British Rail Class 16

NBL Type 1 British Rail Class 16
No. D8403 in green livery with all-yellow front end at Stratford MPD in July 1966
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder North British Locomotive Company Serial number 27671–27680 Build date 1958 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo′Bo′  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m) Minimum curve 3.5 chains (70.41 m) Wheelbase 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) Length 42 ft 6 in (12.95 m) Width 8 ft 8+1⁄2 in (2.654 m) Height 12 ft 8 in (3.861 m) Loco weight 68 long tons (69 t; 76 short tons) Fuel capacity 400 imp gal (1,800 L; 480 US gal) Prime mover Paxman 16YHXL Displacement 78.4 L (4,780 cu in) Generator GEC WT 881 (plus GEC auxiliary generator Traction motors 4 x GEC WT 441, nose suspended, with single reduction gear drive Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 7 in (178 mm) bore 7+3⁄4 in (197 mm) stroke Transmission Diesel electric MU working ● Red Circle Train heating None; through steam pipe Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 mph (97 km/h) Power output Engine: 800 hp (597 kW) At rail: 627 hp (468 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 42,000 lbf (186.8 kN) Brakeforce 31 long tons-force (310 kN)
Career Operators British Rail Numbers D8400–D8409 Axle load class Route availability 4 Retired 1968 Disposition All scrapped

The British Rail Class 16 also known as the North British Type 1 was a type of diesel locomotive designed and manufactured by the North British Locomotive Company. A total of ten were produced, these being numbered D8400-D8409.^[1]

The type was ordered by British Railways (BR) as an element of the 1955 Modernisation Plan. The design was largely derived from North British's earlier prototype locomotive, designated No. 10800, produced during the late 1940s; it also incorporated several engineering approaches common to steam locomotives, the company allegedly having difficulty transitioning to the new traction format. Akin to several other Type 1 designs, they were relatively compact locomotives that were intended primarily for local freight traffic. The performance of the type was found to be lacking in comparison with its peers, thus the potential for follow-on orders evaporated and no further examples were constructed beyond the original batch. The Class 16 shared numerous design features with those used on subsequent locomotives by the company, particularly the British Rail Class 21 locomotive.