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The British Rail Class 28 (or Metro-Vick Type 2) were a class of diesel-electric locomotives built under the diesel loco Pilot Scheme as part of the British Railways Modernisation Plan. Often referred to as 'Co-Bos', 'Metrovicks' or 'Crossleys', the class featured a highly unusual Co-Bo wheel arrangement (a 6-wheel bogie at one end, and a 4-wheel bogie at the other). Unlike other Type 2 diesels, the class were fitted with two-stroke Crossley diesel units and had a very high tractive effort of 50,000 lbf. The engines suffered frequent failures and by 1961 the entire class was handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work. They were known for being excessively noisy and emmitted too much smoke. All twenty Metrovicks were initially allocated to the Midland Division of BR's London Midland Region, where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London–Glasgow "Condor" express freight service. After the 1961 refurbishment they were all transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness 12E depot. They were withdrawn after only eleven years in service. A single example has been preserved at the East Lancashire Railway. |
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Type of Locomotive |
Diesel-Electric |
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Builder |
Metropolitan-Vickers |
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Build Dates |
1958 to 1959 |
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Total Built |
20 |
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Tractive Effort |
50,000 lbf |
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Power Output |
1,200 hp |
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Top Speed |
75 mph |
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Wheel Configuration |
Co-Bo |
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Operated By |
British Railways |
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Main Duties |
Express Freight |
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In Service Until |
1968 |
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Surviving Examples |
1 |