List of British Rail modern traction locomotive classes


This page lists every locomotive allocated a TOPS classification and all modern traction stock used on the mainline network since 1948..

Diesel locomotives

The 1955 diesel locomotive classes are given in brackets where applicable.
A large number of different shunter types were purchased by British Rail and its predecessors, many of which were withdrawn prior to the introduction of TOPS. The tables below attempt to list the different types and the different classifications used to describe them as clearly as possible:

Small shunters: under 300 hp

Shunter classes are listed by 1955 class, which puts TOPS classes in ascending order, and generally puts 1948 and 1962 classes in ascending order. Unclassed shunters are placed at the start of the table; TOPS class 07 has been placed so its 1962 class is in the logical place.
TOPS Class1948
Class		1955
Class		1962
Class		1948 Numbers1957 NumbersTOPS NumbersYear
built		Quantity
built		EngineYear
withdrawn		NotesScrapped
————–11104–1950152 hp 1967Renumbered 52 in the ER/NER Departmental series in 1953.1
————–13000–19341250 hp1949ex-LMS diesel shunter 7058; BR number never applied 1
—DY1D1/11/1511500–11502D2950–D2952–1954–553153 bhp1966–67All
Class 01DY2D1/21/1211503–11506, 81D2953–D2956, D2956 01 001–21956–585153 hp1966–813
—DY5D1/31/1611507–11508D2957–D2958–19562165 bhp1967–68
Both
Class 02—D1/41/17—D2850–D286902 001–41960–6120170 hp1969–757
—DY11D2/12/4A11700–11707D2700–D2707–1953–568200 bhp1964–68All
Class 03DJ15D2/22/111187–11211D2000–D2199
D2370–D2399		03004–03199, 03370–03399 1957–61230204 hp1968–93
2008
174
Class 04DJ12/1D2/42/1311100–11115D2200–D2214N/A
1952-62		142204 hp1967–72
D2341 ordered by LNER but transferred to Southern Region, 4 exported to Italy		124
Class 04DJ12/2D2/132/1311121–11229D2215–D2341N/A
1952-62		142204 hp1967–72
D2341 ordered by LNER but transferred to Southern Region, 4 exported to Italy		124
—DJ14D2/52/12A11177–11186D2400–D2409–1956–5710204 bhp1967–69
All
——D2/72/1411116–20, 11144–48D2500–D2509–1955–5610204 bhp1967
All
Class 05DJ13D2/82/15A11136–43, 11161–76D2550–D2573050011955–6169204 hp1966–68, 198365
Class 05DJ13/2D2/92/15—D2574–D2618–1955–6169204 hp1966–68, 198365
Class 06—D2/62/12—D2410–D244406001–060101958–6035204 hp1967–8434
—DY11D2/102/411708–11719D2708–D2719–195712225 bhp1967
All
—DY11D2/102/4B—D2720–D2780–1958–6161225 bhp1967–68
59
——D2/112/2—D2999–19581180 bhp1967
0
——D2/122/14A—––196110204 bhp1967
D2519 employed at NCB until 1984.		9
Class 07—–2/16—D2985–D299807001–07014196214275 hp1973-77
D2991 still in use at Eastleigh Works		7
——D3/1–3/4D2900–D2913–1958–5914330 bhp1967All

Locomotive class are listed by TOPS class. Locomotives for TOPS classes 24 and 26 have their original sub-classes shown, as each wholly comprised locomotives from a distinct 1962 class. Class 21 has sub-classes shown as these are superficially similar but mechanically different types grouped into a single class.

Type 5 locomotives: over 3000 hp

Electric locomotives

DC electric locomotives

AC electric locomotives

Miscellaneous locomotives

Class 99

When British Rail implemented the TOPS system for managing their operating stock, ships capable of carrying rail vehicles were incorporated into the system as Class 99. In order to circumvent restrictions of the application software, these ships were entered on TOPS as locomotives, 'hauling' the trains which they carried on board.

Builders' demonstrators

These were locomotives built and owned by private firms, but used by British Railways to test them.
LocomotiveBuilderYearFate
D0226 & D0227English Electric1956-60
D0226 preserved
D0227 scrapped
D0260 LionBRCWC1962-3
Returned to manufacturer and scrapped in 1964
10800 Hawk
See 10800, above		Brush Traction1962-5
Stripped 1972-6 and used as a stationary generator, scrapped 1976
D0280 Falcon
See Class 53, above		Brush Traction1961-5
Transferred to BR; withdrawn 1975, scrapped 1976
D9998
See Class D2/11, above		Brush Traction1958Scrapped
DHP1Clayton1963-5Scrapped 1967
DP1 DelticEnglish Electric1955-61
Withdrawn 1961,
preserved
DP2English Electric1962-7
Destroyed in a collision in 1967, scrapped 1970
GT3
English Electric1961-2
Returned to VF 1962, turbine removed; scrapped 1966
HS4000 KestrelBrush Traction1967-71
Sold to Soviet Union 1971; withdrawn 1989, scrapped 1993
JanusYorkshire Engine Company1956
Sold to Appleby-Frodingham
Steel works; scrapped c.1982
TaurusYorkshire Engine Company1961
Stripped 1962,
scrapped 1965

Unbuilt locomotives

A number of TOPS class numbers were allocated to proposed locomotives, both diesel and electric, which for many reasons were not proceeded with.

Footnotes