List of British Rail classes
A wide variety of locomotives and multiple units have operated on Great Britain's railway network. This page lists every locomotive and multiple unit allocated a TOPS classification and all modern traction (e.g. diesel, electric, gas turbine, petrol) stock used on the mainline network since 1948 (i.e British Railways and post-privatisation). It excludes coaching stock, modern traction used prior to 1948 and steam locomotives used prior to 1968. Links to lists of these types can be found at the bottom of the page.
British Locomotive and Multiple Unit Numbering and Classification explains in full the numbering and classification system used on this page. In brief, from 1968 British Rail classified its locomotives and multiple units using the TOPS system. Locomotives were given two-digit class numbers, and Multiple units three-digit numbers. Similar types were allocated blocks within the range, e.g. 01-69 for diesel locomotives, 70-79 for DC electric and electro-diesel locomotives, and 80-96 for AC electric and multi-voltage locomotives.
Diesel locomotives
The 1955 diesel locomotive classes are given in brackets where applicable.
A large number of different shunter types were purchased by British Rail and its predecessors, many of which were withdrawn prior to the introduction of TOPS. The tables below attempt to list the different types and the different classifications used to describe them as clearly as possible:
Small shunters: under 300 hp
CLASS | NUMBERS | Year(s) built |
Quantity built |
Year(s) withdrawn |
Image | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TOPS | 1948 | 1955 | 1962 | 1948 | 1957 | ||||
One-off 52 hp (39 kW) loco: | 11104 | 1959 | 1 | ? | |||||
DY1 | D1/1 | 1/15 | 11500-11502 | D2950-D2952 | ? | 3 | ? | ||
Class 01 | DY2 | D1/2 | 1/12 | 11503-11506 | D2953-D2956 | 1956-58 | 4 | 1979-81 | |
DY5 | D1/3 | 1/16 | 11507-11508 | D2957-D2958 | ? | ? | ? | ||
Class 02 | D1/4 | 1/17 | D2850-D2869 | 1960-61 | 20 | 1969-73 | |||
DY11 | D2/1 | 2/4A | 11700-11707 | D2700-D2707 | ? | ? | ? | ||
Class 03 | DJ15 | D2/2 | 2/1 | 11187-11211 | D2000-D2199 D2370-D2399 |
1957-62 | 230 | 1968-77 one still in use |
|
Class 04 | DJ12 | D2/3 | 2/13A | 11100-03, 11105-15 | D2200-D2214 | 1952-62 | 15 | 1968-71 | |
DJ12/1 | D2/4 | 2/13 | 11121-35, 11149-60 11212-29 |
D2215-D2273 | |||||
DJ12/2 | D2/13 | 2/13 | D2274-D2341 | ||||||
DJ14 | D2/5 | 2/12A | 11177-11186 | D2400-D2409 | |||||
D2/7 | 2/14 | 11116-20, 11144-48 | D2500-D2509 | ||||||
Class 05 | DJ13 | D2/8 | 2/15A | 11136-43, 11161-76 | D2550-D2573 | 1955-61 | 24 | ||
DJ13/2 | D2/9 | 2/15 | D2574-D2618 | ||||||
