The British Rail Class 45 or Sulzer Type 4 are a type of diesel locomotives built by British Railways' Derby and Crewe Works between 1960 and 1962. Along with the similar Class 44 and 46 locomotives, they became known as Peaks.
Technical details
Engine
The engine of the Class 45 was a marine-type, slow-revving diesel, a Sulzer 12LDA28B with a bore of (hence the 28 in the engine designation) and a stroke of . This gave per cylinder, or for the whole engine. The unit was turbocharged and intercooled and gave at 750 rpm. The engine was of the double bank type with two parallel banks of 6 cylinders, geared together to a single output shaft. Six-cylinder versions of the engine were fitted in the Class 25 locos (amongst others) and eight-cylinder versions in Class 33s. Class 45s were the updated versions of the Class 44 locomotives, the latter having a non-intercooled version of the same engine; i.e. the 12LDA28A. The later Class 47 had a modified version of the same engine, a 12LDA28C.
Train heating
When initially put into service, the locomotives were fitted with multiple-unit working and steam-heating boilers for passenger service. In the early 1970s, fifty were fitted at Toton TMD with electric train supply in place of their steam-heating boilers and assigned to work services on the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. These locomotives were renumbered as Class 45/1.
Locomotive auxiliary supply
The Class 45 is unusual in having a 220 volt electrical system for driving auxiliary systems and battery charging. Most British Railways diesels of the same era had 110 volt auxiliaries.
History
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+Distribution of locomotives,<br />March 1974
|-
|colspan=3 |
|-
!Code ||Name ||Quantity
|-
|style="text-align:center" |CW ||Cricklewood ||style="text-align:right" |11
|-
|style="text-align:center" |HO ||Holbeck ||style="text-align:right" |39
|-
|style="text-align:center" |TO ||Toton ||style="text-align:right" |77
|-
!colspan=2 scope=row |Total:
|style="text-align:right" |127
|}
The Class 45s became the main traction on the Midland Main Line from 1962 and their introduction allowed considerable acceleration of the previous steam-powered service. The Class 45s remained the main source of power on the line up to 1982, when they were relegated to secondary services following introduction of HSTs on the route. From 1986, Class 45s virtually disappeared from the line. From the early 1980s until their withdrawal , the class were regular performers on the North Trans-Pennine line working services from Liverpool Lime Street to York, Scarborough or Newcastle via Manchester Victoria, Huddersfield and Leeds. These trains were usually formed of early Mark 2 carriages, of up to seven in a typical train.
Accidents and incidents
thumb|45147 at [[Patricroft, after the Eccles rail crash]]
- On 6 December 1963 a freight train hauled by D94 passed at least two stop signals and collided with a goods train which was crossing the line at Stanton Gate railway station under clear signals. The front end of D94 was almost totally destroyed, causing the deaths of the driver and second man.
- On 16 January 1982, 45 074 was hauling a freight train that was derailed at Chinley, Derbyshire.
- On 4 December 1984, 45 147 was badly damaged in the Eccles rail crash, and subsequently moved to Patricroft.
- On 9 March 1986, 45 014 The Cheshire Regiment was one of two light engines that were hit head-on by a passenger train at Chinley due to a signalman's error. One person was killed. Lack of training and a power cut were contributory factors. The locomotive was consequently withdrawn from service and scrapped.
- On 24 April 1988, 45 041 split a set of points and was derailed at Edale, Derbyshire.
Withdrawal
The great majority of Class 45s were withdrawn between 1981 and 1988, after Class 43 HSTs were introduced to their routes; the last was withdrawn from service by 1989.
Fleet details
Naming
thumb|center|45118's nameplate
26 Class 45s were officially named by BR after various British Army regiments and the Royal Marines. Additionally, several were unofficially named.
