Hi,
I was wondering why there are so many Class Locos in the UK, such as Class 50, Class 92, etc. Were they all made by the same company, or do all the companies that locos in the UK name them a Class # instead of the model type, like a GP38 or SD40-2? I'd like to download a couple of these locos, I only have the class 50 from the Train Simulator Update, and have been swamped in my search. Perhaps someone could narrow it down to some newer models, or ones that rate the highest in these forums? Thanks,
Matthew
Class Locos
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TGVDuplex
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Class Locos
Cheers,
Matt
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thenudehamster
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The 'Class' is how British Railways reclassified all powered stock under the 'TOPS' computer classification scheme. There is some logic to it somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is. Generally, I think, two-digit numbers are locos, and three digit are MUs, but differentiating between electric and diesel is beyond me.
Each 'Class' is unique in some respects, so that 'Class 50' might equate to GP38, for instance, but variations would have sub-classes, so, perhaps MU equipment would means 50/1, uprated alternator might be 50/2 (and for the purists, these are illustrations, not real examples). To some extent, the larger the number the later the introduction, but that's not guaranteed, as the system had to account for the several 'Types' extant at the introduction of TOPS.
Someone, somewhere has a better explanation, I'm sure.
Each 'Class' is unique in some respects, so that 'Class 50' might equate to GP38, for instance, but variations would have sub-classes, so, perhaps MU equipment would means 50/1, uprated alternator might be 50/2 (and for the purists, these are illustrations, not real examples). To some extent, the larger the number the later the introduction, but that's not guaranteed, as the system had to account for the several 'Types' extant at the introduction of TOPS.
Someone, somewhere has a better explanation, I'm sure.
BarryH - thenudehamster
(nothing to do with unclothed pet rodents -- it's just where I used to live)
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Hymek
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firstly all the classes havent been around for the same amount of time
a class 37 may be about 40 years old for example, while a class 66 would be about 5 or 6.
you can distinguish the class usually because the first two numbers for a five digit number and first the numbers on a six digit number are the class, the remaining three is the locomotives number within the class, with some respects (take the 37s again) the fourth number distinguishes a sub class (e.g. 37/4 for ETH fitted)
a class 37 may be about 40 years old for example, while a class 66 would be about 5 or 6.
you can distinguish the class usually because the first two numbers for a five digit number and first the numbers on a six digit number are the class, the remaining three is the locomotives number within the class, with some respects (take the 37s again) the fourth number distinguishes a sub class (e.g. 37/4 for ETH fitted)
http://www.svr-dmu.org.uk - DMU Group WM
http://www.englishelectricpreservation.co.uk/ - English Electric Preservation
Producer of Rolling Stock for the UKTS community Since September 2002
http://www.englishelectricpreservation.co.uk/ - English Electric Preservation
Producer of Rolling Stock for the UKTS community Since September 2002
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jbilton
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They were also set out to show power
Class 01 to class20 were type 1 and shunters
Class 21 to class31 were type 2s
Class 33 to class37 were type 3s
Class 40 to class 53 were type 4s
Class 55 onwards were type 5s
You mention in your thread Class 92s .....which are electrics of course and dont follow such a locial sequence.
You also mentioned whether different classes were built by the same manufacturer....and some were....but more surprisingly some classes were built by more than one manufacturer.
Its a fasinating subject ...if you get into it.
Finally certin classes were only used on certain regions in BR days.....mainly to help maintainance.
Class 01 to class20 were type 1 and shunters
Class 21 to class31 were type 2s
Class 33 to class37 were type 3s
Class 40 to class 53 were type 4s
Class 55 onwards were type 5s
You mention in your thread Class 92s .....which are electrics of course and dont follow such a locial sequence.
You also mentioned whether different classes were built by the same manufacturer....and some were....but more surprisingly some classes were built by more than one manufacturer.
Its a fasinating subject ...if you get into it.
Finally certin classes were only used on certain regions in BR days.....mainly to help maintainance.
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NeutronIC
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And even those that have names have numbers too - Pendolino is 390 and Voyager is 220/221 for example.
The numbering is from a central point called TOPS, so for example an older diesel loco called an "English Electric Type 4" (made by a company called English Electric conforming to the standard defined as a Type 4 loco) was later classified under TOPS as Class 40.
The Class 66 was the classification given to a Canadian General Motors loco that was made for over here.
There isn't any real rhyme or reason that I can understand in the numbering, though it's not sequential, it's not based on time or apparently on the type of loco that I can understand.
Matt.
The numbering is from a central point called TOPS, so for example an older diesel loco called an "English Electric Type 4" (made by a company called English Electric conforming to the standard defined as a Type 4 loco) was later classified under TOPS as Class 40.
