BR Class 03063
'Paul A. Mobbs'
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Doncaster Works
British Rail Class 03
1959
0-6-0
Gardner 8L3
Diesel-Mechanical
In Service
Mid-Norfolk Railway
The British Railways Class 03 is a diesel-mechanical locomotive produced by Swindon & Doncaster Works between 1957 and 1961, with a total of 230 units manufactured. This class was designed for light duties, primarily assigned to shunting tasks at depots and serving as station pilots.
As British Railways began to implement more multiple units that could be operated from both ends, the need for shunting locomotives declined, leading to the withdrawal of the Class 03 starting in 1968, with many being sold to private companies.
By 1987, all mainline operational Class 03s had been retired due to reduced demand; however, two units on the Isle of Wight continued to until 1993. Out of the original 230, 174 were scrapped, leaving 56 preserved examples of the class.
03 063 "Paul A Mobbs"
03063, originally designated as D2063 before the TOPS system, was released from Don Works on July 14, 1959, and allocated to York North (50A). In July 1968, it was upgraded with a dual braking system, enabling it to shunt and haul air-fitted stock. It was renumbered 03063 in February 1974 under the new TOPS system, and over its lifespan, it moved various depots, including Bradford Hammerton Street and Hull Botanic, before being withdrawn in November 1987.
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Following its retirement from British Rail, the locomotive was sold for preservation and, upon the passing of its owner Paul Mobbs in 2023, it was bequeathed to the Mid-Norfolk Railway. It was relocated there in November 2023 and was named "Paul A Mobbs" by the Railway's Chairman, James Oakley, during the MNR's 2024 Spring Diesel Gala.