# British Rail Class 03

The British Rail Class 03 locomotive was, together with the similar Class 04, one of British Railways' most successful 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. 230 were built at Doncaster and Swindon works between 1957 and 1962, and were numbered D2000–D2199 and D2370–D2399 (later 03004 to 03399). D2370 and D2371 were used as departmental locomotives and originally numbered 91 and 92 respectively.

## Overview

The fleet of 230 locomotives entered service between December 1957 and June 1962. Like other shunters of this size, the Class 03 was built for light duties where a larger locomotive was not needed, especially for shunting at locomotive and carriage depots and as station pilots, or where larger or heavier locomotives could not be used. The reduction over time in the demand for shunting locomotives meant that they were progressively withdrawn from 1968 onwards, many being sold to private industry, including three that were exported to Belgium. However, some remained in service much longer, with two examples on the Isle of Wight lasting until 1993. Mainland examples had gone by 1989, the last being those allocated to Birkenhead North TMD, for use on the Birkenhead Dock Branch.
In 1998, one of the Isle of Wight locos, 03179, was reinstated by the West Anglia Great Northern for service at Hornsey depot. It was named Clive after a depot employee. It was not fitted with TPWS equipment and thus confined to the depot from 2002. It was operated subsequently by First Capital Connect until withdrawal in 2008. In 2016 it was sold by Govia Thameslink Railway to the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway.

## Technical details

The engine is a Gardner 8-cylinder, 4-stroke 8L3 of 204 hp (152 kW) connected to a Wilson-Drewry CA5 R7, 5-speed epicyclic gearbox with RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final-drive unit. Drive is through a jackshaft mounted beneath the cab, driving the wheels through coupling rods.
During their later life, some locomotives were fitted with dual (air and vacuum) brakes. These were 03059, 03063, 03066, 03073, 03078, 03084, 03086, 03089, 03094, 03112, 03152, 03158, 03162, 03170, 03179, 03180, 03196, 03197, 03371, 03397 and 03399.

## Operation
### Shunting

Originally the Class 03s were often deployed where their attributes of short wheelbase and light weight enabled them to operate where other shunters could not. On lines such as that to Ipswich docks, bridge weight restrictions prevented the ubiquitous Class 08s from operating. Another common use was as station pilot, usually coupled to a shunters' truck to ensure operation of track circuits which did not always register the passage of the 03 due to its short wheelbase.
By 1979, the Class 03's operations included:
* Depot pilot duties at Hull Botanic Gardens DMU depot and Bradford Hammerton Street DMU depot
* Ipswich Docks, King's Lynn Docks, and Poplar Dock
* Freight trips along the Team Valley branch (Gateshead) and the Gwendraeth Valley line
* Shunting duties at Boston Yard, Ipswich Upper and Lower yards, Lincoln engineers' yard, and Tweedmouth yard near Berwick-upon-Tweed
* Spare loco on standby at Boston and Kings Lynn
* Motive power on the Kirkley goods branch line in Lowestoft
* Station pilot duties at Bradford Exchange, Hull Paragon, Ipswich, Newcastle Central, Norwich Thorpe, and Sunderland

### Passenger duties

Despite the limited scope for the use of such a small locomotive on main line passenger duties, there were a number of duties rostered to the class. During the early 1970s Southern Region Class 03s worked Channel Islands boat trains through the streets to the harbour along the Weymouth Harbour Tramway, displacing the last of the 1366 Class 0-6-0 pannier tanks. In 1980, a Class 03 at Ipswich was booked to shunt the 23:20 Peterborough – Liverpool Street onto the rear of the 23:45 Norwich – Liverpool Street. Also, according to Mangapps Railway Museum, 03089 once hauled a Blackpool North to Scarborough express along the York to Scarborough Line from Malton to Scarborough.

### Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line

Several examples were rebuilt with cut-down cabs for working on the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line, as there were several low bridges on the line that precluded the use of normal height locomotives.
The modified examples were nos. 03119, 03120, 03141, 03142, 03144, 03145, 03151, 03152 and late addition (ex-Bristol) 03382. Their duties included shunting (for example at Burry Port), and hauling full coal trains down from the valley's pits. For this latter duty they sometimes worked triple-headed.
They were replaced by Class 08/9 locomotives, which were also rebuilt to a reduced height. Several cut-down locomotives have been preserved.
The Isle of Wight shunters, nos. 03079 and 03179, were also rebuilt with cut-down cabs, to enable them to pass through a low tunnel in Ryde.

