Class 28 CoBo

Known as ‘Metrovicks’, ‘Crossleys’ or ‘Co-Bos’, the 20 locomotives built by Metropolitan Vickers incorporated a number of unusual features. The Crossley diesel engine was a two-stroke and it had an unusual wheel arrangement of five driving axles (three under the No. 1 end and two under the No. 2 end). Wrap around windows were also fitted to the driver’s cabs.

Originally, all 20 were allocated to the Midland Division of BR’s London Midland Region. Pairs were used on the London-Glasgow ‘Condor’ express freight service. However, the Crossley engines were problematic from the outset and suffered from regular failures, unacceptable levels of exhaust fumes and vibration issues. The latter issue combined with poor design resulted in the drivers windows working loose. By 1961, the locomotives were returned to Metropolitan Vickers for remedial work, that included flat cab windows. Locomotives were subsequently based at Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle Upperby.

However, this work did not resolve the Type 2’s problems. Given that the rest of the locomotive’s components were reliable, BR considered replacing the engines. However, this was not to be and the class was withdrawn from service between 1967 and 1968 with only one surviving into preservation.