THERE is something vaguely familiar about No. 08308 as it moves almost silently from the turntable in the Barrow Hill Roundhouse on October 19. Yet this locomotive is very different from the one delivered to Royston as No. D3378 in August 1957.
It’s a lot quieter for a start, and there are no emissions. The familiar bonnet has been removed, while the cab has been significantly upgraded with more windows fitted. However, it does still retain a bonnet (albeit a different shape). And, beneath the solebar at least, it retains its original equipment. However, the modifications above the solebar could enable the humble Class 08 to remain in traffic for even longer than anticipated.
The locomotive is the prototype for the ‘08e’ project, which replaces the English Electric 6KT engine fitted to the locomotive with a PT Powerpod, while controls are provided by the PT Powertrain system.
The first Class 08, No. D3000, was delivered new to Tyseley in October 1952. Now, 71 years later, the class remains in traffic across the country,
