*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
BR Shunting Locomotives - Class 03
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Beginning in 1957, British Railways own design for a small 0-6-0 shunter joined the private
company types in the fleet. D2019 was an early example and is shown in the original livery
for the type. Although many remained in use into the 1980s, D2019 was not so lucky and was
withdrawn in 1971 having never carried a TOPS number. It was sold into industry and exported
to Italy during 1972 for further use.
As early as 1961 examples of the BR Class 03 began arriving new at the depot in Birkenhead to
bolster the available diesel fleet, an association that was to last more than a quarter of a
century. D2027 is representative of the type, although never in truth allocated to Birkenhead.
The lamp and shunter’s pole are typical footplate clutter for a loco at work.
A closing sequence recalling Birkenhead Docks in the late 1970s, as 03069 emerges
from the docks with a pair of 35 ton grain hoppers.
03069 at Easington Lane.
BR Swindon built Class 03 number 03111 - the subject of a High Level Kits etched brass
chassis with detailed Mainline body. Depicted when allocated to Bradford Hammerton Street
and used as a station pilot for Wibdenshaw.
Class 03 at Shenston Road.
Green liveried 03128 with brake van at Shenston Road.
Canada Street's Class 03 number 2135, depicting the early 1970s as it shunts on the dockside.
A green Class 03 with characteristic fuel spillage from the bonnet top filler caps, and
slightly faded red paint on the bufferbeam.
D.2136 was a Bristol based loco during the late
1960s, and retained the steam-era character style until it was withdrawn during 1972.
The model is built using a Mainline 03 body and Branchlines chassis kit.
In a scene recalling Ipswich docks in the long hot summer of 1976, 03 158 is seen at work
amongst air-braked vans. Before its move to Colchester shed (which provided the Ipswich
dock shunters) 03 158 had been a Hull Botanic Gardens machine, where stock shunts through
the carriage washing plant had given it the characteristic bleached livery.
The loco is seen resting between duties. It was to work from Colchester for eleven years
before withdrawal in July of 1987. In the background one of the vans shows fresh rebranding
with the recently adopted Railfreight logo on a maroon patch.
2164 is a Stratford allocated Class 03 (previously 03111 at Wibdenshaw) and better suited
for Hornsey Broadway in its 1970 guise. Mainline model with High Level chassis.
The higher top speed of the Class 03 (over the Class 08) made them particularly suitable
for use in areas away from their depot. Here dual braked 03371 (High Level Kit with
Bachmann body) rests between duties at Hebble Vale Goods Yard near Halifax.
