British Rail Class 19

British Rail Class 19
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydrostatic
DesignerBREL
BuilderBREL
Artemis Intelligent Power (conversion)
Build date1988
2017-18 (conversion)
Total produced1
Specifications
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length18.83 m (61 ft 9+3⁄8 in)
Width2.71 m (8 ft 10+3⁄4 in)
Height3.88 m (12 ft 8+3⁄4 in)
Prime moverJCB diesel engine
TransmissionHydrostatic
Loco brakeAir
Career
OperatorsArtemis Intelligent Power
Numbers19001[1]

Class 19[1] is the name given to an experimental railway locomotive that was constructed using a Mark 3 DVT. The locomotive is part of a project funded by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) to test the viability of combining hydrostatic transmission with a form of regenerative braking that can reduce engine emissions.[2]

Hydrostatic transmissions have been used previously for rail vehicles, but only for slow-speed track maintenance vehicles and similar, not for mainline locomotives. Diesel-hydraulic locomotives instead use a hydrodynamic, i.e. torque converter, transmission.

  1. ^ a b ""Class 19" takes shape". Today's Railways. No. 201. September 2018. p. 62.
  2. ^ "RSSB funds powertrain demonstrator". RSSB. 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.