British Rail Class 13

The British Rail (BR) Class 13 were created in 1965 because of the need to provide more powerful shunters for the Tinsley Marshalling Yard. This was achieved by permanently coupling together two Class 08 shunters as a 'master and slave' (alternatively 'cow and calf') units, the latter with its cab removed. Both units were ballasted to improve traction.

Initially the units were coupled cab-to-cab but it was found more practical to couple master nose to slave cab.

A larger, rigid locomotive could not be used because of the risk of grounding on the marshalling yard hump.

Units

Three pairs were formed as follows:

• Master unit D4190 and Slave unit D4189 to form D4501, later 13001
• Master unit D4187 and Slave unit D3697 to form D4502, later 13002
• Master unit D4188 and Slave unit D3698 to form D4500, later 13003

Withdrawal

With the end of hump shunting at Tinsley the class became obsolete. The unique qualities of the locomotives were not required elsewhere and so withdrawal was inevitable; 13002 was withdrawn in 1983, with the remaining two locomotives going with the closure of Tinsley hump in 1985.

None of this unusual class survives.

• 13001 was scrapped at BREL Swindon Works in May 1985
• 13002 was scrapped at BREL Swindon Works in October 1983
• 13003 was scrapped at BREL Doncaster Works in September 1986

External links

• Image of 13001 at Tinsley MPD
• Photographs of 13003 at work at Tinsley hump Marshalling Yard