British Rail Class 28

Metropolitan Vickers Type 2 British Rail Class 28
Two 'Metrovicks' Nos. D5703 & D5710 passing through Millbrook in 1960
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Metropolitan-Vickers’ Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees. Build date 1958–1959 Total produced 20
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Co-Bo  • UIC Co'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 3 ft 3+1⁄2 in (1.003 m) Minimum curve 3.5 chains (70 m) Wheelbase 42 ft 9 in (13.03 m) Length 56 ft 7+1⁄2 in (17.26 m) Width 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) Height 12 ft 1+1⁄2 in (3.70 m) Loco weight 97 long tons (98.6 t) Fuel capacity 510 imp gal (2,300 L; 610 US gal) Prime mover Crossley HST V8 Traction motors Metropolitan-Vickers 137BZ, 5 off Transmission DC generator, DC traction motors MU working ● Red Circle Train heating Spanner steam generator of 1,500 pounds (680 kg) per hour Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Top speed 75 mph (121 km/h) Power output Engine: 1,200 hp (895 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 50,000 lbf (222 kN)
Career Railroad(s) British Railways Number D5700–D5719 Axle load class Route availability 8 Retired December 1967 – September 1969 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 28, originally known as Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2, diesel locomotives were built as part of the British Railways Modernisation Plan. The locomotives had a Co-Bo wheel arrangement. There was a 6-wheel bogie at one end a 4-wheel bogie at the other end. This wheel arrangement was unique in British Railways practice but not uncommon in some other countries, notably Japan. This affected their route availability, due to the different axle loading at each end of the loco, and made maintenance more complicated. The maximum tractive effort was unusually high for a Type 2 locomotive but, as there were five (not four) driving axles, the risk of wheelslip was minimal.

Preservation

D5705 is the sole survivor, now preserved at the East Lancashire Railway.

In Fiction

In the popular British children's TV show Thomas & Friends, A character by the name of BoCo is based on this class, his name probably due to the fact of the name of the Whyte notation given to this class, mentioned above, 'Co-Bo'