Shunter Memories
Compiled by Gary Essex
A snowy scene at Horncastle on 19 February 1970 as D4075 carries out shunting duties, with the guard uncoupling the brake van. At its peak, the station had several private sidings for various agricultural businesses and a busy goods yard. Despite considerable local opposition, the station closed to passengers in 1954. When this photo was taken, closure was approaching and the run down state is apparent, with the station buildings apparently used by an agricultural machinery workshop judging by the equipment in the yard. The freight service ended in April 1971 and the site is now a housing estate. (John Tolson)
Swindon Works A shop has a row of shunters under repair on 5 March 1979. Alongside 08921 are three other unidentified 08s as well as two 04 class shunters in Ford livery. After being withdrawn in the late 1960s and early 1970s, several 04s were purchased by Ford for use on the internal rail network at their Dagenham plant. The rails for the workshop wide traverser can be seen at the front of the photo. (Graham Taylor)
The naming ceremony for 08772 Camulodunum appears to be complete at the Colchester Open Day on 2 May 1988. (Camulodunum is the Roman name for Colchester.) The notice says “How well do you know the 08? 08772 is exhibiting a deliberate mistake! Can you spot it”? The error may well be the builder’s plate, all the available records show that 08772 was built at Derby, not Crewe, as the plate indicates, although of course the error may well be out of shot of the camera. Withdrawn in 1994, 08772 is now in service on the North Norfolk Railway. (Trevor Davis)
This unusual location for a loco is a short length of isolated track at Lincoln Station, between the platform and High Street crossing signal box. D3167 spent most of its working life at Lincoln Central Station, was withdrawn in 1988 and sold to Lincoln City Council. For several years it stood on this plinth before being transferred to the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway on long term loan in 1994. (John Tolson)
The Derbyshire Peak District was the location of one of the UK’s very early railways, the Peak Forest Tramway, which opened in 1796. The line ran past Dove Holes Quarry, where 08915 can be seen shunting a rake of RMC bogie roadstone hopper wagons on 17 July 1997. Although the Tramway closed in 1920, the route through the quarry is still operating, as the freight only Great Rocks Line. Built at Horwich in 1962, 08915 was withdrawn in 2004 and is preserved at the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Tyneside. (Trevor Davis)
Despite being part of the National Railway Museum’s collection, 08911 Matey isn’t sat on display, but is regularly used at Shildon, where it is now based. Built at Horwich in 1962, it was based at Carnforth, Barrow in Furness and Carlisle before being withdrawn and moved to the National Railway Museum in 2004. Seen here at York on 16 March 2007, it now carries the NRM branding on BR Blue. (Trevor Davis)
The cab of D3568, based at Bridgnorth, Severn Valley Railway. Very much a working shunter still, like most examples based on heritage railways, as can be seen from the notices and logbook. The main generator ammeter and speedometer in the centre are on a swivel mount to face either driving position. The brass levers either side of the console are the master switch (forwards, reverse, neutral) and the main power controller. Loco brakes are controlled by the lever directly above the control panel, with train brakes operated by the chrome lever either side of the main console. The blue pipe on the far side is hot water for cab heating. The hand brake can be seen at the lower right side of the photo. The brass handle on the centre of the console is a starting key that slots onto a starting switch on the right of the console. These were meant to be kept in a locked box in the cab.
Discover the enduring legacy of the 08/09 class shunters, the stalwart workhorses of the British railway network. From their origins in the bustling railway workshops of Derby, Doncaster, Darlington, Horwich, and Crewe, to their enduring presence on today’s mainlines and heritage railways, this book delves into the fascinating history of these iconic locomotives.
Explore the technical evolution and the pivotal role these engines played post-nationalisation, equipped with the powerful English Electric 6K diesel engine. Learn about the special adaptations,
including the higher-speed Class 09 variant designed for the Southern Region’s freight trips, and the unique Class 13 units tailored for the Tinsley hump yard.
Perfect for railway enthusiasts and history buffs alike, this book captures the spirit and significance of Britain’s most widely preserved and beloved shunter, celebrating its past achievements and future potential.
ISBN 978-1-913893-55-2
