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British Rail Class 52

Diesel and Electric Locomotives

The British Rail Class 52, known as the Western, was a class of 74 Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964. The first was outshopped from Swindon Works in December 1961, and the order was shared between Swindon and Crewe. Each locomotive carried two Maybach MD655 diesel engines driving Voith hydraulic transmissions, rated together at 2,700 horsepower, and every one was given a two word name beginning with Western. They worked the heaviest Western Region expresses, but a mismatch between engine and transmission and the South Devon banks told against them, and they were withdrawn between 1973 and 1977, with seven preserved.

Facts
Year
1961 2
Propulsion
Diesel 1
Status
Retired from service 1
Power (kW)
2000 1
Units Built
74 2
Top Speed (km/h)
140 1
Engine
Maybach MD655 1
Comparison
Body Style
Diesel-hydraulic locomotive 1
Connections

Exemplifies

Rail Transport, Modes
Source British Rail Class 52 (Wikipedia)

Of Make

Source British Rail Class 52 (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Source British Rail Class 52 (Wikipedia)History, order, manufacturer
Quote, History, order, manufacturer
when the first locomotive was outshopped from Swindon Works in December 1961

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source British Rail Class 52 (Wikipedia)Lead, country of origin
Quote, Lead, country of origin
The British Rail Class 52 is a class of 74 Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964.
Sources
1. British Rail Class 52 (Wikipedia)
  • History, the Western
    so when the first locomotive was outshopped from Swindon Works in December 1961, less than a year after the order was placed, the Westerns were born.
  • Lead, units built
    a class of 74 Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives
  • Lead, withdrawal
    The final Class 52 locomotives were withdrawn from service in 1977.
  • History, order
    74 diesel-hydraulics of 2,700 hp (2,000 kW)
  • The Western, top speed
    its claimed 90 mph (140 km/h) top speed
  • The Western, engines
    Maybach were able to offer their MD655 engines
  • History, order, manufacturer
    when the first locomotive was outshopped from Swindon Works in December 1961
  • Lead, country of origin
    The British Rail Class 52 is a class of 74 Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964.
  • In Group: British Rail Diesel Locomotives, Lead
    The British Rail Class 52 is a class of 74 Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964.
  • Exemplifies: Rail Transport, Lead
    The British Rail Class 52 is a class of 74 Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964.
View the Source
2. Western Locomotive Association: The Class 52 Westerns
Western Locomotive Association
  • Technical, build
    A total of 74 were produced between 1961 and 1964, 35 at Swindon and 39 at Crewe.
  • Delivery
    The first of the class, D1000 Western Enterprise, was delivered in December 1961
View the Source
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