Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company’s Type 3, better known as the Class 33, or simply the ‘Crompton’. Mark Nicholls recounts the type’s history.
In British Railways’ 1955 Modernisation Plan there was little interest for a Type 3 power category, covering locos in the 1,500-2,000hp range, but that was soon found to be a mistake.
The Type 3 was actually one of the most flexible of all, able to provide a loco capable of varied mixed traffic use for light and medium freight and passenger work. It also had the ability to haul heavy loads at low to moderate speed. Furthermore, it offered the power of a Type 5 if used in multiple.
Posted by Greensands on 01/02/2021 09:35:46:
During the lock down I have taken to re-reading the books written by C. Hamilton Ellis and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Given that his style would now be considered somewhat dated and representative of a bygone privileged background I just wonder how many others on the forum might share the same opinion. An example of a very good read is his book on the London Midland & Scottish railway, packed full of detail and historical account and written with a great sense of humour
I ve got Some Classic Locomotives and The Trains We Loved . Can t say I find his style dated, though the classic locomotives are!