British Rail 11001
11001 was one of the first British Rail diesel locomotives, built in 1949 at British Rail's Ashford Works. It was designed by O V Bulleid when he was Chief Mechanical Engineer of Southern Railways. It was powered by a Paxman RPH Series 1 engine, capable of delivering 500 bhp at 1,250 rpm. It was driven via a Vulcan Sinclair fluid coupling to an SSS (Synchro-Self-Shifting) Powerflow gearbox. The gearbox provided three forward and reverse gears in either high or low range, with top speed ranging from 5 mph (8 km/h) in 1st gear, low range up to 36 mph (58 km/h). It had an 0-6-0 wheel formation.
Its main duties were on branch lines and shunting. It survived until 1959, when it was withdrawn in August and cut up at Ashford Works in December.
Oddly, the locomotive's controls were laid out as in a steam locomotive, due to the fact that there were at that time no drivers with experience of driving diesel engines.
In fiction
Dennis, from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, is based on 11001. He carries the same number.
External links
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