Crompton No 33111

The freshly restored Class 33 No. 33 111 arrives at Norden on 9th June 2008

The meticulous restoration of No. 33 111 has taken some 15 years and cost almost £100,000. The work has included a fully overhauled power unit, a full bodywork overhaul, overhauled traction motors and generator as well as a full rewire.

Fresh out of traffic, No. 33 111 had been purchased for just a few thousand pounds - its scrap value - by the 33/1 Preservation Company Limited which is now based at the ex-BR Midland Region roundhouse engine shed at Barrow Hill.

Class 33/1 No. D6528 - British Rail TOPS number 33 111 - was built in 1960 at the Birmingham Railway and Carriage and Wagon Works, a site that is now a housing estate. In early 1967, the locomotive was converted for 'push-pull' working at Eastleigh Works in Hampshire.

From Monday 10 July, 1967, No. 33 111 hauled the new 4-TC and 3-TC 'push-pull' carriage stock between Bournemouth and Weymouth in connection with the final stage of the electrification of the London to Bournemouth line and the elimination of steam traction.

After the 'push-pull' Class 33s and their 4-TC carriage stock were ousted with the Bournemouth to Weymouth electrification and the arrival of the Class 442 'Wessex Electrics', No. 33 111 was moved to Westbury in Wiltshire. There, it was used to haul weekend permanent way and other infrastructure trains - duties it carried out until withdrawn from traffic in 1991.

Enthusiasts can see Class 33s in action in a new 85 minutes duration DVD available from the Swanage Railway On-line Shop here. The DVD is titled "Southern Region Diesel & Electric" priced at £9.75. The DVD contains two programmes looking at diesel & electric power in the last days of BR, covering the late 1980s and early 1990s Includes push-pull services to Weymouth just prior to electrification of the line in May 1988. Also features class 33s, 73s, Hastings units, EMUs and class 33s on the cross country Portsmouth to Bristol line.

Please click on the image on the right to go direct to the DVD ordering page.

Key Facts

• Power type Diesel-electric
• Builder Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
• Build date 1960-1962
• Total production 98
• Nicknames Cromptons
• Configuration Bo-Bo
• Length 50 ft 9 in (15.5 m)
• Locomotive weight 76 tons
• Prime mover Sulzer 8LDA28
• Transmission DC generator, DC traction motors
• Top speed 85 mph (137 km/h)
• Power output Engine: 1,550 bhp (1,156 kW) At rail: 1,215 hp (906 kW)
• Tractive effort Maximum: 45,000 lbf (200 kN) Continuous: 26,000 lbf (116 kN)
• Train heating Electric Train Heat
• Train brakes Dual (Air & Vacuum)

Crompton No 33111 News Updates

  Class 33 No. 33 111 returns to Swanage for the first time since 1971 (50 photos) - 12/06/08