British Rail Class 07

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BR Class 07
Preserved No. 07013.
TOPS numbers 07 001-07 013
Early numbers D2985-2998
Builder Ruston & Hornsby
Introduced 1962
Wheel Arrangement 0-6-0
Weight 42 t 18 cwt 43,588 kg
Height 12 ft 10 in 3.9 m
Width 8 ft 6 in 2.6 m
Length 26 ft 9.5 in 8.2 m
Wheel Dia. 3 ft 6 in 1.1 m
Wheel Base 4 ft 3 ¾ in + 4 ft 3¾ in 1.3 + 1.3 m
Minimum radius
Maximum speed 20 mph 32 km/h
Engine output 275 hp 205 kW
Max. Tractive Effort 28,240 lbf 126 kN
Power at Rail
Brake type Air locomotive brake
Vacuum; later dual and air only
Brake force tons
Route availability 6
Fuel Tank 300 imp gal 1.364 m³
Heating type None

The British Rail Class 07 locomotive is an off-centre cab shunter for use in Southampton Docks, to replace SR USA Class steam locomotives. An 0-6-0 diesel-electrical shunter built by Ruston & Hornsby, 1962. Numbered D2985-D2998 and given the TOPS numbers 07001(D2985)-07013(D2997), D2998.

Engine is a Ruston/Paxman 6 cylinder, 4-stroke, 6RPHL. Traction motor is an AEI RTA6652, spigot mounted on a double reduction axle-hung final drive gearbox. Main Generator is an AEI RTB6652. Train air and vacuum brakes were fitted and these included high level air brake pipes to match the Southern region electric multiple units.

The builders classified these locomotives as LSSE and although other locomotives were built for industrial use to this (and the similarly styled LSSH diesel-hydraulic) specification, non had the same engine output, train brakes or other 'mainline' features.

The remaining members of the class that had TOPS style numbering applied, were also equipped with high-level air brake pipes - allowing them to move Southern Region Electric Multiple Units. This not being their principal work, nonetheless they were greatly employed around their home-depot on general shunting duties. Although relatively high-speed for a shunter (it was envisaged they would be used to trip local traffic to/from Southampton docks) they were seldom used for this as they suffered from hot axle boxes when used for extended periods of "high-speed" running. This also was a problem if they had to work to an area away from Eastleigh. Consequently they were moved by road when attending BREL for heavy work, unlike other shunter classes that would commonly have their side-rods removed, traction motors isolated and then form part of a consist heading that way (class 08 were commonly moved in this fashion at up to 35mph - overnight wagon-load trains were utilised if possible).


The locomotives were short-lived, with this class was withdrawn by British Rail by 1977. Several were bought for industrial use, and have subsequently passed into preservation. In addition, one loco is mainline registered, no. 07001, which is owned by HNRC. All surviving locomotives are listed below.

In fiction

An example of this class of diesel can be seen on the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV Series, in the form of Salty the Dockyard Diesel.

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British Rail Class 07
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Classes: 01 - 01/5 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14
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Pre-1955 type: 11001 - 11104 - 15107 - 13000
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47 - 48 - 50 - 52 - 53 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 66 - 67
Pre-TOPS type: 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 - KA - KB
Pre-1955 type: 10000-10001 - 10100 - 10201-10203 - 10800
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Classes: 70 - 71 - 73 - 74 - 76 - 77 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 83 - 84 - 85 - 86 - 87 - 89 - 90 - 91 - 92
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