Class 06 | D2/6 | 2/12 | D2410-D2444 | 1958-60 | |||||
DY11 | D2/10 | 2/4 | 11708-11719 | D2708-D2719 | |||||
2/4B | D2720-D2780 | ||||||||
D2/11 | 2/2 | D2999/D9998 | |||||||
D2/12 | 2/14A | D2510-D2519 | |||||||
Class 07 | 2/16 | D2985-D2998 | 1962 | 13 | by 1977 | ||||
250 hp | 13000 | ||||||||
D3/1 | 3/4 | D2900-D2913 |
Large shunters: 300 - 799hp
TOPS Class | 1948 Class | 1955 Class | 1962 Class | 1948 Numbers | 1957 Numbers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 08 | DEJ4 | D3/2 | 3/1 | 13000-13366 excl.: | D3000-D4192 excl.: |
Class 09 | D3665-71, D3719-21, D4099-D4114 | ||||
D3/3 | 3/1B | 13117-13126 | D3117-D3126 | ||
Class 10 | DEJ5 | D3/4 | 3/1C | 13137-13151 | D3137-51, D3439-53, D3473-D3502, D3612-51, D4049-94 |
DEJ6 | D3/5 | 3/1D | 13152-13166 | D3152-D3166 | |
D3/6 | 12000-12002 | ||||
D3/7 | 3/8 | 12003-12032 | |||
Class 11 | DEJ3 | D3/8 | 3/8A | 12033-12138 | |
DEJ1 | D3/9 | 3/10 | 15000-15003 | ||
D3/10 | 3/11A | 15100 | |||
D3/11 | 3/11 | 15101-15106 | |||
360 hp | 15107 | ||||
D3/12 | 3/9A | 15201-15203 | |||
Class 12 | D3/13 | 3/9 | 15211-15236 | ||
DEJ2 | D3/14 | 3/2 | 15004 | ||
500 hp | 11001 | ||||
Class 13 | 7/1 | D4501-D4502 | |||
Class 14 | 6/1 | D9500-D9555 |
Type 1 locomotives: 800 - 1000hp
TOPS Class | 1955 Class | Introduced | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 15 | D8/1 | 1957-61 | 1969-71 | |
Class 16 | D8/2 | 1958 | ||
Class 17 | 1962-65 | by 1971 | ||
Class 20 | D10/3 | 1957-68 | still used | |
pre-1955: 10800 |
Type 2 locomotives: 1001 - 1499hp
TOPS Class | 1955 Class | Introduced | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 21 (NBLC) | D10/1 & D11/2 | 1967 | ||
Class 21 (Vossloh) * | 2004-05 | still in use | ||
Class 22 | D10/2 & D11/5 | 1957-59 | 1967-72 | |
Class 23 | D11/1 | 1968-71 | ||
Class 24 | D11/3 | 1958-1 | by 1980 | |
Class 25 | D12/1 | 1961-67 | by 1987 | |
Class 26 | D11/4 | 1958-59 | by 1993 | |
Class 27 | D12/3 | 1961-62 | 1987 | |
Class 28 | D12/2 | 1959 | 1968 | |
Class 29 | 1964-1965 | 1971 | ||
Class 30 | D13/1 | 1957-62 | 1976 - date still in use |
* Second use of "class 21" designation.
Type 3 locomotives: 1500 – 1999hp
TOPS Class | 1955 Class | Built | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 33 (Crompton) |
D15/1 & D15/2 | 1960-62 | still in use | |
Class 35 (Hymek) |
D17/1 | 1961-64 | 1971-1975 | |
Class 37 | D17/2 | 1960 - 1965 | still in use | |
Class D16/1 (10000-10001) |
1947-8 | 1962-66 | ||
Class D16/2 (10201-10203) |
1950-1951 | 1968 |
Type 4 locomotives: 2000 – 2999hp
TOPS Class | 1955 Class | Built | Quantity | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 40 | D20/1 | 1958-62 | 200 | by 1985 | |
