Class 20189 Limited
Class 20189 Limited operates a fleet of five BR class 20 Diesel locomotives[1] including 20048 which has been at the SVR since arriving on hire in June 2022. The other locomotives are normally available for spot hire; all have spent time at the SVR either on hire or at Diesel galas.
The BR Class 20 is a Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotive, also known as an English Electric Type 1. 228 were produced between 1957 and 1968, of which 135 (including all five examples below) were built by the English Electric Vulcan Foundry. The other 93 were built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd. A brief description and history of the class can be found on the 20048 page.
Company details[edit | edit source]
Class 20189 Limited was incorporated in March 2006 as Company number 05742768.[note 1] As of 2024[update] Michael Owen is the sole Director and shareholder[2].
Locomotive fleet[edit | edit source]
The fleet comprises 20007, 20048, 20142, 20189 and 20205.
20048[edit | edit source]
- Main article: BR Class 20 20048
The SVR signed a deal with Class 20189 Limited in June 2022 to hire 20048 to assist working Bridgnorth based turns which at the time were increased diesel usage due to coal supply problems. The loan period was initially until October 2022, although it has remained in traffic since that time.
20142[edit | edit source]
D8142 entered service in the Birmingham Division in May 1966. It was renumbered 20142 under TOPS in March 1974.
20142 appeared at the diesel gala in May 2016 and May 2018. As noted below it was hired in summer 2022 along with 20189. Since that time, it has appeared in further galas in 2023 (May and December) and 2024 (May and October[note 2]).
The design of the Class 20 means they often operate in pairs, with 20142 and 20189 being a regular pairing. During 2024 both were based at the SVR in between main line operations. An example excursion was Vintage Trains' The Mayflower on Friday 27 September, which the Class 20s worked between Birmingham New Street and Bristol.
20142 is currently in London Transport livery. It has carried the name Sir John Betjeman since September 2016.[3] It is pictured on 21 June 2024 at Kidderminster paired with 20189.
20189[edit | edit source]
D8189 entered service in the Nottingham Division (D16) on 21 July 1967. It was renumbered 20189 under TOPS on 1 January 1973. It was subsequently reallocated to Toton in October 1987 and was withdrawn from service on 1 September 1990.[4]
20189 appeared in SVR diesel galas in May 2016, May 2017, October 2019. On 13 July 2022 extremely hot weather and the resultant fire risk had led to all steam services being withdrawn. Three of the SVR's resident diesels had developed faults in the extreme heat (50035, D182 and D9551) while two of the SVR's other Class 50s were required on the main line. 20189 and 20142 arrived on hire at the SVR on 19 July to supplement the home diesel fleet. 20142 and 20189 both worked service AS1 in multiple on 20 July. 20189 then continued to work services solo.
Since that time 20189 appeared in further galas in 2023 (May, September and December) and 2024 (May and October). It is pictured on 21 June 2024 at Kidderminster in blue livery paired with 20142.
20007[edit | edit source]
D8007 entered service at Devons Road, Bow (1D) in September 1957. It was renumbered 20007 under TOPS in April 1974. It was withdrawn at Haymarket on 1 July 1993 after a working life of 35 years, 9 months.[5]
20007 has visited the SVR for diesel galas in May 2018, December 2023 and May 2024. It is pictured on 3 July 2024 at Kidderminster in green livery during an operational visit paired with 20205.
20205[edit | edit source]
D8305 entered service at York in April 1967. It was allocated to Tinsley (41A) in October 1971 and renumbered as 20205 under TOPS in April 1974. Following reallocation to Eastfield (ED) in December 1967, it was withdrawn from service in December 1989 after a working life of 22 years 7 months.
20205 was acquired by Pete Waterman in October 1994 to and resold to the Class 20 Locomotive Society (CTLS) in March 1995. It was stored at the Midland Railway Centre for more than 18 years. In 2014 Michael Owen approached the CTLS about a shared arrangement for funding and returning 20205 to the mainline. After a comprehensive overhaul, this was achieved in February 2015.[6]
20205 has appeared in SVR diesel galas in May 2016, May 2017 and May 2024. It is pictured on 3 July 2024 at Kidderminster in blue livery during an operational visit paired with 20007.
See also[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ class_20189_ltd on Instagram
- ↑ Companies House
- ↑ Locomotive Directory 2021, Key Publishing, ISBN 9 781802 820171 9
- ↑ BRDatabase
- ↑ BR Database
- ↑ Class 20 Society
Links[edit | edit source]
- BR Class 20 on Wikipedia
- 20007 on brdatabase.info
- 20048 on brdatabase.info
- 20142 on brdatabase.info
- 20189 on brdatabase.info
- 20205 on brdatabase.info
- class_20189_ltd on Instagram
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