The pioneer locomotive was built in 1952, although it did not enter service until 1953. Production continued until 1962 and 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes. As the standard BR general-purpose diesel shunter, the Class 08s became a familiar sight at major stations and freight yards. Since their introduction, though, the nature of rail traffic in Britain has changed considerably. Freight trains are now mostly fixed rakes of wagons, and passenger trains are mostly multiple units, neither requiring the attention of a shunting locomotive. Consequently, many of the class have been withdrawn from mainline use and stored, scrapped, exported or sold to industrial or heritage railways. The Class 08 locomotives were the basis for the character ’Diesel’ in The Railway Series books written by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry. D3905 is now based at Crewe.

Photo by: Phil Trotter