Fleet list
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible uncollapsed" style="clear: both;"
|-
!colspan=2 class="unsortable"|Number(s)
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Name
!rowspan=2 |Withdrawn
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Disposal details
|-
! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | 1957 series
!TOPS
|-
| data-sort-value="11" | D11
|45122
|
| data-sort-value="1987-04" | 04/1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (02/1994)
|-
| data-sort-value="12" |D12
|45011
|
| data-sort-value="1981-05" | 05/1981
|Scrapped at Derby Works (09/1981)
|-
| data-sort-value="13" |D13
|45001
|
| data-sort-value="1986-01" | 01/1986
|Scrapped at Derby Works (11/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="14" | D14
| 45015
|
| data-sort-value="1986-03" | 03/1986
|Still in derelict condition at the Battlefield Line (as of May 2024)
|-
| data-sort-value="15" | D15
|45018
|
| data-sort-value="1981-04" | 04/1981
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (10/1982)
|-
| data-sort-value="16" | D16
|45016
|
| data-sort-value="1985-11" | 11/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (12/1986)
|-
| data-sort-value="17" | D17
|45024
|
| data-sort-value="1980-10" | 10/1980 due to fire damage
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (08/1983)
|-
| data-sort-value="18" | D18
|45121
|Pegasus (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1987-11-19" | 19 November 1987
|Scrapped by Thomas Hill at Crewe Works (09/1993)
|-
| data-sort-value="19" | D19
|45025
|
| data-sort-value="1981-05" | 05/1981
|Scrapped at Derby Works (11/1981)
|-
| data-sort-value="20" | D20
|45013
|Wyvern (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1987-04" | 04/1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (02/1994)
|-
| data-sort-value="21" | D21
|45026
|
| data-sort-value="1986-04" | 04/1986
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (11/1988)
|-bgcolor=#eaf3ff
| data-sort-value="22" | D22
|45132
|
|data-sort-value="1987-05-11-09-39" | 09:39 on 11 May 1987
|Preserved at Epping Ongar Railway
|-
| data-sort-value="23" | D23
|45017
|
| data-sort-value="1985-08" | 08/1985 Training Loco ADB 968024 Toton September 1985-00.1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (11/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="24" | D24
|45027
|
| data-sort-value="1981-05" | 05/1981
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (09/1983)
|-
| data-sort-value="25" | D25
|45021
|
| data-sort-value="1980-12" | 12/1980
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (04/1983)
|-
| data-sort-value="26" | D26
|45020
|
| data-sort-value="1985-12" | 12/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (08/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="27" | D27
|45028
|
| data-sort-value="1981-01" | 01/1981
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (04/1983)
|-
| data-sort-value="28" | D28
|45124
|Unicorn (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-01-22-12-34" | 12:34 on 22 January 1988 withdrawn due to bogie fire Leicester 29 December 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (10/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="29" | D29
|45002
|
| data-sort-value="1984-09" | 09/1984
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (11/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="30" | D30
|45029
|
| data-sort-value="1987-07" | 07/1987 reinstated as 97 410 September 1987 withdrawn August 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (10/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="31" | D31
|45030
|
| data-sort-value="1980-11" | 11/1980
|Scrapped at Derby Works (03/1981)
|-
| data-sort-value="32" | D32
|45126
|
| data-sort-value="1987-04-27" | 27 April 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (04/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="33" | D33
|45019
|
| data-sort-value="1985-09" | 09/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (01/1987)
|-
| data-sort-value="34" | D34
|45119
|
| data-sort-value="1987-05-07" | 7 May 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (04/1994)
|-
| data-sort-value="35" | D35
|45117
|
| data-sort-value="1986-05-12" | 12 May 1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (02/1987)
|-
| data-sort-value="36" | D36
|45031
|
| data-sort-value="1981-05" | 05/1981
|Scrapped at Derby Works (10/1981)
|-
| data-sort-value="37" | D37
|45009
|
| data-sort-value="1986-09" | 09/1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (08/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="38" | D38
|45032
|
| data-sort-value="1980-12" | 12/1980
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (09/1983)
|-
| data-sort-value="39" | D39
|45033
|Sirius (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-02" | 02/1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (02/1992)
|- bgcolor=#eaf3ff
| data-sort-value="40" |D40
||45133
||
| data-sort-value="1987-05-10" | 10 May 1987
||Preserved at Midland Railway – Butterley Owned by the Class 45/1 Preservation Society
|-
| data-sort-value="41" | D41
|45147
|
| data-sort-value="1985-01-04" | 4 January 1985 due to damage in Salford accident 4 December 1984
|Scrapped at Patricroft by Vic Berry, Leicester (03/1985)
|-
| data-sort-value="42" | D42
|45034
|
| data-sort-value="1987-07" | 07/1987 reinstated September 1987 as 97411 withdrawn July 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (05/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="43" | D43
|45107
|Phoenix (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-07-27-15-19" | 15:19 on 27 July 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1990)
|-
| data-sort-value="44" | D44
|45035
|
| data-sort-value="1981-05" | 05/1981
|Scrapped at Derby Works (11/1981)
|-
| data-sort-value="45" | D45
|45036
|
| data-sort-value="1986-05" | 05/1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (08/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="46" | D46
|45037
|Eclipse (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-07" | 07/1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="47" | D47
|45116
|
| data-sort-value="1986-12-22" | 22 December 1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (09/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="48" | D48
|45038
|
