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BTH / Clayton - D82XX Class 15 notes & details
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The first 10 pilot-scheme locomotives were introduced in 1957 by British Thompson Houston
(BTH), and a subsequent order of 34 production locos followed in a collaboration between BTH
and the Clayton Equipment Company. They were designed and used for cross-London trip freight
workings, station pilot and ECS duties, and lived out their lives mainly on the ex-Great
Eastern Railway lines. All were outshopped in all-over BR standard green livery, with the
front and rear of the cabs in grey, red buffer beams and black solebars / running gear. BR
Lion & Wheel emblems were carried on the cabside, along with the 1957 'D' prefixed numbers (D8200-D8243).
All the class acquired small yellow warning panels during the early 1960s, with a handful
carrying numbers on the nose ends. Full yellow panels were applied to some in the late 1960s,
whilst around this time other members of the class were withdrawn from service without this
addition, due mainly to a downturn in the work they were designed for. Stratford depot
overhauled and repainted some of the class, but due to the workaday staining and weathering,
it is difficult to confirm those which received green solebars. The BR double arrow logo
started to appear during this period, along with 'TOPS' style numerals (including the 'D'
prefix), but with some still retaining the old style numbers. Many variations occurred on
the cabsides with large or small logos, as well as data panels and allocation stickers
applied adhock. D8230 & D8232 lasted until 1971, still with small yellow panels. Four of the
1969 withdrawals were later converted at Doncaster Works into ETH pre-heating units. Black
bufferbeams or shanks were noted on some members of the class such as D8213 and 8234, and
is detailed in the table below where known. The last of the class were withdrawn from active
service in March 1971, with only the four ETH pre-heating units (ADB968000-03) remaining on the books.
Allocation notes.
1st Jan 1968; D8200-19/34/5/8-43 (30A Stratford). D8220-9/36/7 (32B Ipswich). D8230/1/2/3 (34G Finsbury Park).
1st Jan 1969; All allocated to 30A/SF, except 8231/2/3 at 34G/FP.
1st Jan 1970; All allocated to 30A/SF, except 8231/2 at 34G/FP.
Loco by loco notes.
Changes relating to small yellow ends (SYE) and full yellow ends (FYE), as well as other
cabside details, may have occurred before the dates specified. There have been a few conflicting
notes found during the compilation of this article, so to avoid any confusion they have been left
out. Monochrome pictures do not show up the difference between black and red bufferbeams, so again
this information has been left out to avoid confusion, unless know for sure.
D8200
New 11/57, w/n 03/71 - Data panel, and still retaining nose end numbers 08/69. FYE 07/70. Cut up
at Crewe Works 03/72
D8201
New 02/58, w/n 03/71 - FYE 11/68. Data panel, and without 'D' 04/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 02/72.
D8202
New 02/58, w/n 09/68 - Withdrawn with SYE, and nose end number on long bonnet end, with 'D' in
different style and position to original. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 10/69.
D8203
New 03/58, w/n 03/69 - FYE 04/67. No data panel when withdrawn. Into departmental stock as
ADB968003. After use as pre-heating unit, loco cut up by V Berry at Colchester 10/81.
D8204
New 04/58, w/n 03/71 - Nose end numbers 1961. FYE with totem 11/68. Data panel with
'D' 08/69. Cut up at Crewe Works 04/72
D8205
New 05/58, w/n 09/68 - FYE at Stratford 01/68. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 05/69.
D8206
New 06/58, w/n 09/68 - No data panel when withdrawn. Cut up at D Woodham, Barry 03/70.
D8207
New 07/58, w/n 03/71 - Data panel 08/69. FYE 11/69. Cut up at Crewe Works 04/72.
D8208
New 07/58, w/n 09/68 - Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 04/69.
D8209
New 11/58, w/n 03/71 - Data panel 08/69. FYE without 'D' 03/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 04/72.
D8210
New 10/59, w/n 03/71 - FYE, data panel and 'D' 02/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 03/72.
D8211
New 11/59, w/n 03/71 - FYE 01/68. Still retained 'D' with data panel when withdrawn.
Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8212
New 11/59, w/n 09/68 - Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 04/69.
D8213
New 12/59, w/n 12/68 - FYE with arrow logo, 'TOPS' style numbers with 'D',
black b/beams 01/68. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 05/69.
D8214
New 12/59, w/n 12/70 - SYE with squared-off corners, 'D' and data panel 08/69 .
FYE without 'D' 04/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8215
New 01/60, w/n 12/70 - Data panel 08/69. FYE without 'D' 11/69. Cut up at Crewe Works 11/71.
