Question about Western and Hymek numbering

These two classes lasted into the era of TOPS renumbering in 1973, the Hymeks ran until 75 and the Westerns until 77, yet neither were ever renumbered with 35xxx or 52xxx TOPS numbers, when everything else was.

Why was this? Was it a last fling of GWR awkwardness "they didn't renumber our steam locos, and they won't do it with our diesels either"

anyone know?

 

Very likely. For some reason, the "Peaks" - especially class 45 - seemed to take an age to renumber too. In late 1974 I don't ever recall seeing a non-TOPS numbered vehicle on the ECML.

 

Possibly they were scheduled for early withdrawal so it was felt that it wasn't worth doing but they actually dragged on in service for a bit longer than was anticipated?

 

I think you'll find the reason is that the Hymeks and Westerns were due for withdrawal within a time scale that meant renumbering was uneconomic. For various reasons both classes lasted longer than expected but the decision not to renumber remained hence their retention of pre-TOPS numbering although they were recorded on TOPS. In fact during 1977 I was given a TOPS list of Class 52 locations every Friday from a friend who worked for BR and commuted from Bedford with me every working day for 18 months.

 

Wasn’t there also something to do with the 1000’s having cast number plates? Or is that an urban myth?

 

Both the 35s and 52s had cast numbers, the 35s as individual (aluminium?) digits and the 52s as GWR style plates. The only Hymek to receive transfer numbers was 7017, and then only at one end after transfer damage, IIRC. No idea whether that was a reason for not renumbering though.

 

Can't speak for the Hymeks, but removing the number plates from Westerns would be the easy bit. Doing so would then leave a big rusty patch of steel, which would then have to be cleaned, primed and painted before application of transfers. "Doing nothing" was therefore the easiest option.