British Rail's Class 28 (originally Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2) diesel locomotives or as they were popularly known 'Metrovicks' were built as part of the early modernisation plan. Built with low speed Crossley 8 cyclinder two stroke engines they represented an experiment in two versus four stroke engines for diesel electric traction.

Almost from the beginning the Metrovick's Crossley engines were problematic. The engines suffered chronic failures and by 1961 the entire class of locomotives were being handed back to the manufacturer for remedial work on the engines and to cure problems with cab windows falling out while running. The engines were also extremely noisy and prone to unacceptable levels of exhaust fumes.

The locomotives had a highly unusual 'Co-Bo' wheel arrangement (a 6 wheel bogie at one end, a 4 wheel arrangement at the other). This affected their route availability and complicated maintenance. All 20 were initially allocated to the Midland Division of BR's London Midland Region, where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London-Glasgow "Condor" express freight service. Later, they were transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness area prior to withdrawal after only 10 years service.

Despite the locomotives being otherwise reliable the Crossley engines were still giving problems British Rail considered replacing the engines as was done with the Class 31 diesels. Instead in 1968 the entire class was scrapped. A single locomotive, D5705, survived by historical accident as a technical services engine and then train heating unit before being preserved in 1980.

One of these diesels were the basis for BoCo the Diesel Engine, a character featured in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV Series originated by the Rev. W. Awdry.

External links

• Co-Bo World

British Rail diesel locomotives | Metropolitan Vickers locomotives | Co-Bo locomotives