D8216
New 01/60, w/n 03/71 - Data panel 08/69. FYE 03/70. Without 'D' when withdrawn.
Cut up at Crewe Works 01/72.
D8217
New 01/60, w/n 03/68 - FYE 09/67 - the only detail change before being withdrawn.
Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 03/69.
D8218
New 02/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE 3/68. Data panel and without 'D' when withdrawn.
Cut up at Crewe Works 11/71.
D8219
New 02/60, w/n 09/68 - FYE 3/68. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 04/69.
D8220
New 03/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE without 'D' 03/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 11/71.
D8221
New 03/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE 12/67. Data panel with 'D' 08/69. Without 'D' when withdrawn.
Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8222
New 03/60, w/n 03/71 - SYE and data panel 09/69. FYE without 'D' 05/70.
Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8223
New 04/60, w/n 12/68 - Never received data panels. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 10/69.
D8224
New 04/60, w/n 03/71 - SYE, data panel and 'D' 09/69. FYE 07/70. Without 'D' 10/70.
Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8225
New 05/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE, data panel and 'D' 08/69. Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8226
New 05/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE, arrow logo, TOPS numbers with 'D' 11/68. Data panel,
works & shed plates 1970. Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8227
New 05/60, w/n 09/68 - FYE at Stratford 01/67. Never received data panel.
Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 11/69.
D8228
New 06/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE with totem and original numbers 12/66. Arrow logo, TOPS
numbers with 'D' 08/67. Data panel without 'D' 01/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 12/71.
D8229
New 06/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE, arrow logo, TOPS style numbers with 'D' 02/68.
Data panel and 'D' 08/69. Without 'D' 04/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 01/72.
D8230
New 07/60, w/n 03/71 - SYE, data panel and 'D' 08/70. Possibly withdrawn with SYE.
Cut up at Crewe Works 11/71.
D8231
D8233
New 08/60, w/n 02/69 - No known livery alterations in service. (Into departmental stock as
ADB968001). After use as pre-heating unit, loco bought by The Class 15 Preservation Society in 1984.
D8234
New 09/60, w/n 03/71 - FYE, arrow logo, TOPS style numbers with 'D' 02/68.
Black b/beams 04/69. Data panel without 'D' 04/70. Cut up at Crewe Works 11/71.
D8235
New 09/60, w/n 10/68 - FYE, arrow logo, TOPS style numbers with 'D' 01/68.
No data panel when withdrawn. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 07/69.
D8236
New 10/60, w/n 10/68 - FYE, arrow logo, TOPS style numbers with 'D' 11/68.
No data panel when withdrawn. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 07/69.
D8237
New 11/60, w/n 03/69 - SYE, totem with 'D' when withdrawn. (Into departmental stock as
ADB968002). After use as pre-heating unit, loco cut up by Marple & Gillot, Sheffield 04/85.
D8238
New 12/60, w/n 09/68 - FYE, small arrow logo, TOPS style numbers with 'D'.
Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 06/69.
D8239
New 01/61, w/n 03/71 - FYE 01/68. Data panel, early style numbers with 'D' 02/70.
Cut up at Crewe Works 01/72.
D8240
New 01/61, w/n 10/68 - FYE, arrow logo, TOPS style numbers with 'D' 03/67. No data panel
when withdrawn. Cut up at G Cohen, Kettering 07/69.
D8241
New 02/61, w/n 04/68 - Cut up at J Cashmore, Great Bridge, Tipton 12/68 (still with SYE).
D8242
New 02/61, w/n 03/71 - SYE, small arrow logo, early style numbers with 'D' 01/67. Data panel with 'D' 04/70. FYE, original numbers without 'D' in 1971. No other member of the class had SYE with arrow logo, and D8242 also had additional OHLE warning flashes. Cut up at Crewe Works 11/71.
D8243
New 02/61, w/n 02/69 - FYE, small arrow logo, original numbers with 'D' 01/67. (Into departmental
stock as ADB968000). No data panel when withdrawn. After use as pre-heating unit, loco cut up by
Vic Berry, Leicester 02/91.
This information has been compiled by Paul James and Kier Hardy, extracted personal notes and
reference by the RCTS / Railway Observer / Class 15 Preservation Society in part. Prototype
photographs by Mike Whitchurch showing the closed depot at Ipswich in 1971, when just about every
surviving member of the class can be seen stored, and awaiting their final journey to Crewe Works
for cutting up. It's also probable that most of them are in full working order, but no work for them to do!
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A snapshot for the album - D8242 & D8204 are seen on Hornsey Road shed together.
