Class 03 Diesel Mechanical Shunting Locomotives

The Colne Valley Railway is home to two former British Railway diesel shunting locomotives, the design of which dates to 1947 when a locomotive built by the Drewry Car Co was trialled by the LNER. The design was then ordered by British Railways, initially being built by Drewry (Class 04) then in BR's own workshops at Swindon and Doncaster (class 03). The class once numbered 230 and were used for shunting purposes in freight yards and pilot duties at large stations all over the country. They are powered by a Gardner 8L3 diesel engine rated at 204 bhp and drive through a fluid flywheel (acts as an automatic clutch), five speed gearbox and a forward & reverse final drive. They are capable of 28½ mph in either direction.

Built at Swindon Works, D2041 was delivered to Ipswich shed in April 1959 and was the regular station pilot for several years during which time it was maintained in immaculate condition with all the brasswork in the cab beautifully polished. In 1966 D2041 was transferred to the Southern Region where it worked from Norwood Junction, Guildford, Eastleigh and Selhurst sheds until withdrawal from BR service in February 1970. D2041 was then purchased by the Central Electricity Generating Board and was used at Richborough, Barking and Rye House power stations until 1980 when it was offered for sale in full working order. The locomotive was purchased for use on the Colne Valley Railway where it arrived on 5^th January 1981. It was immediately put to work and has given sterling service ever since.

D2184 was built in 1962 at Swindon Works. It had a working life on British Railways of only six and a half years, all of which were spent in South Wales working from Llanelli, Swansea (Danygraig), Neath, Whitland and Swansea (Landore) sheds. Put to store at Worcester in August 1968, D2184 was withdrawn from BR service the following December. It was then purchased by the National Coal Board for use at Southend Coal Concentration Depot where it shunted wagons on a short length of track and positioned them over an unloader. D2184 was purchased by the Colne Valley Railway in October 1986 and arrived in full working order.