British Rail Class 14
D9528 at Cardiff in 1965
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
BuilderBritish Railways' Swindon Works
Order numberSwindon Lots 456 and 460
Build date1964–1965
Total produced56
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0DH
 • UICC
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter4 ft 0 in (1.219 m)
Minimum curve2 chains (40.23 m)[1]
Wheelbase15 ft 6 in (4.724 m)[1]
Length34 ft 7 in (10.541 m) Over Buffers[1]
Width8 ft 7.5 in (2.629 m)[1]
Height13 ft 0 in (3.962 m)[1]
Loco weight48.5 long tons (49.3 t; 54.3 short tons)
Fuel capacity338 imp gal (1,540 L; 406 US gal)[1]
Prime moverPaxman Ventura 6YJXL
TransmissionVoith L217U hydraulic
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed40 mph (64 km/h)[2]
Power outputEngine: 650 hp (485 kW) @1,500 rpm[1]
At Rail at 6.5 mph (10.5 km/h): 388.5 hp (290 kW)[1]
Tractive effortMaximum at 27.6% adhesion: 30,910 lbf (137.5 kN)[1]
Continuous at 6.2 mph (10.0 km/h): 23,500 lbf (104.5 kN)[1]
Career
OperatorsBritish Rail
British Steel Corporation
National Coal Board
NumbersD9500–D9555
NicknamesTeddy Bear
Axle load class
Disposition19 preserved, 5 exported, 32 scrapped

The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways' Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was trip working movements between local yards and short-distance freight trains.[2] The good all-around visibility from the cab and dual controls also made them capable of being used for shunting duties. The order was expanded from 26 to 56 in mid-1963, before work had started on the first order. They were numbered D9500-D9555.[5]

Technical details

In July 1964, the first of a class of 56 locomotives appeared from Swindon Works.[2] These were later designated as TOPS Class 14 by British Railways. They are known as 'Teddy Bears' by enthusiasts, following a comment by Swindon Works' erecting shop foreman George Cole who quipped "We've built The Great Bear, now we're going to build a 'Teddy Bear'!"[6]

In outline they have a cab offset from the centre with bonnets at each end, with a fixed 0-6-0 wheel configuration rather than bogies as seen on all the other Type 1 classes. The locomotives were powered by a Paxman 6-cylinder Ventura 6YJXL engine with a Napier turbocharger producing 650 bhp (485 kW), connected to a Voith L217U hydraulic transmission and Hunslet final drive.[1] The axles were connected by coupling rods and driven by a jackshaft located under the cab, between the second and third axles. The plate frames were of 11⁄4 inch steel and deep buffer beams almost to rail level. One was of similar thickness to the frames, the other of 5 inch thick steel to act as ballast and to even out weight distribution.[2]

Operations and preservation

Originally all were allocated to depots on the Western Region of British Railways, but in January 1967 twenty were sent to Hull (Dairycoates) on the Eastern Region (ER), followed by thirteen more later the same year. At Hull they were intended for work around the docks, but the tasks were beyond the capabilities of a single locomotive; and since two locomotives required two sets of crew, they were not popular with the region. In 1968, all 33 ER locomotives were placed in storage, and were subsequently withdrawn on 1 April that year.[7]

The Class 14s, like many other early diesel types, had an extremely short life with British Railways – in this case not because of poor reliability, but because many of its envisaged duties disappeared on the BR network a few years after they came into use. BR started to dispose of members of the class from mid 1968, and the entire class had been sold to industry or scrapped by the end of 1970. In their new careers in industry, many had a working life two to three times longer than that with British Railways. The industries in which they were employed, such as coal mining, declined during the 1970s and the class again became surplus to requirements. Several have since found a third lease of life on preserved lines where they are ideal for both light passenger work and with works trains on the maintenance of permanent way.

