46010

D147 / 46010

Above: 46010 seen on 04/05/1986, whilst dumped at Doncaster for many years. (Bill Buchanan)

46010 was originally built as D147 at Derby Works, and released to 17A Derby during period 12/1961. The following month it was loaned to 67A (Corkerhill) for crew training. Its duties were working Midland Region services from Derby, both Midland Lines to St Pancras and North-East - South-West services between Bristol and Newcastle. It spent a few months at Cricklewood in 1964 for crew familiarisation duties, before returning to Derby and then Nottimgham. Here its duties diversified to include freight workings based on Toton.

Early in 1971 a batch of class 46s were exchanged with a batch of class 45s (D33-D42) from 82A (Bristol Bath Road), and from here it once again worked North-East - South-West duties between Penzance and Derby, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle. The withdrawal of the diesel-hydraulic classes saw their replacement with diesel-electrics, 46010 moving to Laira during this change. Here it stayed until 1980, when it was withdrawn, transferred to Swindon, and then condemned. Nearly a year later came reinstatement and transfer to Gateshead. Its stay there included a visit to Stratford for repair works.

Withdrawn in 1984 from Gateshead with various power unit defects, 46010 was condemned as uneconomic to repair given the limited remaining life for the class, and eventually it was dumped at Doncaster. There it was used to test depot protection scotches.

Above: 46010 was towed to Carrog for the June 1997 diesel gala, where it was posed in the sidings for the weekend. Here 25313, also in BR blue, keeps it company. (David Hardy)

Purchase by the Llangollen diesel group came in 1993. Due to the weight of the loco, its power unit had to be removed and transported separately from the rest! The loco's arrival at Llangollen was on 6th May 1994, after some delays due to a weak bridge. The electrical cubicle had been stripped bare before it arrived, so many man-days were spent acquiring parts and fitting them. Much of the wiring had to be replaced as it had been cut during component removal. 47143 donated many of the missing items. One of the cabs had also been extensively stripped before purchase.

Above: The October 2000 diesel gala was dominated by the long-awaited return of 46010. (Dewi Davies)

A repaint in BR blue in 1995 smartened up the exterior appearance, and it made an appearance at Glyndyfrdwy for the diesel weekend that year. Work progressed slowly, with the rebuilt power unit finally being replaced in the loco in early 1998. Work progressed on the extensive re-wiring needed, along with the brake frame and the auxiliary machines, and finally the power unit was reunited with its cylinder heads in 1999. The first start-up came on the evening of 1st July 1999, with much jubilation at the effortless start and clean running. The jubilation was short-lived, as blue smoke appeared from underneath, and the engine could be heard to 'load up'. It was shut down, and an examination revealed that the main generator's insulation banding had come loose and wrapped itself around the brushgear in a real mess.

Above: Late Autumn sunshine at Glyndyfrdwy, with 46010 ready to depart. (Dewi Davies)

The generator has since been repaired and refitted, and the locomotive made its first passenger run in preservation during the Transport Extravaganza weekend in September 2000. Its proper public debut came at the diesel gala a month later, where it was appreciated by visiting enthusiasts.

With thanks to Fred Kerr for BR allocation details

General Info

Built

Derby 1961

Lot no.

???

Engine

Sulzer 12LDA28B of 2500hp at 750rpm

Transmission

Electric - six Brush TM73-68 mk III axle-hung motors

Power at Rail

1960hp