List of British Rail modern traction locomotive classes

This page lists every locomotive allocated a TOPS classification and all modern traction (e.g. diesel, electric, gas turbine, petrol) stock used on the mainline network since 1948 (i.e. British Railways and post-privatisation).

 Diesel locomotives 
The 1955 diesel locomotive classes are given in brackets where applicable.

A large number of different shunter types were purchased by British Rail and its predecessors, many of which were withdrawn prior to the introduction of TOPS. The tables below attempt to list the different types and the different classifications used to describe them as clearly as possible:

 Small shunters: under 300 hp 
Shunter classes are listed by 1955 class, which puts TOPS classes in ascending order, and generally puts 1948 and 1962 classes in ascending order. Unclassed shunters are placed at the start of the table; TOPS class 07 has been placed so its 1962 class is in the logical place.

ClassNumbersYear(s)builtQuantitybuiltYear(s)withdrawnImageTOPS19481955196219481957One-off 52 hp (39 kW) loco:111041950 1 1967ex-LMS diesel shunter13000  N/A1934 1 1949DY1D1/1 1/15 11500-11502D2950-D29521954-55  3 1966-67Class 01DY2D1/21/1211503-11506, 81D2953-D2956, D2956 (ii)1956-58 5 1966-81DY5D1/31/1611507-11508D2957-D29581956 2 1967-68Class 02D1/41/17D2850-D28691960-61 20 1969-75100pxDY11D2/12/4A11700-11707D2700-D27071953-56 8 1964-68Class 03DJ15D2/22/111187-11211D2000-D2199D2370-D23991957-62 230 1968-93except 03079 still in use100pxClass 04DJ12/1D2/42/1311100-11115D2200-D22141952-62 (D2341 1948)1421967-72100pxDJ12/2D2/132/1311116-11229D2215-D2341DJ14D2/52/12A11177-11186D2400-D24091956-57 10 1967-69D2/72/1411116-20, 11144-48D2500-D25091955-56 10 1967100pxClass 05DJ13D2/82/15A11136-43, 11161-76D2550-D25731955-61 791966-83100pxDJ13/2D2/92/15D2574-D2618Class 06D2/62/12D2410-D24441958-60 35 1967-84100px|06009 as the works pilot at Dunfermline Townhill Wagon Repair Works in July 1975DY11D2/102/411708-11719D2708-D27191957 12 1967 2/4BD2720-D27801958-61 61 1967-68D2/112/2D29991958 1 1967100pxD2/122/14AD2510-D25191961 10 1967Class 072/16D2985-D29981962 14 1973-77100pxD3/13/4D2900-D29131958-59 14 1967
 Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers:

Large shunters: 300 - 799hp
CLASSNUMBERSBuiltQuantityWithdrawnImageTOPS19481955196219481957One-off 360 hp shunter15107 1949 1 1958One-off 500 hp shunter110011949 1 1959Class 08(Gronk)DEJ4D3/23/113000-13366D3000-D4192 except thoselisted under class 091953-62 936 still in use100pxClass 09D3665-71, D3719-21,D4099-D41141959-62 26 still in use100pxD3/33/1B13117-13126D3117-D31261955 10 ?Class 10DEJ5D3/43/1C13137-13151 D3137-D3151, D3439-D3453,D3473-D3502, D3512-D3651,D4049-40941955-62 15 ?100px|Class 10 (D3452) in BR blue livery at Bodmin General on 28 August 2003DEJ7 D3/5 3/1D13152-13166 D3152-D31661955 15 ?  D3/6 12000-120021935 11 ?D3/7 3/8 12003-120321939-42 30 1966-67Class 11DEJ3D3/83/8A12033-12138 1945-52 136 ?DEJ1 D3/9 3/1015000-15003 1944 4 ?  D3/10 3/11A15100 1936 1 ? D3/11 3/1115101-15106 1948 6 By 1968D3/12 3/9A15201-15203 1937 3 circa 1965Class 12  D3/13 3/915211-15236 1949-52 24 still in industrial use DEJ2 D3/14 3/215004 1949 1 1962Class 13   7/1 D4500-D45021965 3 1983-1985Class 14(Teady Bear)   6/1 D9500-D95551964 56 1968-69
 Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers:

Type 1 locomotives: 800 - 1000hp
CLASS1957 numbersIntroducedQuantityWithdrawnImageTOPS19551962pre-1955: 10800 (prototype for Class 16)  19501 1972Class 15  D8/1 8/5 D8200-D82431957-61 44 1969-71100px|noneClass 16  D8/2 8/4 D8400-D8409 1958 10 from 1968Class 17N/A 9/18 D8500-D85871962-65117by 1971100px 9/19 D8588-D8616Class 18     1985 (Proposed)   Never Built Class 20  D10/3 10/3 D8000-199, D8300-27  1957-67 228  still in use100px|none
 Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers (unless otherwsie given):

Type 2 locomotives: 1001 - 1499hp
Locomotive class are listed by TOPS class. Locomotives for TOPS classes 24 and 26 have their original sub-classes shown, as each wholly comprised locomotives from a distinct 1962 class.