Class 41 (Warship) | D20/2 | 1957-58 | 5 | 1967 | |
Class 41 (HST) | ? | 2 | ? | ||
Class 42 | D22/1 | 1958 | 38 | 1968-72 | |
Class 43 (Warship) | D22/2 | 1960-62 | 33 | ? | |
Class 43 (HST) | 1967-82 | 197 | Still in use | ||
Class 44 (Peak) |
D23/1 | 1959-60 | 10 | 1976-80 | |
Class 45 | D25/1 | 1960-63 | 127 | 1980-1989 | |
Class 46 | 1961-62 | 56 | by 1984 | ||
Class 47 | 1962-67 | 512 | still in use | ||
Class 50 (Hoover) |
1967-68 | 50 | by 1992 | ||
Class 52 (Western) |
D27/1 | 1961-1964 | 74 | by 1977 | |
Class 53 (Falcon) |
1961 | 1 | 1976 | ||
Class 57 (Bodysnatcher) |
1997-2007 | 33 | still in use | ||
Pre-1955 class: 10100 | 1950 | 1 | 1958 |
Type 5 locomotives: over 3000hp
TOPS Class | Built | Quantity | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 55 (Deltic) (1955 class: D33/1) |
1961-62 | 22 | 1981 | |
Class 56 (Grid) | 1976-83 | 135 | 2004 | |
Class 58 | 1983-87 | 50 | 2001 | |
Class 59 | 1985-95 | 15 | still in use | 100px |
Class 60 | 1989-53 | 100 | still in use | |
Class 66 | 1998-date | 362+ | still in use | |
Class 67 | 1999-2000 | 30 | still in use |
Electric locomotives
DC electric locomotives
TOPS Class | pre-TOPS Class | Built | Quantity | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 70 | 1941-48 | 3 | 1968-69 | ||
Class 71 | HA | 1958 | 24 | 1977 | |
Class 73 | JA or JB | 1962-67 | 82 | still in use | |
Class 74 | HB | 1960s | 10 | 1976 | |
Class 76 | EM1 | 1952-53 | 56 | 1981 | |
Class 77 | EM2 | 1953-55 | 7 | 1969 | |
Class EB1 (26502-26511) |
? | ? | ? | ||
Class EE1 (26600) |
? | ? | ? | ||
Class ES1 (26500-26501) |
1905 | 2 | 1964 |
AC electric locomotives
TOPS Class | pre-TOPS Class | Built | Quantity | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 80 | 1958 | 1 | 1961 | ||
Class 81 | AL1 | 1959 | 25 | 1986-91 | |
Class 82 | AL2 | 1960-62 | 12 | 1983 | |
Class 83 | AL3 | 1960-62 | 15 | 1983-89 | |
Class 84 | AL4 | 1960 | 10 | 1977-80 | |
Class 85 | AL5 | 1961-64 | 40 | 1988-91 | 100px |
Class 86 | AL6 | 1965-66 | 100 | 1999 to date still in use | 100px |
Class 87 | 1973-75 | 36 | 2002 to date still in use | ||
Class 89 | 1986 | 1 | 2001 | ||
Class 90 | 1987-90 | 76 | still in use | ||
Class 91 (Electra) |
1988-91 | 31 | still in use | 100px | |
Class 92 | 1993-96 | 46 | still in use |
Miscellaneous locomotives
Departmental
Steam
Petrol
Gas turbine
Builders' demonstrators
These were locomotives built and owned by private firms, but used by British Rail to test them.
Diesel multiple units (DMUs)
1st generation "heritage" DMUs
In the majority of British Railways First Generation DMUs the powertrain was supplied by British United Traction.
