BR Class 35 No. D7017
(Requires Lexi’s Hymek pack).
The Class 35 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive, of which 101 examples were built by Beyer Peacock (Hymek) Ltd. from 1961 to 1964. They were used on the Western Region of British Railways, who mainly went with diesel-hydraulics after the 1955 modernisation plan. Some technical specifications of the Class 35 are as follows:
Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo
Length – 15.761 metres
Width – 2.69 metres
Height – 3.91 metres
Prime Mover – Maybach MD870 (license-built by Bristol Siddeley Engines)
Power Output – 1,700 horsepower
Tractive Effort – 207.3 kn (maximum) and 151 kn (continuous)
Fuel Capacity – 3,600 litres
Top Speed – 145 kilometres per hour
These engines got their ‘Hymek’ nickname from their Mekydro-design hydraulic transmission, and they are more commonly referred to as Hymeks rather than Class 35s. They were also the only diesel locomotives equipped with the ‘yellow triangle’ multiple working system.
Sadly the career of the Hymeks was cut far too short, as British Rail deemed the Western Region hydraulic engines to be ‘non-standard’ in the late 1960s. The first withdrawal of a Class 35 took place in 1971, and some of them were scrapped before they were even 10 years old. Full withdrawal was planned for 1973, but 10 engines soldiered on into 1975 due to locomotive shortages. Thankfully four Class 35s – including D7017 here – have survived into preservation.
D7017 is now based at the West Somerset Railway, and is painted in British Railways two-tone green livery. Throughout her preserved career (which is longer than her service life), she has had many highlights, some of which are listed below.
July 1990 – open day at Gloucester Horton Road depot
June 1996 – diesel gala at the East Lancashire Railway
July 2014 – diesel gala at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway
May 2016 – open day at Bristol St. Philips Marsh depot
September 2017: open day at Old Oak Common depot, west London (prior to its closure)
Beer festival at the Great Central Railway
May 2018 – diesel gala at the Swanage Railway
She is now owned by the Diesel & Electric Preservation group, who are based at Williton station on the WSR. Another Class 35 is based on the same line; number D7018.
