British Rail Class 27

BRCW Type 2
British Rail Class 27

27001 at Bo’ness

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Serial number	DEL190–DEL258
Build date	1961–1962
Total produced	69

Specifications
Configuration	Bo-Bo
UIC class	Bo'Bo'
Gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter	3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Minimum curve	5 chains (100 m)
Wheelbase	39 ft 0 in (11.89 m)
Length	50 ft 9 in (15.47 m)
Width	8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
Height	12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
Loco weight	Originally: 72.50 long tons (73.7 t; 81.2 short tons) 71–76 tonnes (70–75 long tons; 78–84 short tons)
Fuel capacity	685 imp gal (3,110 l; 823 US gal)
Prime mover	Sulzer 6LDA28-B
Generator	DC
Traction motors	four GEC WT459 DC traction motors
Transmission	Diesel electric
MU working	★ Blue Star
Train heating	As built, Steam generator subclass 27/2, Electric Train Heating, Houchin 120 kW (160 hp) alternator powered by Deutz 8-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine, type F8L413
Train brakes	Initially 14 dual-braked, 10 fitted with additional air brakes later on. Remainder vacuum only.

Performance figures
Maximum speed	90 mph (145 km/h)
Power output	Engine: 1,250 hp (932 kW) @750 rpm At rail: 933 horsepower (696 kW)
Tractive effort	Maximum: 42,000 lbf (187 kN) Continuous: 25,000 lbf (111 kN)
Loco brakeforce	34 long tons-force (340 kN)

Career
Operators	British Railways
Numbers	D5347–D5415; later 27001–27066
Axle load class	Route availability 6 (RA 5 from 1969)
First run	1961

British Rail's Class 27 comprised 69 diesel locomotives built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) during 1961 and 1962. They were a development of the earlier Class 26; both were originally classified as the BRCW Type 2.

Working life

Original allocations were D5347–D5369 to Glasgow Eastfield, D5370–D5378 to Thornaby and D5379–D5415 to London Cricklewood for Tilbury Boat trains and Cross-London freight services. In the period September to December 1963, some of the Cricklewood allocation were transferred to Leicester and in December 1965 the Thornaby allocation was also nominally transferred to Leicester to join them. Traffic changes combined with reallocation of Class 25s led to the gradual transfer of the Leicester and Cricklewood locomotives to Scotland during 1969 thus concentrating the whole class within Scotland and being part of the replacement fleet that allowed the withdrawal of the poorly performing Clayton Class 17 locomotives from traffic. For many years they were extensively used on the West Highland Line. By September 1986, the final vacuum brake only locos had been withdrawn, regular passenger services had ceased and only 21 locos remained, allocated entirely to Eastfield depot. A mass withdrawal in July 1987 due to the presence of blue asbestos left 27008 as the last in service. Its final working was on 13 August and the loco was officially withdrawn on 19 August 1987. The Class 27s were actually outlived by the older Class 26s, whose less powerful engines were more reliable.

Sub-Classes

27/0: Locomotives as built with steam heating (excluding 27024–27031)
27/1: Locomotives converted in 1971–1973 for push pull operation, renumbered back to 27/0 after 1982.
27/2: Locomotives converted in 1973–1976 with Electric Train Heat, renumbered back to 27/0 after 1982.

Edinburgh-Glasgow push-pull operation

By the late 1960s, the Swindon-built Inter City DMUs operating the Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen Street express service were becoming unreliable. In 1970 the decision was made to replace them with locomotive-hauled carriages. So between 1971 and 1973, twenty-four Class 27s were fitted-up with dual (vacuum and air) brakes and reclassified Class 27/1, while 36 Mark 2 carriages (7 brake second opens, 22 open seconds, and 7 corridor firsts) swapped their vacuum-operated shoe brakes for air-operated disc brakes and were though-wired with "Blue Star" control cables to enable "top and tail" push-pull working. It was later decided that as the Mark 2 stock was dual (steam or electric) heated, to convert half the 27/1 fleet to electric train heat, by replacing the train heating boiler with a Deutz 8-cylinder, air-cooled diesel engine and alternator. The conversions were then classified as Class 27/2, and were used on one end of the train, with a 27/1 on the other.