## Preservation

Fifty-six members of the class survive in preservation.
Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.
| TOPS Number | Pre-TOPS | Original Number Allocated | Preserved location | Industrial use | Notes |
| 03018 | D2018 | 11205 | Mangapps Railway Museum | Cohen's scrapyard, Cransley, Kettering until 20 September 1980 and Cohen's scrapyard Willesden from 28 March 1981. Then to 600 Ferrous Fragmentisers Ltd., Willesden. | |
| 03020 | D2020 | 11207 | Lavender Line | A. King & Sons (Metal Merchants), Knappetts Scrapyard, Newmarket | |
| 03022 | D2022 | 11209 | Swindon and Cricklade Railway | - | |
| - | D2023 | | Kent & East Sussex Railway | Tees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972–1980) | |
| - | D2024 | | Kent & East Sussex Railway | Tees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972–1980) | |
| 03027 | D2027 | | Heritage Shunters Trust | Shipbreakers (Queenborough) Ltd., Queenborough Wharf Scrapyard | |
| 03037 | D2037 | | Royal Deeside Railway | NCB, British Oak Disposal Point | |
| - | D2041 | | Colne Valley Railway | Richborough Power Station (1970)Rye House Power Station (1971)Barking Power Station (1971)Rye House Power Station (1974–1981) | |
| - | D2051 | | North Norfolk Railway | Ford Dagenham (06/1973-04/1997) | |
| 03059 | D2059 | | Isle of Wight Steam Railway | Used as a general purpose shunter, and also to supplement any locomotive that has broken down. D2059 arrived on the Island during the electrification works to the Island Line, and remained in use by British Rail at Ryde Traincare Depot until 1988, when it was transferred to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. D2059 is affectionately nicknamed Edward by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's staff. | |
| 03062 | D2062 | | East Lancashire Railway | - | |
| 03063 | D2063 | | Mid-Norfolk Railway | 03063 was released from Doncaster Work on 14 July 1959 originally as D2063, under Pre-TOPS, and was allocated to the York North (50A). The locomotive was then bequeathed to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 2023 upon the passing of its owner, the late Paul Mobbs. It was moved to the MNR in November 2023. | |
| 03066 | D2066 | | Barrow Hill Engine Shed | - | |
| 03069 | D2069 | | Vale of Berkeley Railway, Gloucestershire. | Vic Berry, Leicester, even worked at Vic Berry's Scrapyard until being sold into preservation in 1991. | |
| 03072 | D2072 | | Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway | - | |
| 03073 | D2073 | | Crewe Heritage Centre | Used for occasional loco shunting and brakevan rides to visitors to the heritage centre | |
| 03078 | D2078 | | North Tyneside Steam Railway | Newcastle Central Station, used as a station pilot. | |
| 03079 | D2079 | | Derwent Valley Light Railway | Worked at Gateshead before moving to the Isle of Wight along with 03179. This loco has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde, withdrawn 1996. | |
| 03081 | D2081 | | Mangapps Railway Museum | | |
| 03084 | D2084 | | West Coast Railways, Carnforth | Sold by the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway in 2010 or 2011. | |
| 03089 | D2089 | | Mangapps Railway Museum | | |
| 03090 | D2090 | | Locomotion | Part of the National Collection | |
| 03094 | D2094 | | Royal Deeside Railway | Previously at Llynclys Cambrian Heritage Railway, near Oswestry | |
| 03099 | D2099 | | Heritage Shunters Trust | NCB, Monkton Coking Plant | |
| 03112 | D2112 | | Rother Valley Railway | - | |
| 03113 | D2113 | | Heritage Shunters Trust | D2113 spent its entire B.R. life at York (50A), it was sold to Gulf Oil at Milford Haven upon withdrawal from BR service in August 1975 as 03113. For a number of years, after becoming surplus to the Gulf Refinery, it was placed on display, along with a four-wheel petroleum wagon, in Milford Haven Harbour. It is now preserved by the Heritage Shunters Trust at Rowsley in Derbyshire, entering service following full restoration during 2011. | Number 8 |
| - | D2117 | | Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway | | |
| - | D2118 | | Great Central Railway (Nottingham) | Worked at Anglian Building Products, Lenwade, Norfolk from August 1973, then at Dow-Mac near Stamford from December 1993. | |
