British Rail Class 58

British Rail Class 58
A class 58 at Saltley in April 1987
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderBritish Rail Engineering Limited, Doncaster Works
Build date1983–1987
Total produced50
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICCo′Co′
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,120 mm (44.09 in)
Minimum curve4 chains (264.00 ft; 80.47 m)
Wheelbase
  • bogie: 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in)
  • bogie centres: 14.86 m (48 ft 9 in)
Length19.13 m (62 ft 9 in)
Width2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
Height3.91 m (12 ft 10 in)
Loco weight130 tonnes (127.9 long tons; 143.3 short tons)
Fuel capacity4,480 litres (990 imp gal; 1,180 US gal)
Prime moverRuston Paxman 12RK3ACT
RPM:
 • Maximum RPM1000 rpm
AlternatorBrush BA1101B
Traction motorsBrush TM73-62
Cylinder size
  • 254 mm × 305 mm (10.0 in × 12.0 in),
  • bore × stroke
MU working Red Diamond
Train brakesAir
Safety systemsAWS, DSD
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 mph (130 km/h)
Power output
  • Engine: 3,300 hp (2,460 kW)
  • At Rail: 2,387 hp (1,780 kW)
Tractive effortMaximum: 60,000 lbf (267 kN)
Brakeforce60 tonnes (59.1 long tons; 66.1 short tons)
Career
Operators
Numbers58 001-58 050
NicknamesBone
Axle load classRoute availability 7
Withdrawn1999–2002
Disposition5 currently preserved, 36 exported to France or Spain where 5 remain stored, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 58 is a class of Co-Co diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight. The narrow body with cabs at either end led to them being given the nickname "Bone" by rail enthusiasts.[1]

Their design represented a major departure from British conventions of construction; amongst the innovations was the adoption of the American practice of modularisation. The first locomotive of the class was delivered to British Rail during early 1983 and entered service that same year. Despite expectations of a lengthy service life, during 2002, EWS decided to withdraw all examples of the type after only 19 years in service. Subsequently, 32 were hired abroad – four to the Netherlands, eight to Spain and twenty to France. A few examples have also been scrapped or have entered preservation.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference RailwayCentre was invoked but never defined (see the help page).