Class 33
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The class 33s were built by BRC&W between 1960 to 1962, and are similar to class 26 and class 27 locomotives, but have a larger 8-cylinder 1550hp sulzer engine.
During their British Rail career they were based on the Southern Region, although in the mid 1990s a few appearances in Scotland were made on special trains.
Three class 33 locomotives were sent to Scotland on 1st October 1999.
33025 (grey/yellow) and 33030 (EWS livery) were allocated to Motherwell, and outbased at Aberdeen for local freight duties.
33019 (grey/yellow) was kept at Motherwell Depot as a source for spares.
Journeys to and from Aberdeen were usually 'dead in train' on scheduled freights, however 33030 did have two notable workings:
33030 caught fire at Huntly while working 6A11 to Aberdeen on Weds 17 Jan 2001. As 33025 had been out of service at Motherwell for a while, both 33 were now out of action.
33025 and 33030 were officially withdrawn on 8 February 2001.
After sitting at Motherwell Depot for almost a year the locos were bought by DRS and repaired at Glasgow Works, returning to traffic in July 2002.
DRS sold their class 33s (33025, 33029, 33030 and 33207) to WCRC in September 2005 (with 37197 and 37261 going to DRS).
WCRC have mostly used the class 33s on empty stock movements, although 33207 was used on The Royal Scotsman Western Tours during September 2006, visiting Mallaig, Taynuilt and Wemyss Bay.
WCRC operational fleet: (all now painted maroon).
FM Rail's 33103 Swordfish visited Scotland in June 2006 on an inspection train run for Network Rail.
33207 stands in the yard at Glasgow Works after hauling steam loco 45157 and support coach from Glasgow Central on 31 August 2006. Photo by class47man
During their British Rail career they were based on the Southern Region, although in the mid 1990s a few appearances in Scotland were made on special trains.
EWS
Three class 33 locomotives were sent to Scotland on 1st October 1999.
33025 (grey/yellow) and 33030 (EWS livery) were allocated to Motherwell, and outbased at Aberdeen for local freight duties.
33019 (grey/yellow) was kept at Motherwell Depot as a source for spares.
Journeys to and from Aberdeen were usually 'dead in train' on scheduled freights, however 33030 did have two notable workings:
- On 27th March 2000, 33030 hauled failed 66023 and its train (the 6E43 'Enterprise' to Doncaster) from Aberdeen to Millerhill.
- 33030 also worked the 1B16 Aberdeen portion of the Sleeper train, on 10 October 2000, south to Dundee with failed 47732, where replacement 47790 took over.
33030 caught fire at Huntly while working 6A11 to Aberdeen on Weds 17 Jan 2001. As 33025 had been out of service at Motherwell for a while, both 33 were now out of action.
33025 and 33030 were officially withdrawn on 8 February 2001.
DRS
After sitting at Motherwell Depot for almost a year the locos were bought by DRS and repaired at Glasgow Works, returning to traffic in July 2002.
DRS sold their class 33s (33025, 33029, 33030 and 33207) to WCRC in September 2005 (with 37197 and 37261 going to DRS).
West Coast Railway Company
WCRC have mostly used the class 33s on empty stock movements, although 33207 was used on The Royal Scotsman Western Tours during September 2006, visiting Mallaig, Taynuilt and Wemyss Bay.
WCRC operational fleet: (all now painted maroon).
FM Rail
FM Rail's 33103 Swordfish visited Scotland in June 2006 on an inspection train run for Network Rail.