| 03119 | D2119 | | Epping Ongar Railway | | |
| - | D2120 | | Fawley Hill Railway, Buckingamshire | | |
| 03901 | D2128 | | Somerset and Dorset Railway at Midsomer Norton | Sold for scrap to Birds, Long Marston, where engine and coupling removed and then exported to Belgium where fitted with Deutz V12 air-cooled engine, VM hydraulic pump and motor into original change speed box. Repatriated and operated at Peak Rail, eventually to Dean Forest where stored incomplete. Moved to Scunthorpe 2009, where repowered with Cummins 14 litre engine, hydraulic transmission and renumbered 03 901 to reflect this | |
| - | D2133 | | West Somerset Railway | Worked at Cellophane's Bridgwater factory in the 1970s, prior to preservation at the time. | |
| - | D2134 | | Royal Deeside Railway | Was based in Belgium between 1976 and 1993, has since been repatriated back to the UK. | |
| - | D2138 | | Midland Heritage Railway | Used at Pye Hill Colliery between 1969 and 1984, prior to preservation. | |
| - | D2139 | | Heritage Shunters Trust | NCB, Coed Ely Coking Plant | |
| 03141 | D2141 | | Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | | |
| 03144 | D2144 | | Wensleydale Railway | | |
| 03145 | D2145 | | D2578 Locomotive Group, Moreton Business Park | | |
| - | D2148 | | Ribble Steam Railway | NCB, Bowers Row Disposal Point | |
| - | D2152 | | Swindon & Cricklade Railway | | Cut-down cab variant |
| 03158 | D2158 | | Mangapps Railway Museum | | |
| 03162 | D2162 | | Llangollen Railway | | |
| 03170 | D2170 | | Epping Ongar Railway | Was owned by Otis Euro Transrail between 1989-1999 and then latterly was present on the Battlefield Line | |
| - | D2178 | | Gwili Railway | NCB, Coed Ely Coking Plant | |
| 03179 | D2179 | | Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway | Worked on the Isle of Wight along with 03079. This loco (03179 Clive) has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde. This engine was the last 03 to work for a main-line company, before being preserved. Also notable was its naming ceremony at London Kings Cross. | |
| - | D2180 | | Battlefield Line | | |
| - | D2182 | | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway | | |
| - | D2184 | | Colne Valley Railway | NCB, Southend Coal Concentration Depot | |
| 03189 | D2189 | | Ribble Steam Railway | | |
| 03192 | D2192 | | Dartmouth Steam Railway | | |
| 03196 | D2196 | | West Coast Railways, Carnforth | | |
| 03197 | D2197 | | Mid-Norfolk Railway | Was previously at the Mid-Norfolk Railway to help build the new Kimberley Ballast Pit Sidings. Moved to Mangapps Railway Museum in August 2019 however, moved back to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in February 2020. | |
| - | D2199 | | Heritage Shunters Trust | Sold to National Coal Board in 1974 after being overhauled and fitted with air brakes at Doncaster Works. Worked at Rockingham, North Gawber and Royston until being placed into store at Monkton in 1984. Was on hire to Eurotunnel as Cheriton Depot shunter 8/4/97.Was on loan to Hanson Aggregates, Machen Quarry near Newport 2003 (?)-2006 | |
| 03371 | D2371 | Departmental 92 | Dartmouth Steam Railway | | |
| - | D2381 | | West Coast Railways, Carnforth | | |
| 03399 | D2399 | | Mangapps Railway Museum | | |

## Scale Models

Mainline Railways and Replica each offered OO gauge models. Mainline Railways introduced their OO gauge Class 03s in 1983; one in BR green and 03382 in BR blue. Mainline's original 'split-chassis' tooling later passed to Bachmann. When the company later took the decision to produce the Class 04 in its place the tooling was altered, retaining the split chassis power arrangement. However, Bachmann later announced that they would be producing a totally new Class 03 in OO gauge, which was introduced in 2010. In early 2011, Modelzone released special edition examples of the Isle of Wight prototypes, which were produced by Bachmann.
Graham Farish currently offers a British N gauge model. Past models have included D2388 in BR green livery and 03066 in BR blue livery.
In 2008, Bachmann introduced O gauge brass models of the Class 03 in BR green and BR blue liveries.