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BR Class 20 D8059

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BR Class 20 D8059
D8059 Severn Valley Railway.jpg
D8059 at Kidderminster
Built By Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd, Darlington
Configuration Bo-Bo
Power type Diesel Electric
Status Operational
Loco Number D8059
Other Numbers 20059
History
Built 1967
Designed By English Electric
Type Class 20
2009 Arrived on SVR
2010 Power unit repaired at Washwood Heath
2017 Left the SVR
Technical
Length 46ft 9¼"
Weight 73t

Diesel Locomotives

D8059 is a BR Class 20 Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotive, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1. 228 of these locomotives were built between 1957 and 1968. Weighing 73 tonnes and delivering 1,000 horsepower, they were designed to work light mixed freight traffic at up to 75 mph. Members of the class are nicknamed “Choppers” because of the distinctive engine beat under load which resembles the sound of a helicopter.

Contents

D8059 in service

D8059 was built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd as Works No 2965/8217 of 1961. It was allocated to Sheffield Darnall on entering service in May 1961. In 1964 the loco was transferred to the newly-opened Tinsley Depot and remained there until withdrawal from BR service in January 1990. The locomotive was renumbered to 20059 on 1 January 1973 under TOPS.[1]

D8059 in preservation

Following BR service, 20059 was used by EWS. The locomotive’s present owner, the Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company, was incorporated in 2000. An early photograph on the Preserved Diesels web site shows 20059 at the S&DLC base at Yeovil Junction in March 2002, shortly after delivery from the EWS Margam TMD[2], South Wales (Link).

Subsequent photos on the same web site show restoration being carried out there until early 2004. By December 2004 20059 had moved to Tyseley Locomotive Works where, after work on the fuel system, the locomotive was started in January 2006 (Link). The locomotive was still stored at Tyseley in July 2007 (Link), the month in which S&D's locomotive D8188 first came to the SVR on loan. On 29 July 2009 the loco moved to Kidderminster and was undergoing bodywork restoration.[3][4] In September 2010, the locomotive's power unit was removed for repairs at Washwood Heath,[5] with the locomotive returning to the SVR on 19 January 2011[6]. The locomotive was most frequently used to haul PW trains or for moving rolling stock when a diesel is more convenient than a steam locomotive. From time to time D8059 was also called on to rescue failed locomotives, referred to as 'Thunderbird' duty.

In 2017 the locomotive toured several heritage railways. In June 2017 the locomotive was described as "operational, although no longer used by the SVR" and in September 2017 the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway announced it had joined their fleet.[7]

  • D8059 sporting a 'Thunderbird' headboard

See also

Former Residents
Somerset & Dorset Loco Company
SVR-based diesel locomotives visiting other events

References

  1. ↑ BRDatabase website
  2. ↑ UKLocos database
  3. ↑ SVR Online Forum, "20059" topic
  4. ↑ Preserved Diesels, photo captioned '20059 at undergoes bodywork restoration at Kidderminster. 10/8/09'
  5. ↑ SVR Online Forum, "20059" topic
  6. ↑ SVR Online Forum, "20059" topic
  7. ↑ SVR "Meet The Loco" web page

Links

20059 on Preserved Diesels website
BR Class 20 on Wikipedia

Diesel Locomotives on the SVR
RH 165hp Shunters
BR Shunters
BR Class 14
Clayton Class 17
BR Class 20
BR Class 33
BR Class 35
BR Class 37
BR Class 40
BR Class 42 Warship
BR Class 50
BR Class 52 Western
Diesel Multiple Units
Former residents and locomotives hired by the SVR
RH 165hp Shunters
Main Line locomotives
Other
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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
Eardington is situated on Eardington Bank, mid-way between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. In recent years, rebuilding the platform was completed in 2019 and the water tower was dismantled in 2021. Although the station no longer features in daily operations, it resumed use during gala events in 2023 more than 40 years since regular timetabled trains ceased. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks2.png
Click on the map for a
larger interactive version

For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

Categories of article

History of the Severn Valley Railway

Current events on the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Information about the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Miscellaneous


Query Corner

Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

In addition are a number of stub articles requiring further input.

Adding to this Wiki

This site, or "wiki", is a collaborative effort, and anyone who has any knowledge relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway should feel free to contribute. Once you have created a user account and logged in, you can modify any page by clicking the "Edit" button in the top right hand corner. For some tips on how to format pages, and some guidelines on how to make this wiki accessible can be found on Tips for contributing to the SVR Wiki.

Alternatively, if you don't feel confident editing this Wiki (although there is no reason you shouldn't!!), each article also has a "Discussion" page, which can be accessed by clicking the relevant button in the top left hand corner. This allows you to make additions, suggestions, or corrections to a page without making any change to the article itself.


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