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BR Unclassified Shunting Locomotives
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Associated with Birkenhead docks during the BR diesel years, the most characteristic was this
strange looking Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 design with its origins in LMS times. A production batch
of 10 were built for BR and all delivered new to Mollington Street depot during the mid-1950s.
The locos worked the Birkenhead dock traffic for just over a decade, retaining their original
black paintwork throughout. A few including D2502 as seen here at Canada Street had wasp
stripes added during 1966.
D2508 Another example of the early style Hudswell Clarke shunter spotted at Canada Road.
A further development of the Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 diesel mechanical shunter powered by the
Gardner 8L3 unit came in 1961 when 10 centre cab locomotives were introduced.
Later style Hudswell Clarke D2511 at Canada Street.
North British shunter at Alloa Goods, one of the usual Canada Road locos.
North British shunter kit-bashed from an ancient Joueff model.
North British shunter D2731 constructed from the excellent Judith Edge kit. The loco is
pictured buffered-up to a standard 16 ton mineral wagon. 1967 was to bring a mass cull
of these small Scottish locos and by March 1968 they had all left the BR fleet.
D2731 pictured working into the docks with a string of grain hoppers.
North British 0-4-0 D2774 is seen on the back road by the dock wall.
Thanks must go to Mike Edge for producing such superb kits of this North British type.
Hunslet D2950 is pictured in a similar ex-works condition in the livery it received
during a visit to Doncaster in 1966. Having dropped off the arrivals, the loco stables
briefly as the crew discuss instructions for the next task with the yard supervisor...
...and buffers-up with an ex-LNER plywood van on the plank crossing.
