List of British Rail classes

From TrainSpottingWorld, for Rail fans everywhere

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.


Table of contents

Diesel locomotives: Small shunters (under 300hp)Large shunters (over 300hp)
Type 1 (800 - 1000hp)Type 2 (1001 - 1499hp)Type 3 (1500 - 1999hp)Type 4 (2000 - 2999hp)Type 5 (3000hp)

Electric locomotives: DC locomotivesAC locomotives

Miscellaneous locomotives: DepartmentalSteamPetrolGas turbineBuilders' demonstrators

Diesel multiple units (DMUs): 1st generation "heritage" DMUs
2nd generation DMUs: Pacers · Sprinters · Turbos · Coradias · Desiros
Diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs): SR DEMUs · WR Prototype DEMU · Voyager-style DEMUs · High speed trains

Electric multiple units (EMUs): AC and dual-voltage EMUs: First generation · Second generation · Supertrains
DC EMUs: Southern Region Units · Other DC units        Battery electric multiple unit

Departmental multiple units: Diesel multiple unitsGas turbine multiple unitElectric Multiple Units

See also        References        External links

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A large number of different shunter types were purchased by British Rail and its predecessors, many of which were withdrawn prior to the introduction of TOPS.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 D2953 Peak Rail.JPG
DY5 D1/3 1/16 11507-11508 D2957-D2958 ? ? ?
Class 02 D1/4 1/17 D2850-D2869 1960-61 20 1969-73 Yorkshire Engine 2813 on Middleton Railway 94.jpeg
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
Bristish Rail Class 03 diesel shunter 03090.jpg
Class 04 DJ12 D2/3 2/13A 11100-03, 11105-15 D2200-D2214 1952-62 15 1968-71 D2337 at Rowsley.JPG
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 BR Class 05 DL26 2.jpg
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 07013 Rowsley South.JPG
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
D8233Wiki.jpg
Class 16 D8/2 1958
Class 17 1962-65 by 1971
Class 20 D10/3 1957-68 still used
D8000 at NRM.jpg
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
D6343, d7072 - old oak common - 1965.jpg
Class 23 D11/1 1968-71
Class 24 D11/3 1958-1 by 1980
24081 departing Cheltenham Racecourse.JPG
Class 25 D12/1 1961-67 by 1987
Diesel locomotive Paignton.jpg
Class 26 D11/4 1958-59 by 1993
26014, 26008 - inverness - sep 1977.jpg
Class 27 D12/3 1961-62 1987
Class 28 D12/2 1959 1968
D5705 at the 1-9-91 Worksop open day..jpg
Class 29 1964-1965 1971
D6130, Fort William MPD, 4th September 1966.jpg
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
33119 - weymouth hbr - aug 1981.jpg
Class 35
(Hymek)
D17/1 1961-64 1971-1975
WSR 7017 79-08.JPG
Class 37 D17/2 1960 - 1965 still in use
37019 Tinsley 1990.jpg
Class D16/1
(10000-10001)
1947-8 1962-66
10001 at bletchley.jpg
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 40135 at Crewe Works.jpg
Class 41 (Warship) D20/2 1957-58 5 1967
Class 41 (HST) ? 2 ? 41001 At York Front.jpg
Class 42 D22/1 1958 38 1968-72 D832 Onslaught - 19-6-04 - Keighley.jpeg
Class 43 (Warship) D22/2 1960-62 33 ?
Class 43 (HST) 1967-82 197 Still in use 43127-Sir Peter Parker 1924-2002 Costwold Line 150-01.jpg
Class 44
(Peak)
D23/1 1959-60 10 1976-80 45111 Crewe 16th July 1986.jpg
Class 45 D25/1 1960-63 127 1980-1989
Class 46 1961-62 56 by 1984 97403 Coalville Open Day - 1st September er.jpg
Class 47 1962-67 512 still in use
Class 50
(Hoover)
1967-68 50 by 1992 50149 Worksop Open Day.jpg
Class 52
(Western)
D27/1 1961-1964 74 by 1977 D1000-old oak common - 1964.jpg
Class 53
(Falcon)
1961 1 1976
Class 57
(Bodysnatcher)
1997-2007 33 still in use 57313 Tracy Island at Crewe 03.jpg
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 Napier Deltic, Alycidon.jpg
Class 56 (Grid) 1976-83 135 2004 Class 56 diesel locomotive number 56006.jpg
Class 58 1983-87 50 2001 58001 at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 59 1985-95 15 still in use 100px
Class 60 1989-53 100 still in use 60040 60065 60022PeakForest.jpg
Class 66 1998-date 362+ still in use 66108 at Didcot.JPG
Class 67 1999-2000 30 still in use 67006+67015-BristolParkway-03.jpg

Electric locomotives

Freightliner Class 86 nos. 86613 and 86610 at Ipswich.

