British Rail Class 03


The British Rail Class 03 locomotive was, together with the similar, one of British Railways' most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. 230 were built at Doncaster and Swindon works between 1957 and 1962, and were numbered D2000–D2199 and D2370–D2399. D2370 and D2371 were used as departmental locomotives and originally numbered 91 and 92 respectively.

Overview

The fleet of 230 locomotives entered service between December 1957 and June 1962. Like other shunters of this size, the Class 03 was built for light duties where a larger locomotive was not needed, especially for shunting at locomotive and carriage depots and as station pilots, or where larger or heavier locomotives could not be used. The reduction over time in the demand for shunting locomotives meant that they were progressively withdrawn from 1968 onwards, many being sold to private industry, including three that were exported to Belgium. However, some remained in service much longer, with two examples on the Isle of Wight lasting until 1993. Mainland examples had gone by 1989, the last being those allocated to Birkenhead North TMD, for use on the Birkenhead Dock Branch.
In 1998, one of the Isle of Wight locos, 03179, was reinstated by the West Anglia Great Northern for service at Hornsey depot. It was named Clive after a depot employee. It was not fitted with TPWS equipment and thus confined to the depot from 2002. It was operated subsequently by First Capital Connect until withdrawal in 2008. In 2016 it was sold by Govia Thameslink Railway to the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway.

Technical details

The engine is a Gardner 8-cylinder, 4-stroke 8L3 of connected to a Wilson-Drewry CA5 R7, 5-speed epicyclic gearbox with RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final-drive unit. Drive is through a jackshaft mounted beneath the cab, driving the wheels through coupling rods.
During their later life, some locomotives were fitted with dual brakes. These were 03059, 03063, 03066, 03073, 03078, 03084, 03086, 03089, 03094, 03112, 03152, 03158, 03162, 03170, 03179, 03180, 03196, 03197, 03371, 03397 and 03399.

Operation

Shunting

Originally the Class 03s were often deployed where their attributes of short wheelbase and light weight enabled them to operate where other shunters could not. On lines such as that to Ipswich docks, bridge weight restrictions prevented the ubiquitous Class 08s from operating. Another common use was as station pilot, usually coupled to a shunters' truck to ensure operation of track circuits which did not always register the passage of the 03 due to its short wheelbase.
By 1979, the Class 03's operations included:
Despite the limited scope for the use of such a small locomotive on main line passenger duties, there were a number of duties rostered to the class. During the early 1970s Southern Region Class 03s worked Channel Islands boat trains through the streets to the harbour along the Weymouth Harbour Tramway, displacing the last of the 1366 Class 0-6-0 pannier tanks. In 1980, a Class 03 at Ipswich was booked to shunt the 23:20 – onto the rear of the 23:45 – Liverpool Street. Also, according to Mangapps Railway Museum, 03089 once hauled a to express along the York to Scarborough Line from to Scarborough.

Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line

Several examples were rebuilt with cut-down cabs for working on the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line, as there were several low bridges on the line that precluded the use of normal height locomotives.
The modified examples were nos. 03119, 03120, 03141, 03142, 03144, 03145, 03151, 03152 and late addition 03382. Their duties included shunting, and hauling full coal trains down from the valley's pits. For this latter duty they sometimes worked triple-headed.
They were replaced by Class 08/9 locomotives, which were also rebuilt to a reduced height. Several cut-down locomotives have been preserved.
The Isle of Wight shunters, nos. 03079 and 03179, were also rebuilt with cut-down cabs, to enable them to pass through a low tunnel in Ryde.