The very intensive 90 mph (140 km/h) “push-pull” service was demanding on the locomotives and reliability started to suffer. The 27/2s, especially, appeared prone to fire damage, especially from their electric train heating alternators. The push-pull sets were replaced in 1980 by single Class 47/7s at one end of a rake of Mark 3 carriages and a DBSO. The Class 27/1s and 27/2s were then renumbered to 27/0 and could often be found on Edinburgh-Dundee semi-fast passenger services, until their replacement, briefly by class 101 and then Class 150 Sprinter DMUs in 1987, whilst the remainder were largely used on freight.

Accidents and incidents

On 30 June 1962, locomotive D5386 was in a minor collision with a diesel multiple unit at Cricklewood carriage sidings, London due to confusion over a hand signal.^[1]
On 25 August 1965, locomotive D5383 was heading a freight train that collided with the rear on another freight train at East Langton. It was taken to Derby Works for evaluation, but was withdrawn in January the following year.^[2]
Locomotive 27 044 was severely damaged by fire before 5 September 1980. It was consequently withdrawn and scrapped.^[3]

Fleet list

Table of locomotives ^[4]
Original D-series No.	First TOPS No.	Second TOPS No.	Third TOPS No.	BRCW serial No.	Date built	Date withdrawn	Notes
D5347	27001	—	—	DEL190	000000001961-06-01-0000Jun 1961	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987	Preserved
D5348	27002	—	—	DEL191	000000001961-07-01-0000Jul 1961	000000001986-01-01-0000Jan 1986
D5349	27003	—	—	DEL192	000000001961-07-01-0000Jul 1961	000000001987-01-01-0000Jan 1987
D5350	27004	—	—	DEL193	000000001961-08-01-0000Aug 1961	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5351	27005	—	—	DEL194	000000001961-08-01-0000Aug 1961	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987	Preserved
D5352	27006	—	—	DEL195	000000001961-09-01-0000Sep 1961	000000001976-01-01-0000Jan 1976
D5353	27007	—	—	DEL196	000000001961-09-01-0000Sep 1961	000000001985-01-01-0000Jan 1985	Preserved
D5354	27008	—	—	DEL197	000000001961-09-01-0000Sep 1961	000000001987-08-01-0000Aug 1987
D5355	27009	—	—	DEL198	000000001961-09-01-0000Sep 1961	000000001980-07-01-0000Jul 1980	Withdrawn due to fire damage^[5]
D5356	27010	—	—	DEL199	000000001961-10-01-0000Oct 1961	000000001986-04-01-0000Apr 1986
D5357	27011	—	—	DEL200	000000001961-10-01-0000Oct 1961	000000001981-03-01-0000Mar 1981
D5358	27012	—	—	DEL201	000000001961-10-01-0000Oct 1961	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5359	27013	—	—	DEL202	000000001961-11-01-0000Nov 1961	000000001976-07-01-0000Jul 1976
D5360	27014	—	—	DEL203	000000001961-11-01-0000Nov 1961	000000001986-09-01-0000Sep 1986
D5361	27015	—	—	DEL204	000000001961-11-01-0000Nov 1961	000000001977-01-01-0000Jan 1977	Withdrawn due to accident damage^[5]
D5362	27016	—	—	DEL205	000000001961-11-01-0000Nov 1961	000000001984-04-01-0000Apr 1984
D5363	27017	—	—	DEL206	000000001961-12-01-0000Dec 1961	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5364	27018	—	—	DEL207	000000001961-12-01-0000Dec 1961	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5365	27019	—	—	DEL208	000000001961-12-01-0000Dec 1961	000000001984-05-01-0000May 1984
D5366	27020	—	—	DEL209	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001986-04-01-0000Apr 1986
D5367	27021	—	—	DEL210	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001985-06-01-0000Jun 1985
D5368	27022	—	—	DEL211	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001985-01-01-0000Jan 1985
D5369	27023	—	—	DEL212	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5370	27024	ADB968028	—	DEL213	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987	Preserved
D5371	27025	—	—	DEL214	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001987-06-01-0000Jun 1987
D5372	27026	—	—	DEL215	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5373	27027	—	—	DEL216	000000001962-01-01-0000Jan 1962	000000001983-06-01-0000Jun 1983
D5374	27101	27045	—	DEL217	000000001962-02-01-0000Feb 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5375	27028	—	—	DEL218	000000001962-02-01-0000Feb 1962	000000001984-08-01-0000Aug 1984