DC electric locomotives

TOPS Class pre-TOPS Class Built Quantity Withdrawn Image
Class 70 1941-48 3 1968-69 20002, East Croydon 13.12.67.jpg
Class 71 HA 1958 24 1977 E5001 at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 73 JA or JB 1962-67 82 still in use 73101 John Griffiths.jpg
Class 74 HB 1960s 10 1976 Class 74 74003.jpg
Class 76 EM1 1952-53 56 1981 26020 at York NRM.JPG
Class 77 EM2 1953-55 7 1969 27000 at Crewe Works.JPG
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 82008 at Crewe Works.JPG
Class 83 AL3 1960-62 15 1983-89 E3035 at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 84 AL4 1960 10 1977-80 84001 at Crewe Works.JPG
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 87005 'City of London' at London Euston.JPG
Class 89 1986 1 2001 89001 at Doncaster Works.JPG
Class 90 1987-90 76 still in use 90003, 30-Oct-2004 Stratford.JPG
Class 91
(Electra)
1988-91 31 still in use 100px
Class 92 1993-96 46 still in use 92027 George Eliot at Stafford.jpg

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.

Preserved BR Class 108 nos. 50980 and 52054, on the Severn Valley Railway.
Chiltern Railways Class 121 "Bubble Car" no. 121020 at Bewdley.

TOPS classes

Class Info Image
Class 100 Gloucester 563012001.jpg
Class 101 Met-Camm 101692 at Arley.JPG
Class 102 Met-Camm
Class 103 Park Royal
Class 104 BRCW 50517 and 50455 at Bewdley.JPG
Class 105 Cravens
Class 106 Cravens
Class 107 Derby Heavyweight
Class 108 Derby Lightweight 56208 and 51935 at Bewdley.JPG
Class 109 Wickham BR Class 109 Llangollen.jpg
Class 110 Calder Valley
Class 111 Met-Camm
Class 112 Great Northern Suburban
Class 113 Great Northern Suburban
Class 114 Derby Heavyweight 56006 at Kidderminster.JPG
Class 115 Derby Suburban
Class 116 Derby Suburban
Class 117 Pressed Steel Suburban Rail-class-117-51402-amoswolfe.jpg
Class 118 BRCW Suburban Set T326 (51131 and 51321) at Arley.JPG
Class 119 Gloucester Cross-Country
Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country
Class 121 Pressed Steel Bubble Car 121020 at Bewdley.JPG
Class 122 Gloucester Bubble Car 55006 at Bewdley.JPG
Class 123 Trans-Pennine
Class 124 Trans-Pennine
Class 125 Lea Valley
Class 126 Swindon InterCity
Class 127 Bed-Pan 55976 at Bewdley.JPG
Class 128 Gloucester Parcels
Class 129 Cravens Parcels
Class 130 Parcels, ex-Class 116
Class 131 Parcels, ex-Class 122

Pre-TOPS Classes

2nd generation DMUs

Pacers

Main article: Pacer (train)

Sprinters

Class Name / information Built Quantity (sets) Withdrawn Image
Class 150 Sprinter 1984-87 155 still in use 150262 at Cardiff Central
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 153385 at Nottingham
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 Northern - 155346
Class 156 Super-Sprinter 1987-89[4] 114[4] still in use 156408 in Regional Railways Eexpress livery at Cambridge
Class 157 Proposed Super-Sprinter Planend only, none built
Class 158 Express Sprinter 1989-92 192 still in use
Eight converted to class 159
South West Trains 158789 at Bristol Temple Meads
Class 159 Express Sprinter 1992-93 22 159018 at Axminster

Turbos

'one' Class 170 no. 170202 at Cambridge.

Coradias

Diesel Desiro

Diesel-electric multiple units (DEMUs)

Main article: Diesel-electric multiple unit

Southern Class 205 unit no. 205032 at London Bridge.

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.

Western Region Prototype DEMU

Voyager-style Express DEMUs

High speed trains

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

First Great Eastern Class 312 units nos. 312718 and 312721 at Kirby Cross.

Second generation

c2c Class 357 no. 357036 at Southend Central.

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

South Eastern Trains Class 411 unit no. 1586 at London Victoria.
Gatwick Express Class 489 unit no. 489110 at London Victoria.

Pre-TOPS classes

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.

Merseyrail Class 507 unit no. 507026 at Liverpool Central.

TOPS classes

Class Info Image
Class 501 North London stock Class-501-train-B1-headcode.jpg
Class 502 Liverpool-Southport-Ormskirk stock
Class 503 Mersey-Wirral stock Image-British-Rail-Class-503.jpg
Class 504 Manchester-Bury stock British Rail Class 504 ManVic prior to Metrolink.jpg
Class 505 Manchester-Altrincham stock
Class 506 Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock
Class 507 Merseyside stock 507033 HamiltonSquare.jpg
Class 508 Merseyside stock 508141-LiverpoolLS-01.jpg

Pre-TOPS classes

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

Gas turbine multiple 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.

See also

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

fr:Matériel moteur des chemins de fer britanniques