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31110_1976_08_Doncaster

As a 35mm Orwochrome colour transparency this shot of an ex works 31110 heading south through Doncaster with a loaded coal train does not have much going for it, 28th August 1976. After spending a not inconsiderate amount of time with Photoshop and fourteen attempts at getting an acceptable image I have settled on this black and white version as the best I am going to achieve.

 

Locomotive History

31108 was built by Brush at the Falcon works Loughborough as D5528 and entered traffic in April 1959, allocated to Norwich MPD. The first ten class 31/1’s D5520 – 29 (31102 – 11) where built with headcode discs with D5530 (31112) being the first built with headcode boxes, however due to supply difficulties, in order to maintain locomotive deliveries to British Railways Brush fitted ten of the next thirty two locomotives D5535/39/43/47/51/52/55/56/59/62 (31117/21/25/29/33/34/37/38/41/44) with headcode discs. In the early 1969 it entered Doncaster Works for classified repair during which its unreliable Mirrlees JVS12T 1365bhp engine was replaced by a 1470bhp English Electric 12SVT engine and re-entering traffic in March 1969. 31110 would survive in traffic until February 2001 and would be broken up six years later during April 2007 by TJ Thomson, Stockton.

 

Praktica LTL

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Uploaded on March 9, 2023
Taken on August 28, 1976