What are the different classes of locomotives?
Owen Barnes
Published Mar 02, 2026
What are the different classes of locomotives?
Contents
- 1.1 Small shunters: under 300 hp.
- 1.2 Large shunters: 300–799hp.
- 1.3 Type 1 locomotives: 800 – 1000 hp.
- 1.4 Type 2 locomotives: 1001 – 1499hp.
- 1.5 Type 3 locomotives: 1500–1999 hp.
- 1.6 Type 4 locomotives: 2000–2999 hp.
- 1.7 Type 5 locomotives: over 3000 hp.
What is the most powerful UK locomotive?
The locomotive number is a combination of the initials of Hawker Siddeley (the owners of Brush Traction) and the power rating of its Sulzer diesel engine (4000 HP), making it the most powerful locomotive built by the company….British Rail HS4000.
| hideSpecifications | |
|---|---|
| Train brakes | Dual (Air and Vacuum), electric regenerative dynamic brakes |
What is a Tier 4 locomotive?
Tier 4 locomotives are compliant with the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards and will reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 85 percent compared to older locomotives.
Are Class 37 locos still in service?
Nearly 60 years ago the first Class 37 diesel locomotive was delivered to British Railways . . . and the engines are still operating all over the country, including preserved lines. A third of the 308 locomotives built between 1960 and 1965 are still in existence – 68 of them still used for main-line operations.
What are the three types of locomotives?
Syntax
- G – Goods.
- P – Passenger.
- M – Mixed (goods and passenger)
- S – Shunting (switching)
- U – Multiple unit (electric or diesel)
- R – Railcar.
What are the three common locomotive power types?
There are three methods of doing this: mechanical, hydraulic or electric. Most diesel locomotives use electric transmission and are called “diesel-electric” locomotives. Mechanical and hydraulic transmissions are still used but are more common on multiple unit trains or lighter locomotives.
Is there only one Flying Scotsman?
As well as hauling enthusiast specials in the United Kingdom, the locomotive toured extensively in the United States and Canada from 1969 until 1973 and Australia in 1988 and 1989. Flying Scotsman has been described as the world’s most famous steam locomotive….LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman.
| hideCareer | |
|---|---|
| Current owner | National Railway Museum |
What is the biggest British steam locomotive?
It was one of the most powerful steam locomotive types ever built for British Railways, and successfully performed its intended duties….BR Standard Class 9F.
| hideSpecifications | |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 30 ft 2 in (9.19 m) engine 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) tender 55 ft 11 in (17.04 m) total |
| Length | 66 ft 2 in (20.17 m) |
What is a Tier 1 locomotive?
Tier 0—The first set of standards applies (effective 2000) to locomotives and locomotive engines originally manufactured from 1973 through 2001, any time they are manufactured or remanufactured. Tier 1—These standards apply to locomotives and locomotive engines originally manufactured from 2002 through 2004.
Why train engines are not turned off?
Trains, being large and heavy, need the optimal brake line pressure for its efficient stopping. For obvious reasons, loco pilots never compromise on brake line pressure. Another reason for not turning off diesel train engines, lies in the engine itself. A train’s diesel engine is a large unit, with around 16 cylinders.
Is Class 37 a Deltic?
Quoting from RS Carter ”The traction motors (Class 37) are identical and interchangeable with the traction motors fitted to the production “Deltics”. The Deltics were rated at 100mph whilst the Class 37s were only rated for 90mph.
How many Deltics are preserved?
The 22 locomotives were named either after racehorses or regiments, both naming themes popular in steam days, and six were preserved in working order as well as two cabs and the pre-production prototype at the National Railway Museum.
What is a Class 31 locomotive in the UK?
British Rail Class 31. The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62. They were numbered in two series, D5500-D5699 and D5800-D5862.
Where is Class 31 power station d31130?
31130 “Calder Hall Power Station” is one of two Class 31 diesel locomotives based here at the Avon Valley Railway. Built by Brush Traction in Loughborough, she entered service as D5548 on the 3rd September 1959 based out of Ipswich Shed. The locos were originally fitted with Mirrlees JVS12T engines but these proved unsuccessful.
What happened to Class 31s?
Class 31s were used as regular motive power briefly on the Cotswold Line after the withdrawal of the Hymeks, but were quickly removed due their low power. 31405 was doing commendably well on this occasion, passing Chilson only 15 minutes down on the schedule.
When did diesel locomotives come to the UK?
In the 1950’s the British Rail board at the time decided they needed to replace steam traction in the UK and to do this they needed to build large numbers of Diesel Locomotives and amongst the locos that were to be built was the Brush (Loughborough Locomotive Works) built class 30 later to be reclassified class 31 Locomotives.