It's not only historical steam locomotives that bring charter trains to York. Here we have a look of a historic diesel locomotive, seen in almost the same position as the steam shots posted over the last two days, and on it's way to Newcastle.
200 locomotives of this design were built between 1958 and 1962. This example was one of the later ones built. Some of these locomotives were based at a maintenance depot in York when they were in service. One of these locomotives had an unfortunate history, having hauled the train involved in the infamous 'Great Train Robbery', when robbers brought the train to a halt by tampering with signals. The driver was seriously hurt after being beaten over the head. The robbers escaped with £2.6 million.
The last of these locomotives was taken out of service in early 1985. Their last work was on a service from Birmingham to York. Several have been preserved, including one at the National Railway Museum in York.
This is the first time for many years that I have seen one of these locomotives at work - the National Railway Museum example is not in working order.
These locomotives had a 2000hp diesel engine installed, and weighed 135 tonnes. A modern equivalent designed for passenger and freight use has a 3800hp diesel engine and weighs only 85 tonnes - and produces much lower emissions.
Our diesel engines never look as impressive as the US or Canadian ones. Ours are too "round" and friendly looking. The red colour and yellow embellishments look impressive but what happens when they get dirty?
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I agree with those of you who mentioned the station building. The curved roof and it's arch are quite dramatic, and the yellow brickwork is lovely as well. The railway station is a splendid gateway to the city!
Good question - so often the front end just looked tatty. What I never understood was why the diesel locomotives were painted dull dark green, and then the front end brightened up to make them visible. Making the whole locomotive brighter would surely have been much more sensible.
@fishers Maybe some one from BR will answer us. I've just noticed the tops of those marvelous "Egyptian " style roof supports. What a wonderful era that was build in.
I agree, the attention to detail in this building is impressive. Until around 1990, one of the pillars between platform 1 and platform 2 had a plain top. That was where a German bomb exploded in World War II. As part of the electrification of the East Coast route, a new top was created to match the originals, so that reminder of the war vanished.
Remmemer the robbery. It was great news at that time.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I agree with those of you who mentioned the station building. The curved roof and it's arch are quite dramatic, and the yellow brickwork is lovely as well. The railway station is a splendid gateway to the city!
Ian
Sorry, my rather unclear English!
Ian
Good question - so often the front end just looked tatty. What I never understood was why the diesel locomotives were painted dull dark green, and then the front end brightened up to make them visible. Making the whole locomotive brighter would surely have been much more sensible.
Ian
I agree, the attention to detail in this building is impressive. Until around 1990, one of the pillars between platform 1 and platform 2 had a plain top. That was where a German bomb exploded in World War II. As part of the electrification of the East Coast route, a new top was created to match the originals, so that reminder of the war vanished.
In
Thank you Vesna. It's always nice getting shots under the station roof!
Ian