British Rail Class 31

British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as Brush Type 2 were built between 1957 and 1962 by Brush Traction. A Total of 263 were built during this period.  The Class 31 was one of the pilot scheme locomotives ordered by British Railways as a replacement of the outgoing steam engines and under the Modernisation plan of the time. Originally built with Mirrlees Engines with Brush electrical equipment, these were sometimes unreliable and not sucessful. During 1964, a programme of replacing the engines with English Electric 12svt engines commenced.

                                                                        British Rail Class 31
                                                                       Brush Type 2
 
 
Power type  Diesel-electric
Builder  Brush Traction
Build date  1957–1962
Total produced  263
Configuration  A1A-A1A
UIC classification  (A1A)’(A1A)’
   
Wheel diameter   Driving: 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Idling: 3 ft 3 1⁄2 in (1.003 m)
Minimum curve  4.5 chains (91 m)
Wheelbase  42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
Length 56 ft 9 in (17.30 m)
Width 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Height 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Locomotive weight   106.7 long tons (108.4 t) to 113 long tons (115 t)
Fuel capacity 650 imp gal (3,000 l; 780 US gal)
Prime mover Original: Mirrlees JVS12T
Rebuilt: English Electric 12SVT
Transmission  DC generator, DC traction motors
Multiple working D5500–D5519: ● Red Circle
Remainder: ★ Blue Star
Top speed D5500–5534: 80 mph (129 km/h)
Remainder: 90 mph (145 km/h)
Power output  Engine: 1,470 bhp (1,100 kW)
At rail: 872 hp (650 kW)
Tractive effort  Maximum: 35,900 lbf (159,691 N)
Train heating 31/0 & 31/1: Steam
31/4: Electric Train Heat
Locomotive
brakeforce		 49 LTf (488 kN)
Train brakes Vacuum / Dual (Air/Vac)
Career British Railways
Number D5500–D5699, D5800–D5862, later 31001–31970
Axle load class  Route availability 5

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News and Updates

19/01 - Happy new year to all our supporters and members! 2012 is already looking a good year with the purchase of our first locomotive.
Check out Group News for the news on this!.

Also, just to let you no, that we are on Twitter, @bdlpg and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/British-Diesel-Locomotive-Preservation-Group.

21/12 - News! One of our members, Robson Hewitson has released his first photographic record book, for more info click here.

Also, to any preservation groups wanting any merchandise to sell on to raise for there own funds, take a look at our new supplier, Edwards-media. Click here for more information.

20/12 - This Xmas is cause for celebration within the B.D.L.P.G. We are pleased to announce the purchase of our first locomotive, with the transaction of money completed early this week. More details will be available in the New Year and the future plan for the loco in question. With that, we would like to wish all our supporters, benefactors, friends and colleagues a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New Year, with all the best for 2012!


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