Class 33s

Class 33s

In 1960, the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company built a class of 98 locomotives, later to be designated Class 33s. They were capable of operating at up to 85mph and were equipped with a reliable 1,550hp Sulzer engine. Three sub-classes were subsequently created, classified as the standard Class 33/0, the push-pull Class 33/1 and the narrow-bodied Class 33/2.

These locos were eventually used over a large area of operation, and throughout their careers worked both passenger and freight duties. The south of England saw the main bulk of their workings, with allocations split between Hither Green, Stewarts Lane and Eastleigh.

During the 1980s, however, they were also diagrammed on passenger services much further afield, with workings including Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol / Cardiff / Swansea, Cardiff to Crewe / Manchester, and local services from Exeter to Barnstaple / Paignton / Plymouth. Following privatisation, freight company English, Welsh & Scottish Railway even transferred Class 33s to Aberdeen, albeit not for very long.

Many of these useful locos have survived into the 21st century, both as attractions on heritage lines and in service with rail tour companies. With more than 220 images, this book offers a nostalgic pictorial record of the Class 33 locomotives around the UK.

Available: NOW

ISBN: 978 1 80282 479 7

Price: £15.99

Series: Britain’s Railways Series, vol 40

Format: Paperback, 96 pages

Author: Mark V. Pike