The LMS started investigating diesel traction for shunting engines in the 1930s and after WW2 progressed to looking at future mainline locomotives. Under the stewardship of CME Henry Ivatt a design was evolved for a twin-cab locomotive powered by the English Electric 16SVT engine rated at 1,600bhp riding on two 3-axle bogies. Transmission was electric, the electrical machines also being supplied by English Electric, the engine driving a generator supplying power through control circuits to motors connected to each axle. Two locomotives were ordered with construction at the former Midland Railway Derby works, the completed locomotives showing the influence of American design styling of the era and thoughts of multiple working leading to the provision of nose end doors.
Work on the first locomotive was pressed forward quickly as the post WW2 Labour government was proceeding with nationalisation of the British railway companies effective from the 1st of January 1948. The LMS succeeded in placing the first locomotive, number 10000, in service in December 1947.
The second locomotive, 10001 entered service in July 1948 and the two diesel locos were used on an extensive range of duties, providing a great deal of useful data on the desirable characteristics of future diesel traction units.
The 'LMS Twins' certainly influenced British Railways early mainline diesel fleet, the first type 4, the later class 40, carried an upgraded version of the 16SVT engine rated at 2,000bhp in a similar nose end bodyshell. It is also interesting to note that the versatile class 37s which are acknowledged to have been British Rails most successful diesel locomotives are powered by the 12 cylinder SVT engine rated at 1,750bhp, a remarkable family lineage to this pioneering locomotive.
Our model of LMS 10000, like its 'twin' LMS 10001, wears its BR Black livery very well, making for a striking and smart locomotive. Fitted with driver and second man figures and featuring interior cab lighting and directional lighting, the Branchline model is ready to accept a speaker and has a socket for a 21 pin DCC decoder to be fitted
MODEL FEATURES:
- Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
- Era 4
- Highly detailed BR Black Livery with Early Emblem
- Accessory Pack
- Interior Cab Lighting
- Directional Lighting
- Fitted with Driver & Second Man figures
- Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-557
- Locomotive Ready to Accept a Speaker
- Length 255mm
LMS 10001 CLASS HISTORY
LMS No. 10000 and No.10001 were the first mainline diesel locomotives built in Great Britain. Built in association with English Electric Company and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) at its Derby Works, using an English Electric 1600 hp diesel engine, generator and electrics. The locomotives operated singly and in multiple on the West Coast Main line and hauled many of the premier named expresses of the day including the Irish Mail, Lakes Express, Manxman, Mancunian, Mid-Day Scot, Coronation Scot, Royal Scot, and Ulster Express, plus outer suburban services from Euston to Watford Junction and Hemel Hempstead.
Under British Railways, the locomotives became British Railways Class D16/1; they were initially operated primarily on mainline express passenger services on former LMS lines, both in single and in multiple. In 1953, they were transferred to the Southern Region for comparison with Bulleid's diesle locomotives, British Rail Class D16/2. Both locos were withdrawn and scrapped in the 1960s.