D9555 and D9520 run round their train at Rawtenstall on the East Lancashire Railway during the Class 14 at 50 Gala in July 2014

Unusually, D9504 was leased in 2005 from its preservation group and found itself in revenue-earning service on the newest mainline in the UK – High Speed 1 (known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link during construction) – mainly in marshalling and stabling the 450 metre, 22-wagon concrete-pumping train on the final stretch to St. Pancras Station.[8]

D9524 was re-engined under the ownership of BP Grangemouth. It was later re-engined again under the ownership of the Scottish RPS who, following BR practice, gave it the number 14901. It now operates with a Rolls-Royce DV8TCE (640 bhp) power unit.[9]

The last of the class to be built, D9555, was the final locomotive constructed for British Railways at Swindon Works, in 1965; today it is privately owned and operates on the Dean Forest Railway, Gloucestershire – its original route.

In July 2014, the East Lancashire Railway hosted ten preserved members of the class as a celebration of the 50 years since their entry into service.[10]

Fleet

Distribution of locomotives,
July/October 1967[11]
British Rail Class 14 is located in England
50B
50B
82A
82A
86A
86A
87E
87E
CodeNameQuantity
50BHull (Dairycoates)25
82ABristol Bath Road6
86ACardiff Canton17
87ELandore8
Total: 56
Key: Preserved Scrapped Exported
Loco Final depot Industrial career Industrial Number [1] Dates Disposal
D9500 86A NCB Ashington[12] 1 11/69–? Preserved at Peak Rail
D9501 86A — – — Scrapped at C F Booth, Rotherham (June 1968)[13]
D9502 86A NCB Ashington[12] – 07/69–? Preserved at East Lancs Railway
D9503 50B BSC Harlaxton
BSC Corby Steelworks		 65 11/68–07/74
07/74–09/80		 Scrapped at BSC Corby (09/80)
D9504 50B NCB Lambton [1]
NCB Philadelphia
NCB Bolden
NCB Burradon
NCB Ashington[12]		 – 11/68–08/73
08/73–12/74
01/75–09/81
09/81–?		 Preserved at Kent & East Sussex Railway
D9505 50B APCM Hope, Derbyshire[14] – 09/68–05/75 Exported to Bruges, Belgium (05/75)
D9506 86A — – — Scrapped at Arnott Young Ltd., Parkgate (05/68)
D9507 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 55 11/68–09/82 Scrapped at BSC Corby (09/82)
D9508 87E NCB Ashington[12] 9 03/69–01/84 Scrapped at D. Short, North Shields (01/84)
D9509 86A — – — Scrapped at G Cohen Ltd., Kettering (11/70)
D9510 50B BSC Buckminster
BSC Corby Steelworks[15]		 60 12/68–06/72
06/72–08/82		 Scrapped at BSC Corby (08/82)
D9511 50B NCB Ashington – 11/68–07/79 Scrapped at NCB Ashington (07/79)
D9512 50B BSC Buckminster
BSC Corby Steelworks[15]		 63 12/68–09/72
09/72–02/82		 Scrapped at BSC Corby (02/82)
D9513 86A Arnott Young Ltd., Parkgate
NCB Crigglestone
NCB Astley
NCB Ashington[12]		 38 07/68–11/68
11/68–09/69
09/69–10/73
01/74–?		 Preserved at Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
D9514 86A NCB Ashington[12] 4 07/69–12/85 Scrapped at NCB Ashington (12/85)
D9515 50B BSC Buckminster
BSC Corby Steelworks
Hunslet Ltd		 62 11/68–09/72
09/72–12/81
12/81–07/82		 Exported to Charmartin, Madrid, Spain (07/82)
D9516 50B BSC Corby Steelworks 56 11/68–10/81 Preserved at Didcot Railway Centre
D9517 86A NCB Ashington[12] 8 11/69–01/84 Scrapped at D. Short, North Shields (01/84)
D9518 86A NCB Ashington[12] 7 06/69–??/87 Preserved at West Somerset Railway
D9519 86A – – – Scrapped at G Cohen Ltd., Kettering (11/70)
D9520 50B BSC Corby Steelworks

