DAWN of the DIESELS

摘要

BR's Modernisation Plan of 1955 can be seen as one of the biggest turning points in British transport history. It paved the way for the mass replacement of steam traction with modern forms of motive power-but even when it came to dieselisation, the (Great) Western Region decided to maintain its predecessor's fiercely independent spirit and 'plough its own furrow'. Ignoring the preference for diesel-electrics elsewhere in the country and regardless of the fact that gas-turbine traction had been tested on the Western, the Region decided that diesel-hydraulic transmission would offer excellent power-weight ratios and therefore be more economical -an important consideration with BR's operating costs exceeding receipts for the first time in 1956. Five machines with A1 A-A1A wheel arrangements were ordered from the North British Loco Co as a pilot scheme in 1955, through the British Transport Commission. As it happened, those D600 series 'Warships' were, at 118 tons, not much lighter than other Regions' D200 and 'Peak' class diesel-electrics anyway. Much more lightweight locos were to follow, however. The next year, the first WR production order was placed, this time for B-B locos based on the West German V200 class. Nos. D800-870 - also given 'Warship' names - weighed in at a mere 78 tons.