31452 - British Rail Class 31
31452 in the sidings at Great Yarmouth.
The British Rail class 31 is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed by Brush Traction. A total of 263 Class 31's were built at Brush's Works, Loughborough between 1957 and 1962.
They were fitted initially with the Mirlees JVS12T 1,250 engine producing between 1,250 and 1365 hp. These quickly developed major problems and all were replaced by English Electric 12SVT engines as were used in class 37's though derated to 1470 hp. This wholesale replacement of the power units of the whole class after only a few years at great cost raised a few eyebrows.
31452 was built as D5809 as part of the 31/1 sub class with steam heating equipment fitted. It entered service in BR Green livery. In July 1961 it was allocated new to Sheffield Darnall shed. It rapidly moved round a number of Yorkshire sheds eventually settling at Tinsley before in 1971 being allocated to the Western region. It spent 3 years there allocated at either Old Oak Common or Bristol Bath Road. In 1974 it was then allocated back to the Eastern region at March. Later on it returned to the Western region.
Class 31's performed secondary and relief passenger services, parcels and freight services. In times of diesel multiple unit
shortages they were often utilised as loco replacements.
At the end of 1973 D5809 it was renumbered under the BR TOPS scheme to 31279. It eventually was also repainted into the standard BR Monastral blue livery.
In 1984 after a major refurbishment 31279 was fitted with electric train heating and had its steam heat boiler removed. It was then renumbered again to its current number 31452.
After sectorisation and then privatisation of BR, 31452 was owned by various operators including EWS, Fargonset, Mainline, FM Rail, and then Devon & Cornwall Railways (DCR). In 1999 whilst with Fragonset it was named 'Minotaur', the plates being removed at a later date. In this period it carried various liveries reflecting the company that owned it at the time. Its last mainline livery being the DCR green livery.
31452 was still running on the main network in 2017 some 56 years after it being built. Latterly it was used hauling light engines, empty stock or track maintenance vehicles around the network for DCR. By that time it was the last class 31 running on the mainline.
It arrived at Dartmoor Railway in November 2017 and was used for event trains and occasional use on heritage services.
31452 was then owner by RMS Locotec who in February 2020 sold it to Eastern Rail Services who operate it at their Great Yarmouth base where it will be used to provide ETS to the stabled stock as well as for shunting in the sidings.
Class: 31
Type: Brush Type 2
First number carried: D5809
Last number carried: 31452
Other numbers carried: 31279
Length: 56 ft. 9 in. (17.3 m)
Width: 8 ft. 9 in. (2.67 m)
Height: 12 ft. 7 in. (3.84 m)
Gauge: 4 ft. 8 1⁄2 in. (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Weight: 107 ton
Fuel capacity: 650 gal. (3,000 litres)
Power type: Diesel-electric
Engine: English Electric 12SVT
Engine output: 1,470 hp (1,096 kW)
Max speed: 90 mph (145 km/h)
Builder: Brush Works, Loughborough
Built: 1961
31452 - British Rail Class 31
31452 in the sidings at Great Yarmouth.
The British Rail class 31 is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed by Brush Traction. A total of 263 Class 31's were built at Brush's Works, Loughborough between 1957 and 1962.
They were fitted initially with the Mirlees JVS12T 1,250 engine producing between 1,250 and 1365 hp. These quickly developed major problems and all were replaced by English Electric 12SVT engines as were used in class 37's though derated to 1470 hp. This wholesale replacement of the power units of the whole class after only a few years at great cost raised a few eyebrows.
31452 was built as D5809 as part of the 31/1 sub class with steam heating equipment fitted. It entered service in BR Green livery. In July 1961 it was allocated new to Sheffield Darnall shed. It rapidly moved round a number of Yorkshire sheds eventually settling at Tinsley before in 1971 being allocated to the Western region. It spent 3 years there allocated at either Old Oak Common or Bristol Bath Road. In 1974 it was then allocated back to the Eastern region at March. Later on it returned to the Western region.
Class 31's performed secondary and relief passenger services, parcels and freight services. In times of diesel multiple unit
shortages they were often utilised as loco replacements.
At the end of 1973 D5809 it was renumbered under the BR TOPS scheme to 31279. It eventually was also repainted into the standard BR Monastral blue livery.
In 1984 after a major refurbishment 31279 was fitted with electric train heating and had its steam heat boiler removed. It was then renumbered again to its current number 31452.
After sectorisation and then privatisation of BR, 31452 was owned by various operators including EWS, Fargonset, Mainline, FM Rail, and then Devon & Cornwall Railways (DCR). In 1999 whilst with Fragonset it was named 'Minotaur', the plates being removed at a later date. In this period it carried various liveries reflecting the company that owned it at the time. Its last mainline livery being the DCR green livery.
31452 was still running on the main network in 2017 some 56 years after it being built. Latterly it was used hauling light engines, empty stock or track maintenance vehicles around the network for DCR. By that time it was the last class 31 running on the mainline.
It arrived at Dartmoor Railway in November 2017 and was used for event trains and occasional use on heritage services.
31452 was then owner by RMS Locotec who in February 2020 sold it to Eastern Rail Services who operate it at their Great Yarmouth base where it will be used to provide ETS to the stabled stock as well as for shunting in the sidings.
Class: 31
Type: Brush Type 2
First number carried: D5809
Last number carried: 31452
Other numbers carried: 31279
Length: 56 ft. 9 in. (17.3 m)
Width: 8 ft. 9 in. (2.67 m)
Height: 12 ft. 7 in. (3.84 m)
Gauge: 4 ft. 8 1⁄2 in. (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Weight: 107 ton
Fuel capacity: 650 gal. (3,000 litres)
Power type: Diesel-electric
Engine: English Electric 12SVT
Engine output: 1,470 hp (1,096 kW)
Max speed: 90 mph (145 km/h)
Builder: Brush Works, Loughborough
Built: 1961