CLASS1957 numbersIntroducedQuantityWithdrawnImageTOPS19551962Class 21 (NBLC)   D10/1 10/4D6100-D61571959581967D11/2 11/4 Class 21 (Vossloh) N/A N/A N/A 2004-05 4 still in use100px Class 22  D10/2A   10/4A  D6300-D63051959581967-72 none|100pxD11/5  11/4A  D6306-D6357 Class 23 (Baby Deltic) D11/1 11/3 D5900-D5909 1959 10 1968-71100px Class 2424/0  11/1 D5000-D50491958-6150by 1980 none|100px24/1 D11/3 11/1A D5050-5150101 Class 25  D12/1  12/1 D5151–D5299,D7500–D7677   1961-67 323 1971-87 none|100px Class 26 26/0  D11/4 11/6 D5300-D53191958201975-9326/1 none 11/6A D5320-D5346 1958 26 Class 27  D12/3 12/6 D5347-D5415 1961-62 69 1987  none|100px Class 28  D12/1 12/5 D5700-D5719 1958-59 20 1968-71 Class 29 N/A N/A N/A 1965-1967 20 1971 Class 30 & 31  D13/1, D14/2 14/2 D5500-D5862 1957-62 263 plus 81conversions 1976 - datestill in use none|100px
 Relation between TOPS, 1948, 1955 and 1962 classes, and 1948, 1957 and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 3 locomotives: 1500 – 1999hp

CLASSPre-TOPSnumbersIntroducedQuantityWithdrawnImageTOPS19551962 Class 33  D15/1 15/6 D6500—D65851957-5998still in useD15/2 15/6A  D6586-D6597 Class 35(Hymek)  D17/2 17/7 D7000–D71001961-64101 1971-1975none|100px|D7017 at Minehead Station on the West Somerset Railway in August 1979 Class 37 D17/1 17/3 D6600-D6608D6700-D69991960 - 65 309still in usenone|100px|37019 at Tinsley TMD open day, 29 September 1990Class 38     1980s(Proposed)   Never Built   Class D16/1 16/8 10000-100011947-482 1962-66   Class D16/2 16/9 10201-102031951-1954 3 1968100px|none|10203 at Bletchley
 Relation between TOPS, 1955 and 1962 classes, and pre-TOPS and TOPS numbers (unless otherwise given):

Type 4 locomotives: 2000 – 2999hp
CLASS1957 numbersBuiltQuantityWithdrawnImageTOPS19551962 Pre-1955 class: 101001950 1 1958 Class 40  D20/1  20/3 D200-D3991958-62  200  by 1989100px  D20/2 20/4 D600-D6041958-59 5 1967 Class 41(Prototype HST)N/A1972 2 still in use100pxClass 41N/A 1990s(Proposed)   Never Built  Class 42 D22/1 22/1 D800-D832,D866-D870 1958-61 38 1968-72 100px Class 43 (original) D22/2 22/2 D833-D8651960-62 33  ? Class 43 (HST power cars)N/A1977-82 197 Still in use100px Class 44(Peak) D23/1 23/1 D1-D101959-60 10 1976-80 Class 45 D25/1 25/1 D11-D1371960-63 127 by 1989 Class 46 N/A 25/1A D138-D1931961 56 after 1983 but before 1989 Class 47 N/A 27/2D1100-D1999, D1500-D15991962-67576 including 62 rebuilds still in usenone|100px Class 50 N/A 27/3 D400-D4491967-6850 by 1992 Class 52 (Western)  D27/1 27/1 D1000-D10731961-1964 74 by 1977 Class 53 Falcon ? ? D0280, later D12001961 1 1976100px Class 57N/A1964-1965 Rebuilt 1997 - 200433 still in use100px

Type 5 locomotives: over 3000hp

TOPS classBuiltQuantityWithdrawnImageClass 51  1960s(Proposed)   Never Built  Class 55 (Deltic)1961-62 22 1981100px Class 561976-83135 still in use100px Class 581983-87 50 still in use(In Europe) 100px Class 591985-8915 still in use100px Class 601989-93  100  still in use100pxClass 62  1990s(Proposed)   Never Built Class 65    Never Built  Class 661998-date 402+ still in use 100px Class 671999-2000  30  still in use100px Class 682013-2017 34 still in use100px 2020-date 16 still in use100px Class 70 (II)2009-2017 37 still in use100px

Electric locomotives
DC electric locomotives
TOPS classpre-TOPS classBuiltQuantityWithdrawnImage Class 70 (I) 1941-48 3 1968-69100px Class 71 HA1958 24 1977100pxClass 72 (original class numbering 
for early JA Class 73 locomotivesJA19626still in use Class 73 (electric and Diesel power) JA  or JB1962-67 82 still in use100px Class 74 (electric and Diesel power) HB1960s 10 1976100pxClass 75   1960s(Proposed)   Never Built  Class 76 EM11952-53 56 1981100px Class 77 EM21953-55 7 1969100px  Class EB1/EF1 (26502-26511)1914-1919 10 1950-1951 (EF1s)1964 (EB1)100px  Class EE1 (26600)1922 1 1950100px  Class ES1 (26500-26501)1905 2 1964100px