The Class 66 was the classification given to a Canadian General Motors loco that was made for over here.
There isn't any real rhyme or reason that I can understand in the numbering, though it's not sequential, it's not based on time or apparently on the type of loco that I can understand.
Matt.
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Zackybong1
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I'll also try to be brief, but as people know, I tend to waffle on...
So just pick out the bits you want and ignore the rest. I don't mind.
Many "classes", or designs, have come and gone. Some didn't hang around long at all (the "Class 14", a six wheeled shunting/switching and short trip loco only survived just under five years!) whilst others seem to have been around for ever, like the "Class 20" which was built first in 1957 and they are still hard at work (47 years old!).
Until the 1960s there was no unified method to describe the various types of motive power on the national network "British Railways (BR)". Each region had its own ways of classifying locos. Take, for example, the design we now know as "Class 37". On the London Midland Region (LMR) they were known as "EE Type 3, 1750" - rather a mouthful and not very concise. The "EE" was an abrieviation for English Electric, the makers of the machine; "Type 3" was the broad power category (1500 - 2000 hp), whilst the final figures gave the engine's power rating.
Click the image to zoom in
Class 37, before the TOPS system.
The Eastern Region (ER) devised a very neat numerical identification code which it applied to diesel locos. Under this system a "Class 37" would be called "17/3"; the first figures representing the horsepower and the last being a code number for the manufacturers. Of course the Western (WR) had to be diferent. In true GW style they were known as the "D66XX" Class, this relating to the number series then applied to the locos.
As a prelude to this computerisation of its rolling stock records (as Tim mentioned TOPS) BR set about devising a new class system for its fleet. This appeared in 1968 and was extended in the early 70s to encompass the multiple unit (MU) stock. The broad divisions of this numerical classification are as follows:
01-13 - Diesel shunters
14-69 - Mainline diesel locos
70-77 - DC electric locos
80-92 - AC electric locos
97 - Departmental locos.
98 - Steam locos (then remaining)
100-199 - Diesel multiple units
201-210 - Diesel electric mu
220-254 - High speed/intercity diesel multiple units
301-399 - AC electric multiple units
401-499 - Southern region DC mu
501-599 - Other DC mu
920 - Departmental AC mu
930-935 - Departmental DC mu
This is the Class 01.
Unfortunaley there were many diesel designs that never made it into the TOPS era. These present a special arena for modellers, as sources of info are often scarce.
Some gaps were left in the system to be filled later (eg Classes 38, 56 & 58) and others were used by more than one design (eg. Class 05 had two completely different locos within it (one shunter made by Barclays and one made by Hunslet). Class 43 was originally a Co-Co loco made by "North British" and after these were all withdrawn by 1972, the number was used for the HST ("Intercity 125") powercars. Some locos received now power units and with them new numbers (eg. Class 21 became Class 29, Class 30 became Class 31, Class 48 became Class 47s, Class 47s are now being converted into Class 57s, and so on...
It is not easy.
Many locos over the years have recieved nicknames. Some are given in the Downloads section of UKTrainsim. This doesn't really help newbies or those from overseas as has been witnessed. Some call all Bullnose classes from English Electric (eg: Classes 23, 37, 40 & 55) deltics, but only the Class 55 is accurately referred to as a Deltic due to it's Napier Deltic power units, and the prototype was named DELTIC.
There are LOADS of manufacturers. Some built the whole unit, some just the power plant.
Click the image to zoom in
Manufacturers include BR themselves who fitted Class 24 and 25 and 44-46 with Sulzer engines. They fitted their Class 42 and 52 with Maybach engines. Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon, MetropolitainVickers, North British, Brush, Beyer Peacock, Barclay, Yorkshire Engine Co., Drewry, Ruston & Hornsby are just a few of the others.
Click the image to zoom in
A fairly concise account is written by Colin Marsden & Graham Fenn called "British Rail Main Line Diesel Locomotives" and another book "The Diesel Shunter" by Colin Marsden is also good. Also this site http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%2 ... 0list.html is great. Its also got something to do with Colin.
Good luck.
Click the image to zoom in
So just pick out the bits you want and ignore the rest. I don't mind.
Many "classes", or designs, have come and gone. Some didn't hang around long at all (the "Class 14", a six wheeled shunting/switching and short trip loco only survived just under five years!) whilst others seem to have been around for ever, like the "Class 20" which was built first in 1957 and they are still hard at work (47 years old!).
Until the 1960s there was no unified method to describe the various types of motive power on the national network "British Railways (BR)". Each region had its own ways of classifying locos. Take, for example, the design we now know as "Class 37". On the London Midland Region (LMR) they were known as "EE Type 3, 1750" - rather a mouthful and not very concise. The "EE" was an abrieviation for English Electric, the makers of the machine; "Type 3" was the broad power category (1500 - 2000 hp), whilst the final figures gave the engine's power rating.
