British Rail Class 13

British Rail Class 13
A British Rail Class 13 at Tinsley Marshalling Yard, 1974
Type and origin Power type Diesel–electric Builder British Railways Darlington Works (builder and rebuilder) Build date 1965 (rebuilt) Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0+0-6-0  • AAR C-C  • UIC C+C Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 6 in (1.372 m) Minimum curve 3 ch (60 m)[1] Wheelbase 42 ft 1+1⁄2 in (12.84 m) Length 60 ft 1 in (18.31 m) Width 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)[1] Height 12 ft 8+5⁄8 in (3.88 m)[1] Loco weight 120 long tons (122 t; 134 short tons) Fuel capacity 1,336 imp gal (6,070 L; 1,604 US gal) Prime mover English Electric 6KT, 2 off Generator DC Traction motors EE, four off Transmission Diesel electric, double reduction gearing MU working Not fitted (except control of slave by master) Train heating None Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 15[1] or 20[2] mph (24 or 32 km/h) Power output Engine: 400 hp (298 kW)[3] × 2 Tractive effort Maximum: 70,000 lbf (311.4 kN) Brakeforce 37 long tons-force (370 kN)
Career Operators British Railways Numbers D4500–D4502, later 13 001–13 003 Axle load class RA 8 Retired 1981–1985 Scrapped 1982 (13 002) 1985-6 (13 001 and 13 003) Disposition All scrapped

The British Rail Class 13 was a type of diesel–electric shunting locomotive. The type was designed in 1965 because of the need to provide more powerful shunters for the Tinsley Marshalling Yard. Due to Tinsley's status as a hump yard, it was not possible to use a single locomotive owing to the risk of grounding. So, to achieve the required power, a pair of Class 08 shunters were permanently coupled in master and slave formation, with the slave unit having had its cab removed. Both units were then ballasted to improve traction. Initially coupled cab-to-cab, it was found more practical to couple master nose to slave cab.