British Rail Class 35
The British Rail Class 35 is a class of mixed traffic B-B diesel locomotive with hydraulic transmission. On account of their Mekydro-design hydraulic transmission units, the design became known as the Hymeks.
| British Rail Class 35 | |
| 300px | |
| Preserved D7017 at Minehead in 1979 | |
| Power type | Diesel-hydraulic |
|---|---|
| Builder | Beyer Peacock (Hymek) Ltd |
| Serial number | 7894–7938, 7949–8004 |
| Build date | 1961–1964 |
| Configuration | B-B |
| UIC classification | B'B' |
| Gauge | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track gauge/data' not found. |
| Wheel diameter | 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) |
| Wheelbase | 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) |
| Length | 51 ft 8+1⁄2 in (15.761 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 75 long tons (76.2 t) |
| Fuel capacity | 800 imp gal (3,600 L; 960 US gal) |
| Prime mover | Bristol-Siddley / Maybach MD870 |
| Transmission | Hydraulic. Stone-Maybach Mekydro type 6184U |
| Multiple working | Yellow Triangle |
| Top speed | 90 mph (145 km/h) |
| Power output | Engine: 1,700 bhp (1,270 kW) |
| Tractive effort | Maximum: 46,600 lbf (207.3 kN) |
| Train heating | Steam generator |
| Locomotive brakeforce | 57 long tons-force (568 kN) |
| Train brakes | Vacuum |
| Career | British Railways |
| Number | D7000–D7100 |
| Nicknames | Hymek |
| Axle load class | Route availability 6 |
| Retired | 1971–1975 |
The type was developed for the Western Region of British Railways, which had opted for lightweight locomotives with hydraulic transmission when allocated funds under the British Railways Modernisation Plan of 1955. One hundred and one of the class were built between 1961 and 1964 when it became apparent that there was a requirement for a medium power diesel-hydraulic design for both secondary passenger work and freight duties.
They were allocated to Bristol Bath Road, Cardiff Canton and Old Oak Common. None of the class was named. Withdrawal from service began in 1971, and by 1975 all had been withdrawn. Their early withdrawal was caused, primarily, by BR classifying the hydraulic transmission as non-standard. Four examples survived into preservation.
British Rail Class 35 Media
- Sonning Cutting geograph-2399322-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
D7033 piloting 5013 Abergavenny Castle on a South Wales to London service in 1962
- Hymeks on the scrap line.jpg
Hymeks on the scrap line at Swindon
- Brooksbottoms Tunnel.jpg
D7076 on the East Lancashire Railway
- D7018.jpg
BR class 35 Hymek D7018 on shed at Didcot in original BR green livery without yellow warning panels. Scanned from a Kodachrome 35mm slide.
- Watchet D7017.jpg
Freshly repainted Class 35 D7017 approaches Watchet on the West Somerset Railway, England.
- D7076 at Bury East Lancashire Railway.jpg
Green, full warning panel.
- D7017 Exeter Railfair May 1994.jpg
Blue, small warning panel.
- Hymek 7017 Crowcombe Heathfield.jpg
'Hymek' Class 35 7017 arriving at Crowcombe Hetahfield station on the West Somerset Railway, England, with a train to Bishops Lydeard. It is in the British Rail blue livery used in the 1970s when it was withdrawn, as is the coach behind it.
