BRITISH RAIL CLASS 33

Contents

Introduction

Class Types

Class 33/0 - standard locomotives

Class 33/1 - push-pull -fitted locomotives

Class 33/2 - narrow-bodied locomotives

References

External links

Introduction

The British Rail 'Class 33' also known as the 'BRCW Type 3' or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel locomotives built for the Southern Region between 1960 and 1962. A total of 98 was built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, and they were called "Cromptons" after the Crompton-Parkinson electrical equipment installed in them.
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They began service on the South-Eastern Division of the Southern Region but rapidly spread across the whole Region, and many were used much further afield. They were built with the ability only to supply the new type of electrical train heating, not the more traditional steam heating which most passenger carriages then used, so in the early years their use as winter-time passenger locomotives was restricted to the more modern passenger carriages.
Most of these locomotives have now been withdrawn from active duty, though some of preserved members are in railtour services with both the heritage spot hire rail companies called the West Coast Railway Company and Cotswold Rail, whilst other preserved class 33s remain operational on preserved heritage railways.
Original (1957) number sequence: D6500—D6597.
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There were three different types, later known as Class 33/0, 33/1 and 33/2.

Class Types

Class 33/0 - standard locomotives

A total of 86 were built as standard locomotives, and the remainder of this type which were not converted (see below) – 67 in total – were classified 33/0 and numbered 33001-33065 (two did not survive long enough to receive TOPS numbers).

Class 33/1 - push-pull -fitted locomotives

Nineteen of the standard type were subsequently fitted with push-pull equipment to handle trains between Bournemouth and Weymouth. These modified push-pull locomotives were classified 33/1 and numbered 33101-33119. Early during the roll out of TOPS class 34 was allocated to 33/1s, this was later changed.
Trains operating on the Weymouth line started at London Waterloo where they were powered by third-rail electric traction via Winchester and Southampton until Bournemouth. They usually consisted of 12 carriages divided into three blocks of four coaches – one of these blocks would be a powerful 3200hp 4 REP electric multiple unit, while the leading blocks would be "trailing" – unpowered – 4TC multiple units. At Bournemouth, the block at the rear would be detached, and a modified Class 33 locomotive would be attached to the front unpowered carriages so that they could continue over the non-electrified tracks to Poole and Weymouth. The electric unit remained at Bournemouth or returned back to London with another train. Meanwhile the unpowered carriages, when returning from Weymouth to Bournemouth, had the locomotive remain at the rear, pushing them; and a separate driving compartment at what was then the front of the first carriage was used to control the train.

Class 33/2 - narrow-bodied locomotives

For the Hastings Line, 12 locos were built with bodies which were 7 inches narrower (they became sub-Class 33/2 and were numbered 33201-33212). These locomotives were smaller in order to fit the reduced gauge on that line. These locomotives were affectionately known as "Slim Jims".

References

1. Class 33 - Overview

2. Class 33 - Technical Details

External links

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★ Southern E-Group (SEMG) – Class 33 details and photographs

★ South East Locomotive Group – owners of 33063 & 33065

★ http://members.tripod.com/~Class33/

★ http://rail.felgall.com/c33.htm

★ Spa Valley Railway - Operating 33063 & 33065

★ Preserved Class 33 Website

★ http://www.biglowe.freeserve.co.uk/Crompton/CromptonFrames.htm