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It was already becoming clear that the type of work for which the class 14 was intended was disappearing. The BTC authorised production in May 1962, only to cancel it the following day. Some months later production of 26 locomotives was approved, later increased to 56. The first, D9500, was outshopped in June 1964. The last, D9555, was outshopped in October 1965 and was both the last diesel hydraulic locomotive built for BR and the last Swindon-built locomotive intended for UK use.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Hydraulic Legends]] (2018) pp. 70-71.</ref>
The type proved to have less than satisfactory performance and reliability, particularly with the Paxman engines which suffered issues with the cylinder heads, bearings and heat exchangers. Old Oak Common was unable to handle the resulting chaos and the entire class was sent to Bristol Bath Road. In early 1966, only a few months after the last example was completed, BR instructed the West Western Region to prepare for the withdrawal of the class and by the end of 1966 many had been stored. They were offered to the Southern and London Midland Regions who turned down the offer, but eventually 23 were transferred to the Eastern Region for use at Hull Docks which were in the course of modernisation.<ref group="note">The Eastern Region also initially turned down the Class 14s but were pressured into accepting them by the BR management.</ref> This too proved short-lived, with traffic declining at the Docks, and the Class 14s were taken out of service there in April 1968. The last examples were withdrawn by BR in April 1969 after a working life of less than five years. This early withdrawal meant the locomotives were never renumbered under [[TOPS codes|TOPS]].<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Hydraulic Legends]] (2018) pp. 71-72.</ref>
Many of the locomotives found a second home in industry, where they replaced steam shunters. Users included the National Coal Board who acquired 19 for use in the north-east, and British Steel who acquired 23 for use in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. Others were acquired by Associated Portland Cement, BP and Gulf Oil, while several examples were also exported to Belgium and Spain. The last recorded industrial use was in 1987.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Hydraulic Legends]] (2018) pp. 72-73.</ref>
==D9551 in preservation==
D9551 was purchased for preservation in 1981 by 'Railway Power Services', a group formed from a consortium of West Somerset Railway (WSR) and Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG ) members. It arrived on the WSR from BSC Corby and entered service on 7 June 1981. Over the next few years it saw duty on works trains and passenger services, particularly 'Quantock Belle' dining trains.<ref> [http://www.depg.org/archivesnippets.html DEPG Archive Snippets] (retrieved 18 June 2018)</ref>
In 2003 the locomotive moved to the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society at Milton of Crathes<ref name="UKLocos" /> where preservation had begun in 1996.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Deeside_Railway Royal Deeside Railway on Wikipedia]</ref> In the early stages of preservation D9551 was the only locomotive present.<ref>[https://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/railways/royal_deeside.htm Preserved Diesels] (retrieved 18 June 2018)</ref>
By 2013 the SVR had acquired examples of the other surviving Western Region diesel hydraulic classes (classes [[BR Class 35 D7029 |35]], [[BR Class 42 D821 Greyhound |42]] and [[Western Locomotive Association |52]]). It had also seen two other [[Diesel Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas |visiting Class 14s at Diesel Galas]], D9516 in 1988 and more recently D9520 in 2011. A group (originally styled the ''Severn Valley Railway Class 14 Diesel Group'' and later the [[SVR Class 14 Company Limited]]) carried out a search for a suitable example. D9551 was inspected at Deeside on 2 September 2013 and subsequently acquired from its private owner. It arrived at [[Bridgnorth ]] on 25 November 2013, quickly gaining the nickname 'Angus' after its previous home.<ref name=SVR187/>The nickname is no longer used by its owners.
The locomotive was overhauled at Bridgnorth. The engine was started for the first time since arrival at the SVR on 22 August 2015.<ref>SVR News 192</ref> On 30 April 2016, D9551 underwent its first test run on the SVR between Bridgnorth and [[Kidderminster]], assisted by [[BR Class 50 50049 Defiance|50049]]. A loaded test run took place on 26 October 2016, after which the locomotive was classified as servicableserviceable,<ref>[http://www.svr.co.uk/MeetTheLoco.aspx?id=90 SVR diesel locomotive status] retrieved 6 November 2016</ref> although further work and testing took place before its debut at the 2017 [[Diesel galas|Spring Diesel Festival]], hauling passengers for the first time on 18 May 2017.<ref>SVR News 198</ref>
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