British Rail Class 20

Designed around relatively basic technology, the 73-tonne locomotives produce {{convert|1000|hp}} and can operate at up to {{convert|75|mph|abbr=on}}. Designed to work light mixed freight traffic, they have no train heating facilities. Locomotives up to D8127 were fitted with disc indicators in the style of the steam era;{{cite magazine |last=Wells |first=Monty |title=Tweak a Twenty |magazine=Railway Modeller |volume=33 |issue=385 |pages=398–401 |publisher=Peco Publications & Publicity Ltd |location=Seaton, Devon |date=November 1982}} when headcodes were introduced in 1960 the locomotive's design was changed to incorporate headcode boxes. Although older locomotives were not retro-fitted with headcode boxes, a few of the earlier batch acquired headcode boxes as a result of repairs. Unusually for British designs, the locomotive had a single cab. This caused serious problems with visibility when travelling nose first, though in these circumstances the driver's view is comparable to that on the steam locomotives that the Class 20s replaced. It was common, however, to find Class 20s paired together at the nose, with their cabs at opposite ends, ensuring that the driver could quite clearly see the road ahead, and a guard can watch the train from the other locomotive without the need for a brakevan.

File:Railway Station, Shrewsbury - geograph.org.uk - 656019.jpg

The Class 20 saw only limited service on passenger trains. A small number were fitted with a through pipe for steam heating, primarily for use in conjunction with a {{brc|27}} locomotive on the West Highland Line. Otherwise their use was limited to summer relief services, particularly to {{rws|Skegness}} often under the adopted title of The Jolly Fisherman starting from various places including {{rws|Burton-on-Trent}}, {{rws|Stoke-on-Trent}}, {{rws|Derby}} and {{rws|Leicester}}. Also occasionally other holiday resorts on the east coast of England, occasional duties as a pilot, and short distance diversions of electric-hauled trains over non-electrified lines.{{cite book |last1=Webster |first1=Neal |last2=Greaves |first2=Simon |last3=Greengrass |first3=Robert |title=Loco-Hauled Travel 1985-6 |publisher=Metro Enterprises |year=1985 |location=Bradford |isbn=0-947773-02-9}}{{page needed|date=March 2021}}

The shift of light mixed freight to the road network left British Rail with an oversupply of small locomotives. The Class 20s, however, could work in multiple and so could handle heavier traffic. Most spent the majority of their working lives coupled nose to nose in pairs to provide a more useful {{convert|2000|hp|abbr=on}} unit and to solve the visibility problems.

As of 2024, most have now been withdrawn, but a small number remain in consistent mainline service with Balfour Beatty in addition to other charter operators including LSL TOC. Industrial use of the Class 20 continues at Hope Cement Works with locomotives supplied by Swietelsky (formerly Harry Needle Railroad Company){{cite web |title=Swietelsky buys Harry Needle Railroad Co |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/swietelsky-buys-harry-needle-railroad-co/68130.article |website=Railway Gazette |publisher=Rail Business UK |access-date=14 April 2025}}. Several that are usually operated singly have been fitted with nose-mounted video cameras as a way of solving the visibility problems.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

The Série 1400 locomotives of Portuguese Railways (CP) and the G class locomotives of Midland Railway of Western Australia are based on the BR Class 20s, with the latter units featuring a different cab, based on the Jamaican Railways Class 81.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In June 1957, D8000 was delivered to Devons Road depot in Bow, London. The rest of the first batch of Class 20s were delivered to Devons Road over the following nine months, to work cross-London transfer freights.{{cite magazine |title=The English Electric Class 20s |first=Evan |last=Green-Hughes |magazine=Hornby Magazine |pages=74–77 |issue=34 |date=April 2010 |location=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |issn=1753-2469 |oclc=226087101}} The following eight locos allocated to Hornsey depot. After a trial with D8006, D8028–D8034 were allocated for work in highland Scotland, and had tablet catcher recesses built into the cabsides. D8035–D8044 were originally to be allocated to Norwich, but were actually used for empty coaching stock (ECS) workings in and out of London {{rws|Euston}}. D8050–D8069 were allocated to the new Tinsley TMD in South Yorkshire, from where they regularly worked into Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire. D8070–D8127 were sent to operate in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the Forth-Clyde area, and the Fife coalfield. This completed the original orders for 128 locos, the last being delivered in August 1962.

