BR Bo-Bo Class 20 No. 20066

British Railways Class 20, otherwise known as an English Electric Type 1, is a class of diesel-electric locomotive. A total of 228 locomotives were built, between 1957 and 1968, of which 135 were constructed by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry factory. The remaining 93 were outshopped by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd from their works in Darlington.

D8066 (later 20066) was built jointly by English Electric Vulcan Foundry and Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd works in Darlington being allocated Works Number E2962/8214. It was allocated to Sheffield Darnall shed (41A) when it entered service on 19th June 1961. It was outshopped with BR Green bodywork and a small yellow warning panel at each end.  

During April 1964 it was reallocated to Tinsley depot. D8066 did not stay there too long as it came under Nottingham Division control on 15th January 1966 – but only for a week! On 22nd  it was back at Tinsley. Nottingham Division control took over again from April 1968 until it's withdrawal from traffic.

During October 1970, D8066 entered works for scheduled overhaul and came out painted plain BR Blue livery with full yellow ends. It was renumbered 20066, as part of BR's Total Operating Processing System (TOPS) in February 1974. In January 1976 the loco went back into works to have train air brake equipment added to make it a dual (train) braked loco. The loco itself had always been air braked from new but could then only operate vacuum braked trains.

In January 1989, 20066 was noted as allocated to Eastfield Depot in Glasgow. By January 1992, it was spotted at Cheriton hired by RFS Industries then sub hired to the Channel Tunnel Tracklaying Group (CTTG) and marked with the number 31. The following month it was noted as having been renumbered 34 with CTTG later renumbering yet again as 201. It was still active in 1993 with CTTG trains.

By May 2000, 20066 was stabled as withdrawn at Bescot Depot, Walsall in the West Midlands. On 22nd January 2001 it was noted at the MoD's sidings at Longtown in Cumbria where it had been taken by road from Bescot. On 28th February 2005, 20066 was noted in BR Blue again stabled at Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum now owned by the Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC). 

In 2010, after thorough overhaul, 20066 was hired to Corus Steelworks, Appleby Frodingham. Later, Tata Group took over the steelworks resulting in the loco being repainted into Tata Dark Blue livery and gaining the number 82.

By 2014 it appears to have moved to the Scunthorpe Steel Works before moving again to the nearby Stanton Ore Terminal by 2016. On 1st January 2019 the loco was noted as having been reallocated again. This time it was on hire as yard shunter at the Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire. On 9th November 2020, 20066 was noted out of use stored in one of the sidings.

Coming up to date, to ensure 20066 could attend the East Lancashire Railway's Summer Diesel Gala (27 – 29 June 2024) the loco underwent a total overhaul at HNRC's premises at Barrow Hill. After years of disuse, the engine was found to be badly worn in

several areas requiring new pistons for example as well as other equipment needing to be replaced. The bodywork also needed a lot of attention to remove corroded sections as necessary.  

All was completed in time enabling the loco to be repainted in plain BR Blue livery with small BR logo and full yellow ends plus the white disc indicators reinstated front and rear. After a successful weekend at the ELR, 20066 was towed back to HNRC's premises at Barrow Hill.

20066 was announced as the second visitor to the Swanage Railway's 2025 Diesel Gala & Beer Festival. Subsequently, it was announced that the loco would stay at Swanage for a while to help share the summer diesel work load with D6515. 33053 was hired from HNRC to work alongside D6515 with 20066 returning to Barrow Hill. However, it was decided in April 2026 to re-hire 20066 for another period from its new owner Shaun Wright.

20066 is expected to stay at Swanage until May 2027.