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/16775753658/
46022 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6817510872/

To be continued.

 

D15 (45018), Entered Traffic 12/60, Withdrawn 1/81, Broken Up 10/82
D24 (45027), Entered Traffic 4/61, Withdrawn 5/81, Broken Up 9/83
D143 (46006), Entered Traffic 12/61, Withdrawn 1/82, Broken Up 8/85
D186 (46049), Entered Traffic 11/62, Withdrawn 12/82, Broken Up 10/85
Holding the forty sixth to forty ninth spots for the shortest service life at 20 years 1 month are D15 (45018), D24 (45027), D143 (46006) and D186 (46049). D15 was the fifth of the up-rated BR/Sulzer Type 4's released from Derby works, entering traffic in December 1960, allocated to Derby MPD. The first five class 45's were built with nose-end gangway doors similar to the class 44's and split headcode boxes, however this feature was quickly discontinued from the rest of the class and from D16 the doors were no longer fitted although the split headcode boxes were still fitted for a while. D15 would spend most of its career allocated to Holbeck with its last couple of years spent at York and Tinsley. It was withdrawn in January 1981 and broken up at Swindon Works in October 1982. D24 entered traffic in April 1961 and like D15 spent most of its career allocated to Holbeck with its last couple of years spent at Tinsley. It was withdrawn in May 1981 and broken up at Swindon Works in September 1983. D143 entered traffic in December 1961 allocated to Derby and would spend the next eight years allocated to Derby or Toton on Midand Line duties. In March 1969 D143 was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road and this was followed by a transfer to Laira in May 1973. It was towed to Swindon works for storage where it was officially withdrawn in December 1980. A year later 46006 was one of eleven class 46 locomotives re-instated to traffic in December 1981 and left Swindon works for Bristol on the 4th December. Its return however was short lived and it was again withdrawn a month later in January 1982 and returned to Swindon Works where it would linger until broken up during August 1985. D186 entered traffic in 1962 allocated to Gateshead MPD for North East – South West cross country and secondary East Coast Main Line duties. It was the first of the class 46 fleet to have its headcode boxes removed and receive the modified nose end (initiated with 45071 in December 1975) during a classified repair at Derby Works in the first couple of months of 1976. 46049 was withdrawn in early December 1982 and following withdrawal stored at York until February 1983. It would be noted at Healey Mills in June 1983 and finally made its way to Swindon Works where it was broken up in October 1985.
45027 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/14903104130/
45027 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5596404354/
46006 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5756950173/
46049 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/7674501146/


To be continued.

 

D138 (46001), Entered Traffic10/61, Withdrawn 12/81, Broken Up 7/82
D144 (46007), Entered Traffic 12/61, Withdrawn 2/82, Broken Up 6/85
Holding the fiftieth and to fifty first spots for the shortest service life at 20 years 2 month are D138 (46001) and D144 (46007). D138 was the first of the Peaks fitted with Brush electrical equipment. Apart from a short spell allocated to Carlisle Upperby in early 1962 it would spend the majority of the 1960’s allocated to Midland Main Line duties (Derby/Toton) before migrating to the Western Region in March 1969, initially at Bristol and eventually allocated to Laira. It was stored at Swindon Works at the end of the 1980 Summer Timetable and withdrawn in December 1980. It was dumped at Swindon following withdrawal however during September 1981 46002 was withdrawn and a replacement was required so 46001 was pulled from storage at Swindon and put back into service, however it was a brief reprieve as 46001 succumbed with a seized engine in December 1981 and was withdrawn again. It was broken up at Swindon eight months later in July 1982. D144 entered service in December 1961 allocated to Derby MPD. It would spend the first half of its career predominantly on the old Midland Railway lines being allocated to Derby or Toton (apart from six months allocated to Leeds Neville Hill in 1962). In 1971 46007 was part of a batch of class 46 locomotives transferred to Bristol Bath Road, this was followed by a transfer to Laira in October 1974. 46007 was one of thirty eight class 46 locomotives stored in October/November 1980. It was towed to Swindon works for storage where it was officially withdrawn in December 1980. A year later in December 1981 46007 was one of eleven class 46 locomotives re-instated to traffic and left Swindon works for Bristol on the 4th December. The expectations demanded of these locomotives must have been something of a challenge as they had been in open storage for at least twelve months and 46007 did not last long in traffic being withdrawn in February 1982 and dumped at York. 46007 eventually made its way back to Swindon works and was broken up in June 1985.
46001 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6091689822/
46007 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/9477610514/
46007 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/6013394553/

To be continued.

 

A correction re 46001 ; it was restored to traffic on the ER and was finally condemned at FP = Finsbury Park on 13/12/1981 - the day I visited and took my last picture of it inside the shed building.

 

D101 (45061), Entered Traffic 5/61, Withdrawn 8/81, Broken Up 4/82
Holding the fifty second spot for the shortest service life at 20 years 3 months is D101 (45061) which was built at Crewe Works and entered traffic in May 1961, allocated to Derby MPD. For the next eleven years it would be allocated to depots (Derby and Toton) associated with the Midland Main Line until transfer to Holbeck in October 1972. Originally built with vacuum train brakes it was fitted with dual (air/vacuum) train brakes during a classified repair at Derby Works in June 1975. In October 1977 it was transferred to Tinsley and its final transfer was to Toton in December 1979 before being withdrawn in August 1981. 45061 was broken up at Swindon Works in April 1982.
45061 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5698774098/