British Rail Class 97

British Rail reserved the TOPS Class 97 designation for departmental locomotives, which were used for special or engineering duties.

Class 97 numbers were allocated in one of three ways: Built by Ruston & Hornsby in January 1957 with the serial number 408493, this 4wDM shunter was ordered specifically for departmental use by the Signalling & Telecommunications department of the Western region at Reading Signal Works.

The transmission was diesel mechanical, although the wheels were chain driven from the gearbox and the loco was rated at 88 bhp (66 kW) for a weight of only 17 tons.

[citation needed] It only lasted in Departmental service until January 1984 when it was again withdrawn, eventually being scrapped by Vic Berry.

This was former Class 31 locomotive 31163, currently based at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in Derby RTC livery.

They are intended for use primarily on the Cambrian lines from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, which requires an ERTMS-capable fleet.

[3] A new inspection shed was built in 2008 at Coleham (Sutton Bridge Junction) in Shrewsbury for these locos.

[4][5] On 15 May 2024, 97304 was named Rheilffordd Talyllyn Railway at Tywyn by Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail.

[6][7] 97401 was a Class 46 'Peak' locomotive, bought by the Derby-based Railway Technical Centre straight from British Rail service in 1984.

In 1985, they were returned to use and employed on engineering trains around Crewe, and restricted to a maximum speed of 35 mph (56 km/h).

After these duties finished, the four Class 40s continued in departmental service working ballast, freight and occasional parcels trains until finally being withdrawn in 1986/87.

97472, was renumbered back to number 47472, and shortly after was withdrawn from traffic due to fire damage.

These battery locomotives were converted from the driving motor cars from former Class 501 electric multiple units, and usually worked in pairs.

They were powered by large batteries containing 160 cells, to work four 128 kW (172 hp) traction motors.

[11] This number range was reserved for shunting locomotives converted from capital stock.

This number range was reserved for Battery-Electric shunters on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.