| data-sort-value="1985-06" | 06/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (12/1986)
|-
| data-sort-value="49" | D49
|45039
|The Manchester Regiment
| data-sort-value="1985-12" | 12/1985
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (11/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="78" | D78
|45150
|Vampire (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-02-04-10-40" | 10:40 on 4 February 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (12/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="79" | D79
|45005
|
| data-sort-value="1986-03" | 03/1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (12/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="80" | D80
|45113
|Athene (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-08-02" | 2 August 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1990)
|-
| data-sort-value="81" | D81
|45115
|
| data-sort-value="1988-06-13" | 13 June 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1990)
|-
| data-sort-value="82" | D82
|45141
|Zephyr (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-08-04" | 4 August 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="83" | D83
|45142
|
| data-sort-value="1987-06-19" | 19 June 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1994)
|-
| data-sort-value="84" | D84
|45055
|Royal Corps of Transport
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="114" | D114
|45066
|Amethyst (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-07-26" | 07/1987. Reinstated September 1987 as 97413; finally withdrawn on 26 July 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (10/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="115" | D115
|45067
|
| data-sort-value="1977-07" | 07/1977 after collision at Ilkeston 8 July 1977 11:50 Glasgow-Nottingham
|Scrapped at Derby Works (06/1980)
|-
| data-sort-value="116" | D116
|45103
|Griffon (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-08-02" | 2 August 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1990)
|-
| data-sort-value="117" | D117
|45130
|
| data-sort-value="1987-05-10" | 10 May 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="118" | D118
|45068
|
| data-sort-value="1986-01" | 01/1986
|Scrapped by Vic Berry at Allerton TMD (04/1986)
|-
| data-sort-value="119" | D119
|45007
|Taliesin (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-07" | 07/1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1992)
|- bgcolor=#eaf3ff
| data-sort-value="120" | D120
||45108
|
| data-sort-value="1987-08-04-11-27" | 11:27 on 4 August 1987
||Preserved at Midland Railway – Butterley. Owned by Peak Locomotive Company
|-
| data-sort-value="121" | D121
|45069
|
| data-sort-value="1986-07" | 07/1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (10/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="122" | D122
|45070
|
| data-sort-value="1987-01" | 01/1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (11/1988)
|-bgcolor=#eaf3ff
| data-sort-value="123" | D123
| 45125
| Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry (name only carried in preservation)
| data-sort-value="1987-05-07-14-43" | 14:43 on 7 May 1987. Rescued from MC Metals during the late 1980s and early 1990s
| Preserved at Great Central Railway
|-
| data-sort-value="124" | D124
|45131
|
| data-sort-value="1986-09-03-16-00" | 16:00 on 3 September 1986
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (11/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="125" | D125
|45071
|
| data-sort-value="1981-07" | 07/1981
|Scrapped at Swindon Works (07/1983)
|-
| data-sort-value="126" | D126
|45134
|Neptune (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1987-09-17-12-16" | 12:16 on 17 September 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (11/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="127" | D127
|45072
|
| data-sort-value="1985-04" | 04/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (11/1986)
|-
| data-sort-value="128" | D128
|45145
|Scylla (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1988-02-23-11-11" | 9 September 1987. Reinstated 19 October 1987 then finally withdrawn 11:11 on 23 February 1988
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (12/1991)
|-
| data-sort-value="129" | D129
|45073
|
| data-sort-value="1981-10" | 10/1981
|Scrapped at Derby Works (11/1982)
|-
| data-sort-value="130" | D130
|45148
|
| data-sort-value="1987-02-11-11-43" | 11:43 on 11 February 1987
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (04/1992)
|-
| data-sort-value="131" | D131
|45074
|
| data-sort-value="1985-09" | 09/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (10/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="132" | D132
|45075
|
| data-sort-value="1985-01" | 01/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (03/1987)
|-
| data-sort-value="133" | D133
|45003
|
| data-sort-value="1985-12" | 12/1985
|Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester (04/1987)
|-
| data-sort-value="134" | D134
|45076
|
| data-sort-value="1986-11" | 11/1986
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (03/1994)
|- bgcolor=#eaf3ff
| data-sort-value="135" | D135
||45149
||Phaeton (unofficial name)
| data-sort-value="1987-09-14-16-00" | 16:00 on 14 September 1987
||Preserved at Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
|-
| data-sort-value="136" | D136
|45077
|
| data-sort-value="1986-08" | 08/1986
|Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow (09/1988)
|-
| data-sort-value="137" | D137
|45014
|The Cheshire Regiment
- 45060 – Undergoing engine overhaul at Barrow Hill Roundhouse
- 45105 – Undergoing restoration at Barrow Hill Roundhouse
- 45108 – In operational condition on loan at the East Lancashire Railway
- 45112 – Stored at Nemesis Rail, Burton upon Trent
- 45118 – Under overhaul at Crewe Diesel TMD
- 45125 – In operational condition at the Great Central Railway
- 45132 – Under overhaul at the Epping Ongar Railway
- 45133 – Under overhaul at the Midland Railway – Butterley
- 45135 – Under heavy repair at the East Lancashire Railway
- 45149 – In operational condition at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Model railways
Mainline Railways introduced OO gauge Class 45s in 1983; D49 The Manchester Regiment and D100 Sherwood Forester in BR green and 45048 The Royal Marines in BR blue.
References
Further reading
External links
- www.45133.co.uk