TOPS classes
Class | Info | Image |
---|---|---|
Class 100 | Gloucester | |
Class 101 | Met-Camm | |
Class 102 | Met-Camm | |
Class 103 | Park Royal | |
Class 104 | BRCW | |
Class 105 | Cravens | |
Class 106 | Cravens | |
Class 107 | Derby Heavyweight | |
Class 108 | Derby Lightweight | |
Class 109 | Wickham | |
Class 110 | Calder Valley | |
Class 111 | Met-Camm | |
Class 112 | Great Northern Suburban | |
Class 113 | Great Northern Suburban | |
Class 114 | Derby Heavyweight | |
Class 115 | Derby Suburban | |
Class 116 | Derby Suburban | |
Class 117 | Pressed Steel Suburban | |
Class 118 | BRCW Suburban | |
Class 119 | Gloucester Cross-Country | |
Class 120 | Swindon Cross-Country | |
Class 121 | Pressed Steel Bubble Car | |
Class 122 | Gloucester Bubble Car | |
Class 123 | Trans-Pennine | |
Class 124 | Trans-Pennine | |
Class 125 | Lea Valley | |
Class 126 | Swindon InterCity | |
Class 127 | Bed-Pan | |
Class 128 | Gloucester Parcels | |
Class 129 | Cravens Parcels | |
Class 130 | Parcels, ex-Class 116 | |
Class 131 | Parcels, ex-Class 122 |
Pre-TOPS Classes
- Derby Lightweight Prototype Units
- Metro-Cammell Prototype Units
- British United Traction Units
- Railbuses
- Ex-GWR Railcars
- Ex-LMS Railcars
2nd generation DMUs
Pacers
Sprinters
Class | Name / information | Built | Quantity (sets) | Withdrawn | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 150 | Sprinter | 1984-87 | 155 | still in use | |
Class 151 | Prototype | 1985 | 6 | 1989 | |
Class 152 | Proposed rebuild of Class 151 | N/A | 0 | N/A | none built |
Class 153 | Super-Sprinter, ex-Class 155 | 1991-92 | 66 | still in use | |
Class 154 | Prototype Super-Sprinter Rebuild of 150 002[1][2] |
1 | Converted back to class 150 | ||
Class 155 | Super-Sprinter | 1987-88[3] | still in use | ||
Class 156 | Super-Sprinter | 1987-89[4] | 114[4] | still in use | |
Class 157 | Proposed Super-Sprinter | Planend only, none built | |||
Class 158 | Express Sprinter | 1989-92 | 192 | still in use Eight converted to class 159 |
|
Class 159 | Express Sprinter | 1992-93 | 22 |
Turbos
- Class 165 (Network Turbo)
- Class 166 (Network Express Turbo)
- Class 168 (Clubman)
- Class 170 (Turbostar)
- Class 171 (Turbostar)
Coradias
Diesel Desiro
Diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs)
Main article: Diesel-electric multiple unit
These units had electric transmission (as opposed to mechanical or hydraulic).
Southern Region DEMUs
The Southern Region of British Rail, used single letter codes to classify their DEMU classes.
- Class 201 (6S)
- Class 202 (6L)
- Class 203 (6B)
- Class 204 (3T)
- Class 205 (3H)
- Class 206 (3R)
- Class 207 (3D)
Western Region Prototype DEMU
Voyager-style Express DEMUs
High speed trains
- Class 251 (Blue Pullman)
- Class 252 (Prototype High Speed Train)
- Class 253 (Western Region InterCity 125 - originally classified as a multiple unit and later reclassified locomotive and rolling stock)
- Class 254 (Eastern Region InterCity 125 - originally classified as a multiple unit and later reclassified locomotive and rolling stock)
- Class 255 (Virgin 'Challenger' High Speed Train)
Electric multiple units (EMUs)
British Rail operated a wide variety of electric multiple units for use on electrified lines.
- AC units operated off 25 kV AC from overhead wires. Where clearances for the overhead wires on the Great Eastern and London, Tilbury & Southend routes were below standard, a reduced voltage of 6.25 kV AC was used. The Midland Railway units used 6.6 kV AC. Under the computer numbering, AC units (including mixed-voltage units that can also work off a DC supply) were given a class in the range 300-399.
- DC units operated off 650-850 V DC from a third rail on the Southern Region and North London, Merseyside and Tyneside networks. The Manchester-Bury line used 1200 V DC from a side-contact third rail. The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham and "Woodhead" and initially the Great Eastern and London , Tilbury & Southend routes used 1500 V DC from overhead wires. Under the computer numbering, DC units were given a class in the range 400-599.
