Factfile: Class 33/2
Despite electrification being extensive on the Southern Region, it was far from universal. With steam traction due for elimination, British Railways required a fleet of mixed traffic diesel locomotives to handle branch and secondary passenger duties, along with parcels and freight traffic.
Designed specifically for Southern Region duties and equipped with an eightcylinder, 1,550hp Sulzer diesel power unit, BR’S Type 3 Bo-bo (later known as Class 33) was derived from the earlier Type 2 1,160hp Bo-bos (Class 26/27). Each of these types had been built at the Birmingham Railway & Carriage Works, with delivery of the first ‘33s’ beginning in 1960.
The Sulzer power units were joined by Crompton Parkinson electrical equipment, leading to the common nickname of ‘Cromptons’. In total, 98 locomotives were constructed over a two-year period, all of which were initially allocated to Hither Green depot.
As part of the total order, a special batch of a dozen locomotives was included (D6586-97) with narrower bodies, to permit use on the restricted Tonbridge-hastings route. These ‘Slim Jims’ were later known as Class 33/2 and operated a variety of parcels, newspaper and freight services along the Hastings line, before venturing further afield once the restrictive tunnels had been rebuilt in the 1980s. Slow speed control was installed to the ‘33/2s’, to permit haulage of merry-go-round coal trains.
After being integrated with the main ‘33’ fleet, Class 33/2s could be seen working around the Southern and Western Region, venturing as far west as Exeter and north to Crewe and Manchester on passenger services from Cardiff. A notable duty for the ‘33/2s’ during the late 1980s and early 1990s was shunting the Dover train ferry.
Examples ventured even further afield following privatisation, including workings up to Scotland and four of the 12 ‘Slim Jims’ survive today, including West Coast Railway’s 33208 Jim Martin, which remains main line-certified.
acceleration and enhanced slow-speed operation, even on analogue control. The LED lighting is convincing and there’s an option of switching off the headcode panels via a slide switch on the main PCB, although digital users can achieve this via their DCC system.
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