With the subsequent order for a further 100 Class 20 locos, deliveries recommenced with D8128 in January 1966. Tests in 1967 using D8179 and D8317 resulted in locos from D8316 being delivered from the manufacturer with the new electronic control system for working merry-go-round (MGR) coal trains. Certain trains to Longannet Power Station operated with three locomotives, two at one end and one at the other. These trains were made up with 42 HAA wagons and the formation avoided the need for running round.

Some Class 20s were used on the construction of the Channel Tunnel and High Speed 1 and some even made their way to France to work for the Compagnie des chemins de Fer Départementaux (CFD) in industry there, although these have since been repatriated. Some locos have in the past been hired by Hunslet-Barclay to provide motive power for weedkilling trains.

The fleet of Class 20/3s owned by Direct Rail Services (DRS) did at times see frequent work across Britain in pairs (or with Class 37s) on nuclear flask trains, the company's speciality. DRS supplies class 20s for use with the Rail Head Treatment Train in winter.

Perhaps the most unusual train hauled by a Class 20 was the Kosovo Train for Life charter train in autumn 1999 which carried 800 tonnes of aid. Leaving London's Kensington Olympia station on 17 September 1999,{{cite web |title=Pickersgill-Kaye sponsor Kosovo train for life |date=27 September 1999 |publisher=Pickersgill-Kaye Ltd |url=http://www.pkaye.co.uk/kosovo.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080704070108/http://www.pkaye.co.uk/kosovo.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 July 2008 |access-date=20 May 2008}} the train was hauled by 20 901, 20 902 and 20 903 throughout, reaching Prague by 20 September{{cite web |title=Class 20 |website=The Railway Centre.com |url=http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20Loco/Recognition%20loco/Illus_20.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927095955/http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20Loco/Recognition%20loco/Illus_20.html |archive-date=27 September 2013 |access-date=20 May 2008 |url-status=usurped}} and arriving at Pristina station at 10:00 on 25 September.{{cite news |title=Train of life in Kosovo |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=25 September 1999 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/457312.stm |access-date=20 May 2008}}

DRS initially had a fleet of 15 operational Class 20/3 locomotives. Three of these have subsequently been disposed of for scrap, after stripping for spares; a further two were sold on to Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC, now Swietelsky). Following the end of the 2019 Sandite season (Rail Head Treatment Trains), all of the remaining DRS Class 20/3 fleet were stood down, awaiting disposal.

In 2005 HNRC acquired a large number of 20/0s and 20/9s from the stored DRS fleet. By May 2008 HNRC had eight operational Class 20s and sixteen in storage; two were on hire at Corus Scunthorpe (nos. 81 and 82).

Over a ten-year period, concluding in 2019, a number of Class 20s from HNRC were employed to deliver new S-Stock from Bombardier Transportation at Derby Litchurch Lane Works, to London Underground at Neasden depot or West Ruislip depot, for commissioning. Subsequently, immediately after the completion of deliveries, modification of these units (addition of equipment for automatic signalling) was required and they were returned to Derby in the same manner. Formation of the trains usually consisted of a pair of Class 20s, two barrier wagons, the LU S-Stock set, two barrier wagons and a dead-in-tow pair of Class 20s at the rear.

{{Clear}}

File:Sheepbridge Bank.jpg

File:20906 & 20168 at Hope Cement Works.jpg in 2025]]

File:HNRail 20311.jpg 20 311 at Derby in 2014]]

File:Balfour Beatty 20901 & 20905 with the Drain Train working 6J09 Crewe Gresty Lane Down Sidings to Woking Up Yard passes Byfleet & New Haw 13-08-24 (53922253316).jpg

File:Corus 81 (20056).JPG 81 (ex-BR 20 056) at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, 9 July 2006]]

File:20309 at Hope Cement Works (2).jpg 10 April 2025]]

D8000 was delivered in June 1957 in overall green livery, with grey footplate, red bufferbeams and a grey roof extending down the bodyside to the edge of the roof panels.{{cite book |last1=Stevens-Stratten |first1=S.W. |last2=Carter |first2=R.S. |title=British Rail Main-Line Diesels |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd |year=1978 |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-0617-2}}{{page needed|date=March 2021}} The original batch of 10 locos bore the BR crest facing towards the nose on both sides, used yellow sans serif numerals, and had green cab roofs; locos from D8010 had the correct pattern BR crest, white numerals and grey cab roof. This was adjusted after D8103 to include a small yellow warning panel, although the precise size and detail of such panels varied somewhat.