BSC Glendon[1]

 45 12/68–03/81 Preserved at Mid-Norfolk Railway
D9521 87E NCB Ashington[12] 3 03/70–11/84 Preserved at Dean Forest Railway
D9522 86A – – – Scrapped at Arnott Young Ltd., Parkgate (05/68)
D9523 50B BSC Corby Steelworks

BSC Glendon [1]

 46 12/68–10/81 Preserved at the Wensleydale Railway
D9524 87E BP Grangemouth – 07/70–09/81 Preserved at Peak Rail
D9525 50B NCB Lambton[1]

NCB Philadelphia
NCB Ashington[12]

 – 11/68–03/75
03/75–10/87		 Preserved by Heritage Shunters Trust
D9526 86A APCM Westbury – 01/70–04/80 Preserved at West Somerset Railway
D9527 86A NCB Ashington[12] 6 07/69–01/84 Scrapped at D. Short, North Shields (01/84)
D9528 86A NCB Ashington[12] 2 03/69–12/81 Scrapped at D. Short, North Shields (12/81)
D9529 50B BSC Buckminster
BSC Corby Steelworks
Bardon Hill Quarry		 61 08/68–09/72
09/72–03/81
02/09–06/10		 Preserved – normally at Nene Valley Railway
D9530 86A Gulf Oil Co.Ltd., Waterston
NCB Mardy Colliery[12]
NCB Tower Colliery		 – 09/69–10/75
10/75–08/82
08/82		 Scrapped at NCB Tower Colliery (08/82)
D9531 86A Arnott Young Ltd., Parkgate
NCB Crigglestone
NCB Burradon
NCB Ashington[12]		 – 07/68–11/68
11/68–10/73
10/73–04/74
04/74–?		 Preserved at East Lancashire Railway
D9532 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 57 11/68–02/82 Scrapped at BSC Corby (02/82)
D9533 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 47 12/68–09/82 Scrapped at BSC Corby (09/82)
D9534 50B APCM Hope, Derbyshire[14] – 10/68—05/75 Exported to Bruges, Belgium (05/75)
D9535 86A NCB Burradon
NCB Backworth
NCB Ashington[12]		 37 11/70–01/76
01/76–09/80
09/80–01/84		 Scrapped at NCB Ashington (01/84)
D9536 87E NCB Ashington[12] 5 03/70–02/85 Scrapped at NCB Ashington (12/85)
D9537 50B BSC Corby Steelworks 52 11/68–11/82 Preserved at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
D9538 87E Shell-Mex & BP Ltd., Shellhaven
BSC Ebbw Vale
BSC Corby Steelworks[15]		 – 04/70–02/71
02/71–04/76
04/76–09/82		 Scrapped at BSC Corby (09/82)
D9539 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 51 10/68–02/83 Preserved at Ribble Steam Railway
D9540 50B NCB Lambton[1]

NCB Philadelphia
NCB Burradon
NCB Ashington[12]

