British Rail Class 53 information

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• UIC	Co′Co′
• Commonwealth	Co-Co
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Wheel diameter	3 ft 7 in (1,092 mm)
Wheelbase	56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
Length	68 ft 10 in (20.98 m)
Width	8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
Height	12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Loco weight	115 long tons (117 t; 129 short tons)
Fuel capacity	1,440 imp gal (6,500 L; 1,730 US gal)
Prime mover	2× Maybach MD655
Traction motors	Brush, 6 of
Cylinders	12 (each engine)
Train heating	Spanner Mk III 2,500-pound (1,100 kg) per hour steam generator
Loco brake	Brakeforce: 59 long tons-force (588 kN)
Train brakes	Vacuum, later: Air

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	Brush Traction
Serial number	280
Build date	1961

British Rail Class 53 (*Falcon*)
British Rail Class 53 (Falcon)
	D0280 at London King's Cross
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	Brush Traction
Serial number	280
Build date	1961
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• UIC	Co′Co′
• Commonwealth	Co-Co
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Wheel diameter	3 ft 7 in (1,092 mm)
Wheelbase	56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
Length	68 ft 10 in (20.98 m)
Width	8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
Height	12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Loco weight	115 long tons (117 t; 129 short tons)
Fuel capacity	1,440 imp gal (6,500 L; 1,730 US gal)
Prime mover	2× Maybach MD655
Traction motors	Brush, 6 of
Cylinders	12 (each engine)
Train heating	Spanner Mk III 2,500-pound (1,100 kg) per hour steam generator
Loco brake	Brakeforce: 59 long tons-force (588 kN)
Train brakes	Vacuum, later: Air
Maximum speed
Performance figures
Maximum speed	100 mph (161 km/h)
Power output	2,880 hp (2,150 kW)
Tractive effort	60,000 lbf (266.9 kN)
Operators
Career
Operators	British Railways
Numbers	D0280, later 1200
Axle load class	Route availability: 7 (6 from 1969)
Locale	Eastern Region; Western Region (from 1965)
Withdrawn	October 1975
Disposition	Scrapped May 1976

D0280 Falcon was a single prototype diesel-electric locomotive, built for British Railways in 1961. It was one of a series of three prototypes: Falcon, DP2 and Lion, eventually leading to the Class 47 and Class 50.^[1] A requirement was expressed by the BTC at a meeting on 15 January 1960 for new Type 4 designs of Co-Co arrangement, which would be lighter than the earlier 1Co-Co1 locomotives such as the Peak classes, produced under the Pilot Scheme.

Brush had a licence to build the Maybach MD655 engine, as already used in the Western region diesel-hydraulics, although their licence limited them to diesel-electric locomotives.^[2] These engines were of lower weight than their competitors, which led Brush to consider using a pair of them, like the Western hydraulics. Design work began in 1959 under contract Nº 04/20600, before the BTC requirement had been issued.^[3]

British Rail later assigned Class 53^[4]^[5]^[6] and the running number 1200. While not in any sense a failure, the design was the victim of advances in locomotive technology (specifically, the power obtainable from single medium-speed diesel engines) and was never duplicated.

^ Clough (2005), p. 121.
^ Clough (2005), pp. 121–122.
^ Clough (2005), p. 122.
^ Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1972). British Railways Locomotives and Other Motive Power: Combined Volume. London: Ian Allan. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7110-0325-5.
^ Strickland, D.C. (March 1983). D+EG Locomotive Directory. Camberley: Diesel & Electric Group. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-906375-10-5.
^ Marsden, Colin J. (November 1984). BR Locomotive Numbering. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-0-7110-1445-9. EX/1184.

[FOOTNOTEClough2005121-1] Clough (2005), p. 121.

[FOOTNOTEClough2005121–122-2] Clough (2005), pp. 121–122.

[FOOTNOTEClough2005122-3] Clough (2005), p. 122.

[4] Williams, Alan; Percival, David (1972). British Railways Locomotives and Other Motive Power: Combined Volume. London: Ian Allan. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7110-0325-5.

[5] Strickland, D.C. (March 1983). D+EG Locomotive Directory. Camberley: Diesel & Electric Group. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-906375-10-5.

[6] Marsden, Colin J. (November 1984). BR Locomotive Numbering. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-0-7110-1445-9. EX/1184.

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