In 1966, D8048 was selected by the BR design panel for livery experiments and was painted in the prototype standard blue, including the bufferbeams and roof. The exceptions were the full yellow front ends and a black underframe.{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Graham |title=Rail Blue - The Story |work=Rail Blue |date=2012 |url=http://www.railblue.com/rail_blue_history.htm |access-date=20 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724095215/http://www.railblue.com/rail_blue_history.htm |archivedate=24 July 2008}} After the adoption of Rail Blue as the BR livery, D8178 became one of the first locomotives to be delivered in this livery (along with {{brc|25}} D7660 and {{brc|47}} D1953) and all subsequent locomotives were delivered in this livery. Despite this, some locos continued to be returned to traffic in green livery, although often with the later BR "double arrow" logo and data panel; thus 20 141 was the final main line loco to carry BR green livery.{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Graham |title=The Class 20 Locomotive Fleet |url=http://www.railblue.com/Fleet/class_20_fleet.htm |access-date=25 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121224017/http://www.railblue.com/Fleet/class_20_fleet.htm |archivedate=21 November 2008}}

Some locomotives, including 20 227, were repainted in the Railfreight grey livery with red sole bars, yellow ends and large double arrows on the sides.

At least four of the class were painted in the British Rail Telecommunications livery:{{cite web |url=http://www.samhallas.co.uk/railway/brt_locos.htm |title=BR Telecommunications Locomotives |website=samhallas.co.uk |access-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916164649/http://www.samhallas.co.uk/railway/brt_locos.htm |archive-date=16 September 2013 |publisher=BR Telecommunications Ltd |last1=Hallas |first1=Sam |last2=Ward |first2=Chris |type=Article |url-status=live}}

• 20 075 – Sir William Cooke – rebuilt as 20 309 and sold by DRS to HNRC, currently on short-term hire at Breedon's Hope Cement Works.{{cite magazine |last=Pizer |first=Bill |title=HNRC Class 20 Breedon Overhaul |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/railways-illustrated/20241029/281762749749929?srsltid=AfmBOoq8-uA96QN9HL-dSThUGU7TBhvDJJF8xmm0zKUcmFxJjCmv0Cfw |magazine=Railways Illustrated |publisher=Mortons Media Group |access-date=29 October 2024 |page=18 |via=Pressreader}}
• 20 128 – Guglielmo Marconi – rebuilt as 20 307 and has been scrapped
• 20 131 – Almon B. Strowger – rebuilt as 20 306 and has been scrapped
• 20 187 – Sir Charles Wheatstone – rebuilt as 20 308 and currently stood down by DRS, awaiting disposal

Class 20/3 locomotives operated by DRS have all been painted in DRS Oxford Blue livery, with red bufferbeams and full yellow ends. There have been small variations in the shade of yellow used on these locos, and the penetration of blue from the sides onto the ends.

Class 20 locomotives operated by Swietelsky (who have recently acquired the Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC)) are painted in the HNRC house colours of orange and black, with yellow nose ends (20 121, 20 166, 20 311 and 20 314). Some other locomotives owned by HNRC, of subclasses 20/0 and 20/9, have been painted in a variation of two-tone Railfreight grey livery. These have dark grey roof, mid-grey upper body and light grey lower body, black underframe and buffer beam. The nose ends are painted yellow, with the lower part of the cab end in yellow and the upper part black, this continuing around the cab sides but with the light grey instead of yellow. Others are in BR Blue or Railfreight Red-stripe livery.

HNRC Class 20s on long-term hire to Corus were painted in Corus livery; previously silver but currently a bright yellow with red solebar (No.81 – 20 056). Since the Corus business was bought by the Indian Tata Steel group, some of these locomotives have been repainted into Tata Blue livery (No.82 – 20 066). Two HNRC Class 20s were painted into GBRf Europorte's blue and gold livery (20 901 and 20 905) prior to being sold to Balfour Beatty in 2024, while two other HNRC Class 20s have been painted in the blue livery of Breedon; No.2 – 20 168 "Sir George Earle" and No.3 – 20 906 and are on long-term hire at Hope Cement Works.

Two locomotives, numbers 20 142 and 20 189, were briefly (for a matter of months during 2013) painted into a Balfour Beatty blue and white livery but were then returned to a variation of BR blue shortly after. In January 2024, Balfour Beatty purchased 20 901 and 20 905, which were then repainted at Arriva TrainCare Bristol Barton Hill TMD into Balfour Beatty corporate blue and white livery. Both locomotives were fitted with diesel engine heaters to aid in starting from cold.