Click the image to zoom in
Class 37, before the TOPS system.
The Eastern Region (ER) devised a very neat numerical identification code which it applied to diesel locos. Under this system a "Class 37" would be called "17/3"; the first figures representing the horsepower and the last being a code number for the manufacturers. Of course the Western (WR) had to be diferent. In true GW style they were known as the "D66XX" Class, this relating to the number series then applied to the locos.
As a prelude to this computerisation of its rolling stock records (as Tim mentioned TOPS) BR set about devising a new class system for its fleet. This appeared in 1968 and was extended in the early 70s to encompass the multiple unit (MU) stock. The broad divisions of this numerical classification are as follows:
01-13 - Diesel shunters
14-69 - Mainline diesel locos
70-77 - DC electric locos
80-92 - AC electric locos
97 - Departmental locos.
98 - Steam locos (then remaining)
100-199 - Diesel multiple units
201-210 - Diesel electric mu
220-254 - High speed/intercity diesel multiple units
301-399 - AC electric multiple units
401-499 - Southern region DC mu
501-599 - Other DC mu
920 - Departmental AC mu
930-935 - Departmental DC mu
This is the Class 01.
Unfortunaley there were many diesel designs that never made it into the TOPS era. These present a special arena for modellers, as sources of info are often scarce.
Some gaps were left in the system to be filled later (eg Classes 38, 56 & 58) and others were used by more than one design (eg. Class 05 had two completely different locos within it (one shunter made by Barclays and one made by Hunslet). Class 43 was originally a Co-Co loco made by "North British" and after these were all withdrawn by 1972, the number was used for the HST ("Intercity 125") powercars. Some locos received now power units and with them new numbers (eg. Class 21 became Class 29, Class 30 became Class 31, Class 48 became Class 47s, Class 47s are now being converted into Class 57s, and so on...
It is not easy.
Many locos over the years have recieved nicknames. Some are given in the Downloads section of UKTrainsim. This doesn't really help newbies or those from overseas as has been witnessed. Some call all Bullnose classes from English Electric (eg: Classes 23, 37, 40 & 55) deltics, but only the Class 55 is accurately referred to as a Deltic due to it's Napier Deltic power units, and the prototype was named DELTIC.
There are LOADS of manufacturers. Some built the whole unit, some just the power plant.
Click the image to zoom in
Manufacturers include BR themselves who fitted Class 24 and 25 and 44-46 with Sulzer engines. They fitted their Class 42 and 52 with Maybach engines. Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon, MetropolitainVickers, North British, Brush, Beyer Peacock, Barclay, Yorkshire Engine Co., Drewry, Ruston & Hornsby are just a few of the others.
Click the image to zoom in
A fairly concise account is written by Colin Marsden & Graham Fenn called "British Rail Main Line Diesel Locomotives" and another book "The Diesel Shunter" by Colin Marsden is also good. Also this site http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%2 ... 0list.html is great. Its also got something to do with Colin.
Good luck.
Click the image to zoom in
Cheers
Zack
Zack
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ianmacmillan
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jbilton
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simont wrote:ZB's post ia just about spot on, except:
2xx are all DEMUs, as far as I'm aware (Voyagers are DEMUs).201-210 - Diesel electric mu
220-254 - High speed/intercity diesel multiple units
Ooooh....dodgey ground....I think you're saying HSTs are multi units...someones had a slap for that this week already.
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Zackybong1
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Well IMHO great examples of diesel locos, well modelled, from the period 1977-87 include:
by Paul Mitchell
by Paul Mitchell
by Paul Mitchell
by Paul Mitchell
by Paul, Stephen and Andy
by Rt. Hon. Mark Shipman and Stephen S.
by Paul, Dale, Daryn etc.
The Class 33s by Ian Jenkins, No 041 & 065 which I can't find at the moment!!??
by the 2 Marks
by Mark & Stephen
by Dave Babb
by Paul and others
by Ian Jenkins
by Mark Shipman and Alex Fairlie
by Ian Jenkins.
These are just a FEW of my personal favourites. Thanks to all those involved. No offence to anyone else intended, and they can all be downloaded from this site, just by being a community member of UKTS. Thank goodness we didn't get into DMU/EMU and Electric loco territory. Could have been here all night!
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The Class 33s by Ian Jenkins, No 041 & 065 which I can't find at the moment!!??
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These are just a FEW of my personal favourites. Thanks to all those involved. No offence to anyone else intended, and they can all be downloaded from this site, just by being a community member of UKTS. Thank goodness we didn't get into DMU/EMU and Electric loco territory. Could have been here all night!