Preservation

Fifty-six members of the class survive in preservation.
Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.
TOPS
Number		Pre-TOPSOriginal Number AllocatedImagePreserved locationIndustrial useNotes
03018D201811205Mangapps Railway MuseumCohen's scrapyard, Cransley, Kettering until 20 September 1980 and Cohen's scrapyard Willesden from 28 March 1981. Then to 600 Ferrous Fragmentisers Ltd., Willesden.
03020D202011207Lavender LineA. King & Sons, Knappetts Scrapyard, Newmarket
03022D202211209Swindon and Cricklade Railway-
-D2023Kent & East Sussex RailwayTees & Hartlepool Dock Authority
-D2024Kent & East Sussex RailwayTees & Hartlepool Dock Authority
03027D2027Heritage Shunters TrustShipbreakers Ltd., Queenborough Wharf Scrapyard
03037D2037Royal Deeside RailwayNCB, British Oak Disposal Point
-D2041Colne Valley Railway
-D2051North Norfolk RailwayFord Dagenham
03059D2059Isle of Wight Steam RailwayUsed as a general purpose shunter, and also to supplement any locomotive that has broken down. D2059 arrived on the Island during the electrification works to the Island Line, and remained in use by British Rail at Ryde Traincare Depot until 1988, when it was transferred to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. D2059 is affectionately nicknamed Edward by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's staff.
03062D2062East Lancashire Railway-
03063D2063Mid-Norfolk Railway03063 was released from Doncaster Work on 14 July 1959 originally as D2063, under Pre-TOPS, and was allocated to the York North. The locomotive was then bequeathed to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 2023 upon the passing of its owner, the late Paul Mobbs. It was moved to the MNR in November 2023.
03066D2066Barrow Hill Engine Shed-
03069D2069Vale of Berkeley Railway, Gloucestershire.Vic Berry, Leicester, even worked at Vic Berry's Scrapyard until being sold into preservation in 1991.
03072D2072Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway-
03073D2073Crewe Heritage CentreUsed for occasional loco shunting and brakevan rides to visitors to the heritage centre
03078D2078North Tyneside Steam RailwayNewcastle Central Station, used as a station pilot.
03079D2079Derwent Valley Light RailwayWorked at Gateshead before moving to the Isle of Wight along with 03179. This loco has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde, withdrawn 1996.
03081D2081Mangapps Railway Museum
03084D2084West Coast Railways, CarnforthSold by the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway in 2010 or 2011.
03089D2089Mangapps Railway Museum
03090D2090LocomotionPart of the National Collection
03094D2094Royal Deeside RailwayPreviously at Llynclys Cambrian Heritage Railway, near Oswestry
03099D2099Heritage Shunters TrustNCB, Monkton Coking Plant
03112D2112Rother Valley Railway-
03113D2113Heritage Shunters TrustD2113 spent its entire B.R. life at York, it was sold to Gulf Oil at Milford Haven upon withdrawal from BR service in August 1975 as 03113. For a number of years, after becoming surplus to the Gulf Refinery, it was placed on display, along with a four-wheel petroleum wagon, in Milford Haven Harbour. It is now preserved by the Heritage Shunters Trust at Rowsley in Derbyshire, entering service following full restoration during 2011.Number 8
-D2117Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
-D2118Great Central Railway Worked at Anglian Building Products, Lenwade, Norfolk from August 1973,
then at Dow-Mac near Stamford from December 1993.
03119D2119Epping Ongar Railway
-D2120Fawley Hill Railway, Buckinghamshire
03901D2128Somerset and Dorset Railway at Midsomer NortonSold for scrap to Birds, Long Marston, where engine and coupling removed and then exported to Belgium where fitted with Deutz V12 air-cooled engine, VM hydraulic pump and motor into original change speed box. Repatriated and operated at Peak Rail, eventually to Dean Forest where stored incomplete. Moved to Scunthorpe 2009, where repowered with Cummins 14 litre engine, hydraulic transmission and renumbered 03 901 to reflect this
-D2133West Somerset RailwayWorked at Cellophane's Bridgwater factory in the 1970s, prior to preservation at the time.
-D2134Royal Deeside RailwayWas based in Belgium between 1976 and 1993, has since been repatriated back to the UK.
-D2138Midland Heritage RailwayUsed at Pye Hill Colliery between 1969 and 1984, prior to preservation.
-D2139Heritage Shunters TrustNCB, Coed Ely Coking Plant
03141D2141Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
03144D2144Wensleydale Railway
03145D2145D2578 Locomotive Group, Moreton Business Park
-D2148Ribble Steam RailwayNCB, Bowers Row Disposal Point
-D2152Swindon & Cricklade RailwayCut-down cab variant
03158D2158Mangapps Railway Museum
03162D2162Llangollen Railway
03170D2170Epping Ongar RailwayWas owned by Otis Euro Transrail between 1989-1999 and then latterly was present on the Battlefield Line
-D2178Gwili RailwayNCB, Coed Ely Coking Plant
03179D2179Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough RailwayWorked on the Isle of Wight along with 03079. This loco has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde. This engine was the last 03 to work for a main-line company, before being preserved. Also notable was its naming ceremony at.
-D2180Battlefield Line
-D2182Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
-D2184Colne Valley RailwayNCB, Southend Coal Concentration Depot
03189D2189Ribble Steam Railway
03192D2192Dartmouth Steam Railway
03196D2196West Coast Railways, Carnforth
03197D2197Mid-Norfolk RailwayWas previously at the Mid-Norfolk Railway to help build the new Kimberley Ballast Pit Sidings. Moved to Mangapps Railway Museum in August 2019 however, moved back to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in February 2020.
-D2199Heritage Shunters TrustSold to National Coal Board in 1974 after being overhauled and fitted with air brakes at Doncaster Works. Worked at Rockingham, North Gawber and Royston until being placed into store at Monkton in 1984. Was on hire to Eurotunnel as Cheriton Depot shunter 8/4/97.Was on loan to Hanson Aggregates, Machen Quarry near Newport 2003 -2006
03371D2371Departmental 92Dartmouth Steam Railway
-D2381West Coast Railways, Carnforth
03399D2399Mangapps Railway Museum