Four locomotives carried the orange and white livery of the CFD (Compagnie de Chemins de Fer Départementaux) whilst working in France, these were 20 035, 20 063, 20 139 and 20 228.

The last built Class 20, number 20 227, has been used extensively on the London Underground network. In the mid-2000s it was painted in Metropolitan maroon livery and named "Sir John Betjeman" by the Class 20 Locomotive Society as acknowledgement of this work. It was repainted in a special 'modern taste' LUL-based livery, to mark the London Underground 150 celebrations but has now been repainted, again into Metropolitan maroon, but this time lined, and renamed "Sherlock Holmes". The "Sir John Betjeman" name is now carried by 20 142, which also sports Metropolitan lined maroon livery.

Mainline registered class 20s are:{{cite book |title=The UK Railway Datafile 2015 |first=William |last=Snook |page=}}{{page needed|date=January 2015}}

• On 16 December 1971, locomotives D8142 and D8115 collided with {{brc|25}} no. D7605 at Lenton South Junction, Nottingham, killing 3 railwaymen.{{cite report |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoE_Lenton1971.pdf |title=Railway Accident: Report on the Collision that occurred on 16th December 1971 at Lennon South Junction, Nottingham |year=1973 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=London |author=Department of the Environment |via=Railways Archive}}
• On 18 May 1989, locomotives 20 134 and 20 131 collided with the rear of an MGR train at Worksop, killing the driver.{{cn|date=April 2025}}
• On 21 September 2021, 20 189 collided with a rake of carriages at {{rws|Grosmont}}, North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Five passengers on the heritage railway service were injured.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/north-yorkshire-moors-railway-collision-passenger-train-and-locomotive-involved-in-accident-at-grosmont-station-3391003 |title=North Yorkshire Moors Railway collision: Passenger train and locomotive involved in accident at Grosmont Station |work=Yorkshire Post |accessdate=21 September 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/collision-at-grosmont |title=Collision at Grosmont |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch |accessdate=1 October 2021}}

For the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, a Class 20 (20 188) on the Nene Valley Railway was made to look like a Russian armoured train with the addition of fake armour.{{cite magazine |title=Sinister Class 20 is new James Bond movie star |magazine=Rail |issue=250 |date=12 April 1995 |page=6}}

22 English-Electric Type 1 Class 20s are preserved, including the first of the class built, D8000, which is part of the National Railway Collection at the National Railway Museum in York, North Yorkshire.

{{clear}}

A further three engines were preserved but later used for spares, then eventually scrapped. 20 035 was stripped of parts for use on fellow Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway based classmate D8137, and later scrapped at EMR Kingsbury. 20 177 was located at the Severn Valley Railway and became a source of spare parts for D8188 & D8059; with the remains first going to C.F. Booth Ltd., Rotherham and then the cab section to The Cab Yard in south Wales.{{Cite web |title=Collection – The Cab Yard |url=http://thecabyard.co.uk/collection/ |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-date=2 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902214258/http://thecabyard.co.uk/collection/ |url-status=dead}} 20206 was operated on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, but later sold by its owner, stripped of parts and scrapped.

Hornby Dublo released a BR green OO gauge version of the English Electric Type 1 in 1958, which was in production until 1962. After acquisition of the body moulds, G & R Wrenn re-released the model in 1978.{{cite magazine |title=Hornby Dublo Class 20 |first=Evan |last=Green-Hughes |magazine=Hornby Magazine |pages=68–69 |issue=15 |date=September 2008 |location=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |issn=1753-2469 |oclc=226087101}} In 2008 Hornby Railways launched its first version of the BR Class 20 in OO gauge.{{cite web |url=http://hornbyguide.com/class_details.asp?classid=155 |title=Hornby BR Class 20 |work=Hornby Railways Collector Guide |access-date=1 February 2020}}

In May 2021 Bachmann Collectors Club announced a limited edition run of two London Transport models of the class 20, No. 20142 Sir John Betjeman and No. 20227 Sherlock Holmes. The models are produced in conjunction with the London Transport Museum.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2021|title=Limited Editions {{!}} Bachmann Collectors Club SOUND of the UNDERGROUND |url=https://news.bachmann.co.uk/2021/05/limited-edition-bachmann-club-class-20/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Bachmann Europe News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506193147/https://news.bachmann.co.uk/2021/05/limited-edition-bachmann-club-class-20/ |archive-date=6 May 2021}}