D5376	27029	—	—	DEL219	000000001962-02-01-0000Feb 1962	000000001986-01-01-0000Jan 1986
D5377	27030	—	—	DEL220	000000001962-02-01-0000Feb 1962	000000001986-04-01-0000Apr 1986
D5378	27031	—	—	DEL221	000000001962-03-01-0000Mar 1962	000000001978-05-01-0000May 1978	Withdrawn due to fire damage^[5]
D5379	27032	—	—	DEL222	000000001962-03-01-0000Mar 1962	000000001985-05-01-0000May 1985
D5380	27102	27046	—	DEL223	000000001962-04-01-0000Apr 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5381	27033	—	—	DEL224	000000001962-04-01-0000Apr 1962	000000001986-02-01-0000Feb 1986
D5382	27023	—	—	DEL225	000000001962-04-01-0000Apr 1962	000000001984-07-01-0000Jul 1984
D5383	—	—	—	DEL226	000000001962-04-01-0000Apr 1962	000000001966-01-01-0000Jan 1966	Withdrawn due to accident damage^[5] at East Langton, 20 August 1965
D5384	27035	—	—	DEL227	000000001962-05-01-0000May 1962	000000001976-09-01-0000Sep 1976
D5385	27036	—	—	DEL228	000000001962-05-01-0000May 1962	000000001986-04-01-0000Apr 1986
D5386	27103	27212	27066	DEL229	000000001962-05-01-0000May 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987	Preserved
D5387	27104	27048	—	DEL230	000000001962-05-01-0000May 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5388	27105	27049	—	DEL231	000000001962-05-01-0000May 1962	000000001987-04-01-0000Apr 1987
D5389	27037	—	—	DEL232	000000001962-05-01-0000May 1962	000000001986-03-01-0000Mar 1986
D5390	27038	—	—	DEL233	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001987-02-01-0000Feb 1987
D5391	27119	27201	—	DEL234	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001979-01-01-0000Jan 1979
D5392	27120	27202	—	DEL235	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001980-08-01-0000Aug 1980	Withdrawn due to fire damage^[5]
D5393	27121	27203	27057	DEL236	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001985-05-01-0000May 1985
D5394	27106	27050	—	DEL237	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987	Preserved
D5395	27107	27051	—	DEL238	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5396	27108	27052	—	DEL239	000000001962-06-01-0000Jun 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5397	27109	27053	—	DEL240	000000001962-08-01-0000Aug 1962	000000001987-05-01-0000May 1987
D5398	27039	—	—	DEL241	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001975-10-01-0000Oct 1975
D5399	27110	27054	—	DEL242	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5400	27111	27055	—	DEL243	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5401	27112	27056	—	DEL244	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001987-02-01-0000Feb 1987	Preserved
D5402	27040	—	—	DEL245	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001986-01-01-0000Jan 1986
D5403	27122	27204	27058	DEL246	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5404	27133	27207	27061	DEL247	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5405	27041	—	—	DEL248	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5406	27042	—	—	DEL249	000000001962-07-01-0000Jul 1962	000000001987-05-01-0000May 1987
D5407	27114	27208	27062	DEL250	000000001962-08-01-0000Aug 1962	000000001986-02-01-0000Feb 1986
D5408	27115	27209	27063	DEL251	000000001962-08-01-0000Aug 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987
D5409	27116	27210	27064	DEL252	000000001962-08-01-0000Aug 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986	27116 allocated, but never carried
D5410	27123	27205	27059	DEL253	000000001962-08-01-0000Aug 1962	000000001987-07-01-0000Jul 1987	Preserved
D5411	27117	27211	27065	DEL254	000000001962-09-01-0000Sep 1962	000000001986-05-01-0000May 1986
D5412	27124	27206	27060	DEL255	000000001962-09-01-0000Sep 1962	000000001986-03-01-0000Mar 1986
D5413	27118	27103	27047	DEL256	000000001962-09-01-0000Sep 1962	000000001986-04-01-0000Apr 1986
D5414	27043	—	—	DEL257	000000001962-09-01-0000Sep 1962	000000001980-04-01-0000Apr 1980	Withdrawn due to fire damage^[5]
D5415	27044	—	—	DEL258	000000001962-10-01-0000Oct 1962	000000001980-07-01-0000Jul 1980	Withdrawn due to fire damage^[5]

