class-17-clayton

The BR Class 17 Clayton was a series of 117 Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives built by Clayton Equipment of Hatton, Derbyshire between 1962 and 1965 — see the main BR Class 17 entry for the full story of this troubled locomotive, which became one of British Rail's greatest Modernisation Plan disappointments. The twin Paxman 6ZHXL engines — two smaller engines rather than one large one, giving the locomotive its characteristic flat-fronted 'slab' appearance with the engines at each end — proved unreliable in service, and the entire class was withdrawn by 1971 after less than a decade of operation.

Two examples survive in the form of cab sections from D8568, preserved at heritage sites. See the main BR Class 17 entry for full details.