- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
All twenty Metrovicks were initially allocated to the Midland Division of BR's London Midland Region, where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London–Glasgow "Condor" express freight service.
They were also used in pairs to cover for failures and were recorded as taking the London–Glasgow sleeper, a notoriously heavy train, forwards from Carlisle without problems.
After refurbishment in 1961 they were all transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness 12E depot.
They were withdrawn after only eleven years at work and in service.
The allocation of all twenty locomotives in October 1967 was Carlisle Upperby.
Despite the electrical and mechanical equipment being reliable, the Crossley engines were still giving problems and British Rail considered replacing the engines, as was done with the Class 31 diesels and, later, with Crossley-engined locomotives in Ireland.
A quotation was obtained by BR from English Electric for re-engining with an uprated version of the reliable 8SVT prime mover, already proven in the Class 20, and this was close to proceeding.
However, the entire class, along with other small non-standard diesel classes, was withdrawn from service during 1967–68, and all but one were scrapped by the end of 1969.
Their parts had been sold to make new metals by the end of 1971.
The only blue one!
British Railways Type 2 Metropolitan Vickers Co-Bo Diesel Locomotive D5701 built at Stockton in 1958. Only this one gained British Rail Blue livery. Carnforth 25th June 1968
They were also used in pairs to cover for failures and were recorded as taking the London–Glasgow sleeper, a notoriously heavy train, forwards from Carlisle without problems.
After refurbishment in 1961 they were all transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness 12E depot.
They were withdrawn after only eleven years at work and in service.
The allocation of all twenty locomotives in October 1967 was Carlisle Upperby.
Despite the electrical and mechanical equipment being reliable, the Crossley engines were still giving problems and British Rail considered replacing the engines, as was done with the Class 31 diesels and, later, with Crossley-engined locomotives in Ireland.
A quotation was obtained by BR from English Electric for re-engining with an uprated version of the reliable 8SVT prime mover, already proven in the Class 20, and this was close to proceeding.
However, the entire class, along with other small non-standard diesel classes, was withdrawn from service during 1967–68, and all but one were scrapped by the end of 1969.
Their parts had been sold to make new metals by the end of 1971.
The only blue one!
British Railways Type 2 Metropolitan Vickers Co-Bo Diesel Locomotive D5701 built at Stockton in 1958. Only this one gained British Rail Blue livery. Carnforth 25th June 1968