AC electric locomotives
TOPS classpre-TOPS classBuiltQuantityWithdrawnImage Class 80 1958 1 1961100px Class 81 AL11959 25 1986-91100px|A derelict British Rail Class 81, number 81015. Class 82 AL21960-62 12 1983100px|82008 at Crewe Works Class 83 AL31960-62 15 1983-89100px|83012 (peviously E3035) at Doncaster Works Class 84 AL41960 10 1977-80100px|84001 at Crewe Works Class 85 AL51961-64 40 1988-91100px Class 86 AL61965-66 100 2002-2021100px| Class 87 1973-75  36 2003-2007100px|87028 at Crewe in 1988 Class 88 (I) 1983-87(planned)Never Constructed Class 88 (II) (electric and diesel power) 2015 10 still in use100px Class 89 1986 1 2001100px|89001 at Doncaster Works Class 90 1987-90 76 still in use100px|90001 at Crewe Class 91 (Electra)1988-91 31 still in use100px|91111 at Kings Cross Class 92 1993-96 46 still in use100px|92027 'George Eliot' at Stafford Class 93 (I) 1992-95(planned)30(planned)Never Constructed100px  (electric, battery and diesel power) 2022-2024  10 Under trials100px  (electric and diesel power) 2024 30  To be tested100px

Miscellaneous locomotives
TypeClass / number(s)InformationImageChannel TunnelClass 22SNCF Class BB 22200 class dual voltage electric locomotives used for freight duties through the Channel Tunnel by Railfreight Distribution during 1994-95, prior to the availability of the dedicated Class 92 locomotives. These locomotives were allocated the TOPS classification Class 22 for their use on British railwaysDepartmentalClass 97General departmental locomotives, used for special or engineering duties. Were therefore of many different classes, lumped together for numbering purposes. Forty-seven locomotives allocated Class 97 numbers, including five in subclass 97/6. Class 97/6Five diesel shunting locomotives purpose-built for departmental duties in 1953 (number 97650) and 1959 (numbers 97651-654). Withdrawn 1987-2005.100px|Class 97/6 (97 651, also known as PWM651) at Pitsford and Brampton station Various Pre-TOPS Departmental LocomotivesSteamClass 98Used to cover all steam locomotives used on the mainline in Britain. Had particular usage for the three Vale of Rheidol Railway steam locomotives that remained in BR's ownership after the end of mainline steam traction in August 1968, and numbered 98007-98009. Also used for privately owned steam locomotives registered to run on the mainline since 1971, with numbers allocated in the following way:
 First two digits: 98 (for class 98)
 Third digit: 0-9 representing the Power Class 0-9
 Fourth and fifth digits: The last two digits of the locomotive's original number. If this would duplicate an existing number, then the number is increased by 1.100px|Class 98 Vale of Rheidol locomotive taking on waterPetrol15097-15099Petrol powered locomotives built by Simplex, introduced 1919-1925 by the LNER, and subsequently inherited by BRGas turbine18000Prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built for BR in 1949 by Brown Boveri. Had been ordered by GWR in 1940, but construction was delayed due to World War II.100px|18000 at the ORE Arsenal Test Centre in 198818100Prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built for BR in 1951 by Metropolitan Vickers. Had been ordered by the GWR in the 1940s, but construction was delayed due to World War II.

Class 99
When British Rail implemented the TOPS system for managing their operating stock, part of their shipping fleet was incorporated into the system as Class 99, in order to circumvent some of the restrictions of the application software.

Builders' demonstrators
These were locomotives built and owned by private firms, but used by British Rail to test them.

LocomotiveBuilderYearFateImage D0226 & D0227  English Electric  1956 D0226 and D0227 preserved100px|Experimental diesel-electric locomotive D0226 post-preservation at Haworth D0260 Lion  BRCWC 1962  Scrapped in 1963 D0280 FalconSee Class 53, above Brush Traction 1961 Scrapped 1976 D9998See Class D2/11, above Brush Traction 1958 ? DHP1 Clayton 1965 ? DP1 Deltic English Electric 1955 Withdrawn 1961,preserved68px|DHP1 "Deltic" at National Rail Museum, Shildon, UK in October 2006 DP2 English Electric 1962 Scrapped 1967100px|Demonstration locomotive DP2 at Kings Cross in 1963 GT3(Gas turbine) English Electric 1961 Scrapped 1966 HS4000 Kestrel Brush Traction 1968 Scrapped 1989100px|Kestrel outside Derby Works during testing in 1968 Janus & Taurus(Group of locomotives)  Yorkshire Engine CompanyVaried  100px|Demonstration shunter Janus (2787) at Shelton
 Unbuilt locomotives 

A number of TOPS class numbers were allocated to proposed locomotives, both diesel and electric, which for many reasons were not proceeded with.

Related pages

 British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification
 Steam locomotives of British Railways
 British Rail coach designations

 References 

 Other websites 
 The Railway Centre 
 departmentals.com

modern traction locomotive classes
Category:British railway-related lists