British Rail Class 97/6

The British Rail Class 97/6 0-6-0 diesel shunting locomotives were purpose-built for departmental duties by Ruston & Hornsby at Lincoln in 1953 (97650) or 1959 (97651-654). There are minor technical differences between 97650 and the 1959 batch.

British Rail class 97/6
97651 at Radyr in August 1982.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderRuston & Hornsby
Serial number312990, 431758–431761
Build date1953 (650), 1959 (651-654)
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
 • UICC
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter97650: 3 ft 2 1⁄2 in (0.978 m)
97651-97654: 3 ft 4 in (1.016 m)
Length24 ft 8 1⁄2 in (7.53 m)
Width8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Height11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Loco weight97650: 28 long tons (28 t; 31 short tons)
97651-97654: 30 long tons (30 t)
Prime moverRuston 6VPHL
RPM range1,250 rpm (max)
GeneratorBTH RTB6034
Traction motorsBTH RTA5041 (nose-suspended), 1 off
Loco brakeStraight air
Train brakes97650: none, later vacuum
97651–97654: vacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed20 mph (32 km/h)
Power output165 hp (123 kW)
Tractive effort17,000 lbf (75.6 kN)
Career
OperatorsBritish Railways’ Western Region Chief Civil Engineer's department
NumbersPWM 650–654 later 97650–97654
Axle load classRA 1
Disposition3 preserved, 2 scrapped

This class of five locomotives is outwardly similar to the Class 04 locomotives built around the same time but, internally, they are quite different. The Class 97/6 is diesel-electric while the Class 04 is diesel-mechanical.

Overview
PWM651 at Radyr, c. 1977.
97650 at Worcester Shrub Hill in 1979 - this loco was different to the others.

The fleet was originally numbered PWM650-654 in the Western Region Permanent Way Machines series, hence were commonly referred to as the “PWM shunters” or simply “PWMs”.[1] Between 1979 and 1981 they were renumbered as Class 97 locomotives. Originally painted in BR Green livery, this was later superseded by BR Blue and finally Civil Engineering Yellow. They were employed at various locations, including Reading West (97650/653/654), Gloucester / Cardiff Canton / Radyr (97651) and Plymouth Laira (97652).

Specification
  • Diesel engine: Ruston 6VPH of 165 bhp (123 kW) at 1,250 rpm
  • Transmission: Electric,
  • Driving wheel diameter,
    • 97650: 3 ft 2½in (978 mm)
    • 97651-654: 3 ft 4in (1,016 mm)
  • Weight,
    • 97650: 28 tons (29 tonnes)
    • 97651-654: 30 tons (31 tonnes)
  • Maximum tractive effort: 17,000 lb (75 kN)
  • Maximum speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
  • Brake type: Straight air on locomotive, automatic vacuum for train

A special feature of this class is that the electric traction motor can be disengaged from the wheels. This allows the locomotive to be hauled by another locomotive at speeds above 20 mph.

Withdrawal

With the privatisation of British Rail these locomotives were largely made redundant. Three locomotives had already been withdrawn from traffic, and only nos. 97651 and 97654 survived long enough to pass into English Welsh & Scottish (EWS) ownership. Number 97654 was sold to an infrastructure company based in Edinburgh, and remained in use until 2005, when it was preserved. Number 97651 was one of the first locomotives sold by EWS into preservation.

Preservation
97651 as preserved.

Three of the five locomotives have been preserved on heritage railways.

Incomplete remains of 97653 were stored at the former Ministry of Defence depot at Long Marston, Warwickshire until taken to Hurst's, Andover for scrap in August 2011.[2]

Fleet details
Key: Preserved Scrapped


Number(s) Built Final livery Withdrawn Disposal Notes
97650 PWM650 1953 BR Blue 1987 Preserved
97651 PWM651 1959 CE Yellow 1996 Preserved - Swindon and Cricklade Railway
97652 PWM652 1959 CE Yellow 1987 Scrapped (1990)
97653 PWM653 1959 CE Yellow 1993 Scrapped (2011)
97654 PWM654 1959 CE Yellow 2005 Preserved

References
  1. Booth, A. J. (1992). The PWM’s: A History of the BR Western Region class 97/6 Departmental Shunters. Bridlington: Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 0901096741.
  2. http://www.wnxx.com/news/index.htm

Sources
  • ABC British Railways Locomotives: Combined Volume, Winter 1962/3. London: Ian Allan. 1962. p. 238. ISBN 0711014361.
  • Greaves, Simon; Greengrass, Robert, eds. (1998). Locomotive Datafile. Metro Enterprises. p. 99. ISBN 094777310X.


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