Class 20205

British Railways Class 20 Diesel-Electric English Electric Type 1

​

The British Railway Class 20, also know as English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was built by English Electric Vulcan Foundary & Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns between 1957 - 1962 & 1965 - 1968 a total of 228 were produced. 

​

Designed around relatively basic technology, the 73-tonne locomotives produce 1,000 horsepower and can operate at up to 75 mph. Designed to work light mixed freight traffic, they have no train heating facilities. Unusually for British designs, the locomotive had a single cab. This caused serious problems with visibility when travelling nose first, though in these circumstances the driver's view is comparable to that on the steam locomotives that the Class 20s replaced. It was common, however, to find Class 20s paired together at the nose, with their cabs at opposite ends, ensuring that the driver could quite clearly see the road ahead, and a guard can watch the train from the other locomotive without the need for a brakevan. The Class 20 saw only limited service on passenger trains. A small number were fitted with a through pipe for steam heating, primarily for use in conjunction with a Class 27 locomotive on the West Highland Line. Otherwise their use was limited to summer relief services, particularly to Skegness, Burton-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Leicester. Also occasionally other holiday resorts on the east coast of England, occasional duties as a pilot, and short distance diversions of electric-hauled trains over non-electrified lines.

The shift of light mixed freight to the road network left British Rail with an oversupply of small locomotives. The Class 20s, however, could work in multiple and so could handle heavier traffic. Most spent the majority of their working lives coupled nose to nose in pairs to provide a more useful 2,000 hp unit and to solve the visibility problems.

As of the present day 28 locomotives are left active out of the original 228 produced, with 22 being preserved at various heritage railways and 6 being owned by mainline operators.