BR Class 12 (BR Southern Region/English Electric 0-6-0 DE)

These shunters, built for British Railways' Southern Region shortly after nationalisation, were very similar to the LMS-ordered locomotives that later became Class 11, with the exception of being fitted with Southern Railways style Bullied-Firth-Brown cast wheel centers (often inaccurately called 'Boxpok' wheels, which properly refers only to that one patented design of cast wheel center). Since these locomotives have outside frames it is somewhat hard to notice this one distinguishing spotting feature.

26 of them were built, all at the Southern Region's Ashford works, and outfitted in black livery, though some received green livery and later British Rail Rail Blue. Like many shunters they were withdrawn betweeen 1968 and 1971; one locomotive survives, No. 15224. It passed into NCB ownership for work in the Kent coalfields and was subsequently sold into preservation. It's now at the Spa Valley Railway at Royal Tunbridge Wells, and has the distinction of being the only diesel locomotive surviving with BFB wheels.

Specifications:

    TOPS Numbering:  Never carried
    1957 Numbering:  Never carried
    1948 Numbering:  15211-15236
          Built by:  BR Ashford
        Introduced:  1949-1952
 Wheel Arrangement:  0-6-0 (C)
            Length:  29ft 6in (8.99m)
            Weight:  48 tonnes (metric tons)
     Maximum Speed:  27.5mph (44.3 km/h)
            Engine:  English Electric 6KT
     Engine Output:  350hp (261 kW)
      Transmission:  Electric
    Main Generator:  EE
   Traction Motors:  2 x EE
        Brake Type:  No train brakes (locomotive brake only)
      Heating Type:  None Fitted
Route Availability:  5