British Railways Modern Traction

A description of diesel and electric locomotives that ran on British Rail between 1955 and 1994. This covers the period between the original modernisation plan of 1955 and the start of the privatisation process.

The tables below gives details of the various types of locomotive at work during that period.

Loco Selector

Select a class of locomotives and click on the link to find out about it.

For descriptions of the loco depots listed click here

Diesel Locomotives
BR Class Builder Withdrawal Date Home Depots
Class 15 British Thomson-Houston   ER
Class 17 Clayton   ScR
Class 20 English Electric   LM, ER, ScR
Class 21 North British   ScR
Class 22 North British 1972 WR
Class 23 English Electric   ER
Class 24 British Railways 1980 LM, ScR
Class 25 British Railways 1987 LM, WR, ER, ScR
Class 26 B.R.C.W.   ScR
Class 27 B.R.C.W.   ScR
Class 28 Metropolitan Vickers   LM
Class 29 North British   ScR
Class 31 Brush In Service ER, WR
Class 33 B.R.C.W. In Service SR
Class 35 Beyer-Peacock(Hymek) 1975 WR
Class 37 English Electric In Service ER, WR, ScR
Class 40 English Electric 1985 LM, ER, ScR
Class 42 British Railways 1972 WR
Class 43 North British 1971 WR
Class 44 British Railways   LM
Class 45 British Railways 1987 LM
Class 46 British Railways   ER, WR
Class 47 Brush/British Railways In Service LM, ER, WR, ScR
Class 50 English Electric 1992 WR
Class 52 British Railways 1977 WR
Class 53 Brush 1975 WR
Class 55 English Electric 1982 ER, ScR
Class 56 British Railways   LM, ER

Electric Locomotives
Class 71 British Railways 1976 SR
Class 73 British Railways/English Electric In Service SR
Class 74 British Railways 1977 SR
Class 76 British Railways 1982 LM
Class 77 British Railways 1969 LM
Class 81 British Thomson-Houston   LM
Class 82 Metropolitan-Vickers   LM
Class 83 English Electric   LM
Class 84 General Electric   LM
Class 85 British Railways   LM
Class 86 British Railways In Service LM
Class 87 British Railways In Service LM