Traction News

Beacon and Clayton unveils its new Class 18 shunting locomotive

A SUITABLE replacement for the ageing Class 08 shunter fleet is the hope of Beacon Rail Leasing, following the delivery of the first of a 15-strong order from Clayton of its battery-powered Class 18 CBD 90 locomotives, 18001.

Railways Illustrated was invited to a demonstration of the brand new shunting locomotive at the Chasewater Railway in mid-november. Beacon placed its order for the 15 locomotives in March 2020, with each costing in the region of £1 million to build. Despite difficulties experienced due to the coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, construction of the locomotives was completed, with 18001 delivered to the Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire during November for commissioning and trials. 18002 was due to arrive at Chasewater in early December, and subsequent deliveries are expected to take place at a rate of about one a month.

It is expected that 18001 will move to its new operator in January, with news of who this operator is to be announced in the New Year.

Beacon has exclusivity on leasing the locomotives until the end of 2022 and there are still some locomotives available for long-term leases. The company says there has been a lot of interest in the concept from rail operators, and a number of prospective customers were also given a demonstration of the new locomotive during a series of specially arranged events at Chasewater involving the first completed example.

With the Government and rail operators all increasingly aware of the environmental impact of

carbon emissions, the need to replace elderly diesel locomotives with more environmentally-friendly alternatives is something that cannot be ignored.

While trials of alternative power methods – such as batteries, hydrogen and hydro-treated vegetable oil – are being carried out on various locomotives and passenger trains, the CBD 90 battery locomotive developed by Clayton is designed to be used as a replacement for ageing diesel locomotives coming to the end of their economic useful lives, such as the Class 08 shunters that are still a valuable tool at most larger rail depots for yard shunting.

Beacon says a number of possible customers have been identified for the first batch of locomotives, which were ordered speculatively.

The Class 08s were built between 1952 and 1962 and a number of them are still in use for shunting, both on the national rail network, in industry and in the railway preservation sector. Despite their age, they remain one of the most versatile and popular classes of shunting locomotives, but they are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and rail industry operators are looking at addressing ways of replacing elderly diesel locomotives with more environmentally-friendly technology.

Andy Coward Andy Coward Andy Coward Andy Coward The distinctive Clayton CBD 90 Class 18 pioneer, 18001, pictured at Brownhills West on November 19 during a demonstration of the locomotive by Beacon. Right: One of the battery modules used to provide power for the Class 18 locomotive. The Class 18 is fitted with a total of 282 lead acid batteries, with an expected lifespan of seven to eight years before they will need to be replaced. One of the two driving desks fitted in the cab of 18001, showing the controls, information screen, and radio headset, with the power brake controller on the desk on the bottom right. Above the desk is a CCTV monitor to show the forward motion view. The cab is well designed and comfortable, with excellent visibility. The JCB Ecomax Stage V diesel engine fitted inside the Class 18, which can be used to assist with charging the batteries of the locomotive when it is in use.