AC EMUs and dual-voltage EMUs
First generation
- Ex-MR units (Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham)
- Class 300 (Proposed Parcels units)
- Class AM1 (25kV AC prototype units)
- Class 302 AM2 (London-Tilbury-Southend)
- Class 303 AM3 (Strathclyde)
- Class 304 AM4 (Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham)
- Class 305 AM5 (Chingford, Enfield)
- Class 306 AM6 (Shenfield inner-surburban)
- Class 307 AM7 (Southend outer-suburban)
- Class 308 AM8 (Eastern Region lines)
- Class 309 AM9 (Clacton Express)
- Class 310 AM10 (Euston outer-suburban)
- Class 311 AM11 (Strathclyde)
- Class 312 (Great Northern and Great Eastern)
Second generation
- Class 313 (Great Northern and North London)
- Class 314 (Strathclyde)
- Class 315 (Shenfield inner-suburban)
- Class 316 (Prototype units)
- Class 317 (Bed-Pan and Great Northern)
- Class 318 (Strathclyde)
- Class 319 (First Capital Connect)
- Class 320 (Strathclyde)
- Class 321 (Great Eastern, Euston & W Yorks Metro outer-suburban)
- Class 322 (ScotRail: Glasgow/Edinburgh-North Berwick)
- Class 323 (West Midlands & Greater Manchester)
- Class 325 (Parcels)
- Class 332 (Heathrow Express)
- Class 333 (West Yorkshire)
- Class 334 (Juniper - Strathclyde)
- Class 350 (Desiro - West Coast)
- Class 357 (Electrostar - London-Tilbury-Southend)
- Class 360 (Desiro - Great Eastern)
- Class 365 (Networker Express)
- Class 375 (Electrostar)
- Class 376 (Electrostar Metro)
- Class 377 (Electrostar)
- Class 378 (Electrostar Metro - London Overground)
Supertrains
DC EMUs
Southern Region Units
The Southern Railway and its successor, the Southern Region of British Rail, used three letter codes to classify their DC EMU fleets, as shown after the TOPS class numbers.
TOPS Classes
- Class 401 2Bil
- Class 402 2Hal or 2Pan
- Class 403 5Bel
- Class 404 4Cor
- Class 405 4Sub
- Class 410 4Bep
- Class 411 4Cep
- Class 412 4Bep
- Class 413 4Cap
- Class 414 2Hap
- Class 415 4EPB
- Class 416 2EPB
- Class 418 2Sap
- Class 419 MLV
- Class 420 4Big
- Class 421 4Cig or 3Cop
- Class 422 4Big or 8Dig
- Class 423 4Vep or 4Vop
- Class 424 (Networker Classic Prototype)
- Class 427 4Veg
- Class 430 4Rep
- Class 431 6Rep
- Class 432 4Rep
- Class 438 4TC
- Class 442 5Wes (Wessex Express)
- Class 444 5Des (Desiro)
- Class 445 4Pep
- Class 446 2Pep
- Class 447 (Proposed Battersea Bullet)
- Class 450 4Des (Desiro)
- Class 455
- Class 456
- Class 457 (Networker Prototype)
- Class 458 4Jop (Juniper)
- Class 460 8Gat (Gatwick Express)
- Class 465 (Networker)
- Class 466 (Networker)
- Class 480 8Vab
- Class 482 (Waterloo & City Line)
- Class 483 (Isle of Wight)
- Class 485 4Vec
- Class 486 3Tis
- Class 487 (Waterloo & City Line)
- Class 488 (Gatwick Express Trailers)
- Class 489 GLV
- Class 491 4TC
- Class 492 3TC
- Class 499 TLV
Pre-TOPS classes
- Class 2Nol
- Class 2SL
- Class 2Wim
- Class 3Sub
- Class 4Buf
- Class 4DD
- Class 4Gri
- Class 4Lav
- Class 4Res
- Class 6Cit
- Class 6Pan
- Class 6Pul
Other DC units
The 500 series classes were reserved for DC EMUs not from the Southern Region. This included the DC lines in North London, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The DC electric network around Tyneside had been de-electrified by the time TOPS was introduced, and the stock withdrawn or transferred to the Southern Region.
