Factfile: Class 17 ‘Claytons’
A staggering 117 of these characterful Type 1 diesel electric locomotives was ordered from the Clayton Equipment Company, without any form of prototype testing. This – and other similar decisions – made a mockery of the original
BR Pilot Scheme plan, whereby new traction types were meant to be assessed ‘in service’ before production was approved.
Designed primarily for lightweight goods traffic, most of the fleet (D8500-87) was built at Clayton’s workshops in Derbyshire and the first example entered traffic in 1962. The final 29 locomotives (D8588-8616) were constructed at the Beyer, Peacock works in Manchester.
Featuring a pair of Paxman diesel engines, producing a combined output of 900hp, the Clayton-built locomotives were allocated to the 2 Scottish Region, where they ousted steam locomotives from a range of freight work in the Central Belt area. Most of the Manchester-built machines went to the North Eastern Region, also for use on general goods traffic.
Due to their modest power output, double-headed ‘Claytons’ were a common occurrence, with multiple working equipment installed from new. With no provision for train heating, the ‘Claytons’ did operate some secondary and branch line passenger services, but only during the summer months. 3 Serious mechanical problems soon became an issue, mostly emanating from the Paxman power units, while a dramatic fall in freight traffic – especially of the sort that would suit a Type 1 locomotive – also doomed the Class 17s to a short working life. Withdrawals began in 1968 and all had been removed from traffic by 1971. One survivor, D8568, was sold into industrial use and is now preserved at the
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.
All it lacks is a footplate crew.
Opening up the model is simply a matter of removing a series of screws (eight in all), to allow the body to lift away. A large PCB features a decoder socket, making the ‘Clayton’ fully DCC Ready. The instructions recommend an ESU Loksound V5L decoder (ref. 58315) and there’s room for a 40mm diameter round speaker within the underslung fuel tank.
The prototypes may have been troublesome and short-lived, but this is definitely a top-quality model. Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge diesels continue to impress in terms of looks, specification, performance and value for money. Modest Bo-bo diesels like the ‘Clayton’ are ideal fodder for ‘O’ gauge modellers with limited space and there are now plenty of RTR wagons to complement a 1960s-era BR diesel.
With its cavernous, detailed cab, there is plenty of potential for adding extra character to this model with a footplate crew – and maybe a few ‘mash’ tins on the hotplate. And I bet it’ll look even better with a decent weathered finish. Great stuff! (GD)