Preserved locomotives

Eight examples of the class have been preserved at various heritage railways in Great Britain.^[6]

Numbers (current in bold)				Livery	Location
D5347	27001			BR Blue	Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
D5351	27005			BR Blue	Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway
D5353	27007			BR Green	Mid-Hants Railway
D5370	27024			BR Green (Yellow Warning Panels)	Caledonian Railway (Brechin)
D5386	27103	27212	27066	BR Blue	Dean Forest Railway
D5394	27106	27050		BR Blue	Strathspey Railway
D5401	27112	27056		BR Green	Great Central Railway
D5410	27123	27205	27059	BR Green	Severn Valley Railway

27066 on the Dean Forest Railway

D5401 (27056) at the Great Central Railway

References

↑ Earnshaw, Alan (1991). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 7. Penryn: Atlantic Books. p. 41. ISBN 0-906899-50-8.
↑ "BRCW Type 2: 1958–1976". DerbySulzers.com. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
↑ Butlin, Ashley. Diesels and Electrics for scrap. Penryn: Atlantic Books. p. 9. ISBN 0 906899 27 3.
↑ "BR Class 27 Fleet". BRdatabase.info. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strickland, p. 85.
↑ "Preserved Diesels - Class 27". Retrieved 2009-10-28.

Literature

Harris, Roger (1985). The Allocation History of BR Diesels and Electrics (2nd ed.). Bromsgrove: Roger Harris.
Marsden, Colin J. (1981). Motive power recognition:1 Locomotives. Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1109-5.
Oakley, Michael (1981). BR Class 26/27 Diesels. Truro: D Bradford Barton. ISBN 0-85153-418-X.
Strickland, David C. (September 1983). Locomotive Directory. Camberley, Surrey: Diesel and Electric Group. ISBN 0-906375-10-X.
Tayler, A.T.H (1984). BR Locomotives:2 Sulzer Types 2 and 3. Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1340-3.
Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1977). British Railways Locomotives and Multiple Units including Preserved Locomotives 1977. Shepperton: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-0751-9.
Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1983 edition

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 27.

British railway locomotives and miscellany, 1948 to present

Diesel shunters	01 01/5 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

Diesel shunters (pre-TOPS)	11001 11104 15107 13000 D1/1 D1/2 D1/3 D1/4 D2/1 D2/2 D2/3 D2/4 D2/5 D2/6 D2/7 D2/8 D2/9 D2/10 D2/11 D2/12 D3/1 D3/2 D3/3 D3/4 D3/5 D3/6 D3/7 D3/8 D3/9 D3/10 D3/11 D3/12 D3/13 D3/14

Main-line diesels:	14 15 16 17 18 20 21 (I) 21 (II) 22 (I) 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 35 37 38 40 41 (I) 41 (II) 41 (III) 42 43 (I) 43 (II) 44 45 46 47 48 (I) 48 (II) 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 65 66 67 68 70 (II)

Main-line diesels (pre-TOPS)	10000–10001 10100 10201–10203 10800 D8/1 D8/2 D10/1 D10/2 D10/3 D11/1 D11/2 D11/3 D11/4 D11/5 D12/1 D12/2 D12/3 D13/1 D14/1 D14/2 D15/1 D15/2 D16/1 D16/2 D17/1 D17/2 D20/1 D20/2 D22/1 D22/2 D23/1 D25/1 D27/1 D33/1

Electrics	22 (II) 70 (I) 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 (I) 88 (II) 89 90 91 92 93

Electrics (pre-TOPS)	AL1 AL2 AL3 AL4 AL5 AL6 EB1 EE1 EF1 EM1 EM2 ES1 HA HB JA JB

Departmental	97 97/6 Eastern Southern Other Series

Prototypes	15097–15099 18000 18100 D0226/D0227 D0260 D0280 D2999 DHP1 DP1 DP2 GT3 HS4000 Janus Taurus

Steam locomotives	98

Ships	99

Lists: Diesel locomotives Electric locomotives Miscellaneous locomotives Diesel multiple units Electric multiple units Departmental multiple units Steam Locomotives

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