 36 11/68–11/71
11/71–06/72
06/72–01/84		 Scrapped at D. Short, North Shields (01/84)
D9541 50B BSC Harlaxton
BSC Corby Steelworks[15]		 66 11/68–08/74
08/74–08/82		 Scrapped at BSC Corby (08/82)
D9542 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 48 12/68–08/82 Scrapped at BSC Corby (08/82)
D9543 50B — – — Scrapped at C F Booth, Rotherham (11/68)
D9544 50B BSC Corby Steelworks 53 11/68–09/80 Scrapped at BSC Corby (09/80)
D9545 50B NCB Ashington – 11/68–07/79 Scrapped by D. Short, North Shields (07/79)
D9546 50B — – — Scrapped at C F Booth, Rotherham (11/68)
D9547 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 49 12/68–08/82 Scrapped at BSC Corby (08/82)
D9548 50B BSC Harlaxton
BSC Corby Steelworks
Hunslet Ltd		 67 11/68–08/74
08/74–11/80
11/80–07/82		 Exported to Charmartin, Madrid, Spain (07/82)
D9549 50B BSC Corby Steelworks
Hunslet Ltd		 64 11/68–11/81
11/81–07/82		 Exported to Charmartin, Madrid, Spain (07/82)
D9550 50B — – — Scrapped at C F Booth, Rotherham (11/68)
D9551 50B BSC Corby Steelworks 50 12/68–06/81 Preserved at Severn Valley Railway
D9552 50B BSC Buckminster
BSC Corby Steelworks		 59 09/68–06/72
06/72–09/80		 Scrapped at BSC Corby (09/80)
D9553 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 54 11/68–? Preserved at Vale of Berkeley Railway
D9554 50B BSC Corby Steelworks[15] 58 11/68–08/82 Scrapped at BSC Corby (08/82)
D9555 87E NCB Burradon
NCB Ashington[12]		 – 03/70–02/75
02/76–??/87		 Preserved at Dean Forest Railway

Models

Hattons commissioned Danish company Heljan to produce a limited run in OO gauge in three liveries. Since then they have announced plans for further examples, still in limited numbers, but in a wider variety of liveries.

Graham Farish also produces the Class 14 in several liveries in British N scale.

Minerva Model Railways announced the production of a ready-to-run O gauge (7mm Finescale) model in May 2019. Delivery commenced in February 2022 following delays due to incorrect cab colour on the initial supplies.[16]

In 2011 a 7 1/4" gauge model of D9522 won best locomotive and best model in show at the national model engineering exhibition in Harrogate.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Hembry, P.J. (1982). Class 14, The Cinderellas of the Diesel-hydraulic Era. Sutton Coalfield: Diesel & Electric Group. ISBN 0-906375-09-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "New BR 650hp Type 1 Diesel-Hydraulic Locomotive". Modern Railways. August 1964. pp. 106–107.
  3. ↑ Flowers, Andy (December 2006). Pigott, Nick (ed.). "'Teddy Bears' – the locos BR put to bed early". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 152, no. 1268. London: IPC Media. p. 42.
  4. ↑ Strickland, D.C. (March 1983). D+EG Locomotive Directory. Camberley: Diesel & Electric Group. p. 65. ISBN 0-906375-10-X.
  5. ↑ "14 0-6-0". Brdatabase.info. 30 September 2002. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Flowers 2006, p. 41
  7. ↑ Flowers 2006, p. 43
  8. ↑ Staines, David (December 2007). "High-speed one: a 'Teddy Bear's picnic!". Railways Illustrated. pp. 22–25.
  9. ↑ "BR Swindon Class 14: 14 901". Andrew Briddon Locos. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Big 'Teddy Bear' gathering marks 50th anniversary". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 160, no. 1, 362. September 2014. p. 95. ISSN 0033-8923.
  11. ↑ British Rail Locoshed Book. Shepperton: Ian Allan. February 1968. pp. 32–33. ISBN 0-7110-0004-2.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Industrial Locomotives 1982 including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. 1982. pp. 240, 256. ISBN 0901096-43-1.
  13. ↑ Marsden, Colin J. (November 1984). BR Locomotive Numbering. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 248–9. ISBN 0-7110-1445-0.
  14. 1 2 Industrial Locomotives 1973 including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. 1973. ISBN 0-901096-18-0.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Industrial Locomotives 1982 including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. 1982. p. 16. ISBN 0-901096-43-1.
  16. ↑ "NEWS: Class 14 'Teddies' in 'O' from Minerva". British Railway Modelling. 11 May 2019.

Further reading

  • McManus, Michael. Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 – 1968. Wirral. Michael McManus.
  • Kelly, Peter (September 1982). "Teddy bears' picnic...". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 28–31. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
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