B.R. Class 22 'Baby Warships' class

The British Rail Class 22 or "Baby Warship" was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives designed for the Western Region of British Railways and built by the North British Locomotive Company. They were very similar in appearance to the Class 21 diesel-electrics. The nickname Baby Warship related to the similarity in appearance (and internal equipment) to the British Rail Class D20/2 or Class 41 Warship Class
[edit]
D6300 was introduced to traffic in 1959 and deliveries continued through until 1962. The Class 22s were allocated to Bristol Bath Road, Laira Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Old Oak Common. The majority of the class always operated in the West of England, on a range of local passenger and freight work, with smaller numbers of the later units operating on local work in the Bristol and around London Paddington (notably moving empty carriages between the main station and Old Oak Common yard).
Availability[edit]
Initially the locomotives had some problems with engine and transmission faults, but could be returned to North British Locomotive Works (NBL) for repair under the contractual agreement. By 1961, reliability had improved, but with the more powerful Hymeks and Warships now being available, the locomotives were displaced onto more secondary duties, including work on the former Southern Region lines west of Exeter. By the mid 1960s, the locos had settled down to give reliable service, with availability over 85%.[8][note 1]
Decline[edit]
NBL went bankrupt in 1962 and, by the late 1960s, withdrawn locomotives were being used to provide spares. Attrition was inevitable and the withdrawals, which had commenced in 1967, finished with the withdrawal of 6333, 6336, 6338 and 6339 in December 1971. Ex-London Midland Region Class 25 diesel-electrics were drafted in as replacements. One Locomotive (D6319) was purchased by a private individual from BR, but it was cut up at Swindon before the buyer could retrieve it. Class 42 D821 Greyhound was offered instead and became the first ex-BR diesel locomotive to enter preservation





New photos added to this collection



D6308 in BR Blue & D6349 Green livery Bristol Bath Rd c1970 Class 22





https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-JsTszFm




North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years


D6303




https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-CHsx8hM




North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years






https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-rJ6B9TN

North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years
D6326 Reading


https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-gWnZvFw

North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years
D6346+34091 Squadron



https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-pk22xNg

North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years

Some scrapyard photos from S.Wales

D6306



https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-F82SRgX

North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years


https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/1/Pre-TOPS-Locomotives/Type-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-nmSzKsJ

North British Type 2 diesel-hydraulic D6300–D6357 (Class 22) - Railway-Photography
railway-photography.smugmug.com
railway photographs from the last 100 years

Neil

 

And so many preserved...

 

Lovely looking little locos, sadly just before my era really and being born in the Derby area, it was long after the whole hydraulic era that I managed to get down that way. I hope that Project 22 suceeds in their project to ressurect a new member of this class.
John.

 

https://railway-photography.smugmug...pe-2/North-British-Type-2-dieselhyd/i-CHsx8hM = Plymouth Laira depot

 

No offence, but having lost my 22 and just expecting my money back I would be substantially cheered up to find I owned a Warship instead!

It is a pity none of the NBL diesels have survived though.

 

I think you might have been doubly annoyed though, as the Class 22 had just been through a full overhaul and done almost no work when it was withdrawn and sold.