British Rail Class 44

Derby Type 4 British Rail Class 44
Preserved Class 44 number D8 at Darley Dale, on Peak Rail
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder British Railways’ Derby Works Build date 1959–1960 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC (1'Co)(Co1')  • Commonwealth 1Co-Co1 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) Minimum curve 5 chains (100 m) Wheelbase 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m) Length 67 ft 11 in (20.70 m) Width 8 ft 10 1⁄2 in (2.71 m) Height 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) Loco weight 133 long tons (135 t; 149 short tons) Fuel capacity 840 imp gal (3,800 l; 1,010 US gal) Prime mover Sulzer 12LDA28-A Engine type Diesel Generator Crompton Parkinson GC426-A1 Traction motors Six Crompton Parkinson C171-B1 MU working ★ Blue Star Train heating Steam Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h) Power output Engine: 2,300 bhp (1,715 kW) At rail: 1,800 hp (1,342 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 50,000 lbf (222 kN) Brakeforce 63 long tons-force (628 kN)
Career Operators British Railways Numbers D1–D10; later 44001–44010 Nicknames ‘Peak’ Axle load class Route availability 7 Withdrawn 1976-1980 Disposition Two preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 44 or Sulzer Type 4 diesel locomotives were built by British Railways' Derby Works between 1959 and 1960. They were named after British mountains, and consequently nicknamed Peaks.

Overview

In part inspired by LMS prototypes 10000 and 10001, and by Southern Railway 10201-10203, the Class 44 diesels were some of the first big diesels commissioned for the British Rail modernisation project and were the precursors to the Class 45 and Class 46 locomotives of similar design.

Powertrain

A Sulzer 12LDA28-A diesel engine drove a Crompton Parkinson GC426-A1 main generator which supplied power to six Crompton Parkinson C171-B1 traction motors.^[1]

Train heating

When initially put into service, the locomotives were fitted with multi-unit working and steam heating boilers for passenger service. They worked regularly over the West Coast Main Line for a couple of years, and also between St.Pancras and Manchester.

Freight service

44001 "Scafell Pike" heads a coal train south on the Midland Main Line, south of Loughborough, July 1975.

Once the Class 45 units were available, the steam heating boilers were removed and the Class 44 locomotives were assigned to freight duties, largely in the East Midlands, where they were all based at Toton and where they stayed until 1980.

Fleet details

Preservation

Two locomotives have survived to preservation.

Number(s) (Current in bold)		Name	Livery	Location	Image	Notes
D4	44004	Great Gable	BR Green	Midland Railway - Butterley		Owning group Peak Locomotive Company
D8	44008	Penyghent	BR Green	Peak Rail		Privately owned

References

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 44.

• Harris, Roger (1985). The Allocation History of BR Diesels and Electrics (2nd ed.). Bromsgrove: Roger Harris.
• McManus, Michael. Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 - 1968. Wirral. Michael McManus.
• Jacob, Michael (October 1982). "Water, water everywhere...". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 28–31. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
• Kerry, Mike (November 1986). "Spectacular Stuff!". Rail Enthusiast. No. 62. EMAP National Publications. pp. 36–39. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.