BR Class 33202
'Dennis G. Robinson'

British Railways Class 33 Diesel-Electric (Type 3)

The British Railways Class 33, also known as the Type 3, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company between 1960 and 1962. A total of 98 locomotives were produced.

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Designed as versatile mixed-traffic locomotives, the Class 33s were intended to work passenger services during the busy summer months and freight duties in the quieter winter period. However, unlike many contemporaries, they were not fitted with steam heating boilers, which limited their use on passenger trains until electric train heating became more common.

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The class was strongly associated with the Southern Region, where allocations were primarily to Eastleigh and Hither Green depots. Over time, British Rail began withdrawing the locomotives, with many sold into industrial service, scrapped, or acquired by private railway companies.

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Of the original 98 locomotives built, 29 survive today. Of these, 24 are preserved at heritage railways across the UK, while 5 remain in operational condition with West Coast Railways, continuing to work charter and special services on the main line at the time of this being written.

33202 “Dennis G. Robinson”

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Locomotive 33202 was released from the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company on 9 February 1962, originally numbered D6587, and allocated to Hither Green (73C). In July 1991 it was officially named “The Bruma Star”.

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During its BR career, the locomotive was transferred to St Leonards before returning to Hither Green, where it remained until being purchased by Fragonset Railways in 2002. Under Fragonset ownership, 33202 operated on various mainline railtours and freight workings, and in November 2002 it was renamed “Meteor”.

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Following the collapse of Fragonset Railways in 2006, the locomotive was eventually sold into preservation in February 2009. In 2018, 33202 moved to the Mid-Norfolk Railway to assist with engineering works at Kimberley Park.

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The Mid-Norfolk Railway would like to express its gratitude to the owners of 33202 for making the locomotive available for hire, and for their continued support in ensuring the successful operation of services on the line.