Thursday, June 8, 2023

British Railways 1-Co-Co-1 class 46 diesel

A total 56 of these were built over 1961-1963 by BR's Derby works. The prime mover was a Sulzer 12LDA28-B rated at 2,000 hp.

One interesting little episode involving one of them was on 17 July 1984 when 46 009 (formerly D146), hauling three Mark 1 coaches, was deliberately crashed into a "Flatrol" wagon loaded with a nuclear waste flask and lying on its side. The train was travelling at about 100 mph (160 km/h) on the Old Dalby Test Track in a test organised by the CEGB. The test was intended to demonstrate to the public that there would be no leak of radioactive material in the event of a rail accident involving a train carrying a nuclear waste flask. 46 009 was scrapped on site at Old Dalby later the same month by Vic Berry of Leicester. The flask is on display outside Heysham 1 power station training centre.

3 of the class are preserved.

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