TOPS classes
Class | Info | Image |
---|---|---|
Class 501 | North London stock | |
Class 502 | Liverpool-Southport-Ormskirk stock | |
Class 503 | Mersey-Wirral stock | |
Class 504 | Manchester-Bury stock | |
Class 505 | Manchester-Altrincham stock | |
Class 506 | Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock | |
Class 507 | Merseyside stock | |
Class 508 | Merseyside stock |
Pre-TOPS classes
- Ex-LNER Units (Tyneside stock)
- Ex-LNWR Units (North London stock)
- Ex-LYR Units (Manchester-Bury stock)
Battery electric multiple unit
This was a one-off unit, withdrawn before the introduction of TOPS.
Departmental multiple units
The 900 series classes were reserved for multiple units in departmental stock, most of which were converted from old passenger units. In broad terms, classes 930-935 were allocated to Southern Region multiple units (ex-200 and 400 series), 936 & 937 to other EMUs (ex-300 and 500 series) and 960 to other DMUs (ex-100 series). In recent years, this has been less rigidly adhered to.
Diesel multiple units
- Class 901 (Test units, ex-Class 101)
- Class 930 (Departmental SR DEMUs)
- Class 950 (Purpose-built test unit, similar to Class 150)
- Class 951 (Sandite/De-icer units, ex-Classes 201, 203, 205, and 207)
- Class 960 (Departmental DMUs)
- Multi-Purpose Vehicle (Purpose-built departmental vehicles)
Gas turbine multiple unit
- APT-E (Experimental Advanced Passenger Train unit)
Electric Multiple Units
The original use for the Southern Region (SR) classes are included in brackets; these designations have been less rigidly applied in recent years.
- Class 910 (Test units, ex-Class 488)
- Class 920 (3-Pep Prototype Unit)
- Class 930 (SR Sandite and De-icing Units)
- Class 931 (SR Route learning and Stores Units)
- Class 932 (SR Research and Tractor Units)
- Class 933 (SR Mobile Instruction Units)
- Class 935 (4Pep Research Units)
- Class 936 (Sandite units, ex-Classes 311 and 501)
- Class 937 (Sandite units, ex-Classes 302 and 308)
- Class 960 (Test units, ex-Classes 309 and 310)
See also
- British Locomotive and Multiple Unit Numbering and Classification
- SR Multiple Unit Numbering and Classification
- Steam locomotives of British Railways
- British Rail coach designations
- British Rail brand names
References
External links
British Rail non-steam locomotives | ||
---|---|---|
Diesel locomotives - Electric locomotives - DMU - DEMU - AC EMU - DC EMU - Departmental units | ||
Diesel shunting locomotives | ||
Classes: | 01 - 01/5 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 | |
Pre-TOPS type: | 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 | |
Pre-1955 type: | 11001 - 11104 - 15107 - 13000 | |
Main-line diesel locomotives | ||
Classes: | 15 - 16 - 17 - 20 - 21 - 21 (Vossloh) - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 33 - 35 - 37 - 40 - 41 (Warship Class) - 41 (HST) - 42 - 43 (Warship Class) - 43 (HST) - 44 - 45 - 46 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 | |
Electric locomotives | ||
Classes: | 70 - 71 - 73 - 74 - 76 - 77 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 83 - 84 - 85 - 86 - 87 - 89 - 90 - 91 - 92 | |
Pre-TOPS type: | AL1 - AL2 - AL3 - AL4 - AL5 - AL6 - EB1 - EE1 - EM1 - EM2 - ES1 - HA - HB - JA - JB | |
Other locomotives | ||
Departmental: | 97 - 97/6 - Eastern - Southern - Other Series | |
Other: | 98 - 99 - 15097-15099 - 18000 - 18100 | |
Demonstrators: | D0226/D0227 - D0260 - D0280 - D9998 - DHP1 - DP1 - DP2 - GT3 - HS4000 - Janus/Taurus |