TIME TRAVELLER

50 YEARS AGO... JANUARY 1971 FALCON BOUGHT: Brush’s prototype Type 4 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive No. D0280 Falcon – which featured two Maybach MD655 engines similar to those used in the diesel-hydraulic ‘Westerns’ – was purchased by British Railways, repainted into blue livery, and taken into Western Region stock as Class 53 No. 1200 with its name being retained. The loco also had its vacuum brakes replaced by air brakes, and was scheduled to re-enter service hauling trains of Mk.2 air-braked stock between Paddington and Bristol in early February. The twin-engined loco was built in 1961, but as more powerful single engined-locos were soon developed, Falcon’s design became obsolete and no more were ordered. It was a useful machine, however, and so survived in service until 1975 before being scrapped the following year. 40 YEARS AGO... JANUARY…

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Rail Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2021

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