In 2010, Heljan produced an O gauge Class 20 in BR blue.{{cite magazine |title=Heljan launches 'O' gauge Class 20 |first=Mike |last=Wild |magazine=Hornby Magazine |pages=72–73 |issue=34 |date=April 2010 |location=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |issn=1753-2469 |oclc=226087101}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Marsden |first=Colin J. |title=Motive power recognition: 1 Locomotives |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd |year=1981 |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-1109-5}}
• {{cite book |first1=Colin J. |last1=Marsden |first2=Graham B. |last2=Fenn |title=British Rail Main Line Diesel Locomotives |publisher=Haynes |date=1988 |location=Sparkford |isbn=9780860933182 |oclc=17916362}}

• {{cite book |last=Cole |first=Andrew |year=2016 |title=Class 20 Locomotives |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=9781445658919 |oclc=934603402}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Dunn |first=Pip |date=26 February – 11 March 1997 |title=They'll always get you home! |pages=32–36 |issue=299 |magazine=RAIL |publisher=EMAP Apex Publications |issn=0953-4563 |oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Dunn |first=Pip |date=5–18 November 1997 |title=PDQ |magazine=RAIL |issue=317 |publisher=EMAP Apex Publications |page=37 |issn=0953-4563 |oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Dunn |first=Pip |date=11–24 February 1998 |title=Second batch of DRS '20s' nearly ready |magazine=RAIL |issue=324 |publisher=EMAP Apex Publications |pages=60–61 |issn=0953-4563 |oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Dunn |first=Pip |date=9–22 September 1998 |title=Enjoying the atmosphere of France '98! |magazine=RAIL |issue=339 |publisher=EMAP Apex Publications |pages=36–41 |issn=0953-4563 |oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite magazine|title=Double delight|magazine=Hornby Magazine|first=Pip|last=Dunn|pages=42–43|issue=4|date=October 2007|location=Hersham|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issn=1753-2469|oclc=226087101}}
• {{cite book |last1=Dunn |first1=Pip |year=2003 |first2=Martin |last2=Loader |title=Class 20 Photo File |publisher=Vanguard Publications |isbn=9781900872058 |oclc=867918624}}
• {{cite book |last=Dunn |first=Pip |year=2016 |title=British Rail Class 20 Locomotives |publisher=The Crowood Press UK |isbn=9781785000980 |oclc=930829335}}
• {{cite book |last=Fell |first=Andrew |year=1994 |title=Class 20s in Colour |publisher=Midland Publishing Ltd. |location=Leicester |isbn=9781857800203 |oclc=31287783}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Johnston |first=Howard |date=April 1983 |title=When Class 20s go on holiday |magazine=Rail Enthusiast |publisher=EMAP National Publications |pages=16–21 |issn=0262-561X |oclc=49957965}}
• {{cite book |last=McManus |first=Michael |title=Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 - 1968 |publisher=Wirral. Michael McManus }}
• {{cite magazine |title=The 'new' Class 20/9 takes to the rails |page=8 |issue=93 |date=6–19 April 1989 |magazine=RAIL |publisher=EMAP National Publications |issn=0953-4563 |oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite book |last=Oakley |first=Michael |year=1981 |title=BR Class 20 Diesels |publisher=Bradford Barton |location=Truro |isbn=9780851534190 |oclc=16542512}}
• {{cite magazine |title=Outlines of Power No. 4: EE Type 1 (Class 20) |pages=32–33 |date=February 1983 |magazine=Rail Enthusiast |publisher=EMAP National Publications |issn=0262-561X |oclc=49957965}}
• {{cite book |last=Vaughan |first=John |year=1984 |title=Profile of the class 20s |publisher=OPC |location=Poole |isbn=9780860932444 |oclc=13666530}}
• {{cite book |url=http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Locos/Book_no_100_N1_web.pdf |title=Vehicle Diagram Book No. 100 for Main Line Diesel Locomotives |via=Barrowmore MRG |publisher=British Railways Board |location=Derby |date=October 1984 |pages=7–9, 34, 40–45 (per pdf)}}

{{Commons category|British Rail Class 20}}

• [http://www.samhallas.co.uk/railway/brt_locos.htm BRT Locos]

{{British Rail Locomotives}}

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