Brush Traction (Falcon Works)

Brush Traction at the Falcon Works, Loughborough, is one of the most important names in British diesel-electric locomotive manufacture — a company whose Class 31 and Class 47 diesel-electrics formed the backbone of British Railways' mixed-traffic diesel fleet for thirty years, and whose electrical engineering equipment equipped dozens of other British locomotive and multiple-unit classes. Founded in 1865 by Henry Hughes as the Falcon Engine and Car Works, the Loughborough works was acquired by the Brush Electrical Engineering Company in 1889 and progressively developed into a major electrical traction and locomotive manufacturing centre.

Brush's entry into main-line diesel locomotive manufacture came with the BR Modernisation Plan of the 1955, when the company's combination of locomotive bodybuilding capability and in-house electrical equipment manufacture made it a natural participant in the pilot-scheme procurement. The Type 2 Class 31 of 1957 (263 built) gave BR a capable mixed-traffic diesel for secondary and freight work, and the Type 4 Class 47 of 1962 became the most numerous British diesel locomotive class ever built — 512 examples, deployed across virtually every BR region on every category of traffic from the Irish Mail to express freight. Both classes used Brush's own electrical equipment with Sulzer 12-cylinder diesel engines, a combination that proved exceptionally reliable in service.

Brush subsequently built the Class 56 heavy freight locomotive (1976, in Romania and at Loughborough) and the Class 60 (100 built 1989–1993), and supplied traction motors and electrical equipment for the InterCity 125 HST power cars, the Class 87 AC electric locomotive, and numerous other classes. Brush Traction is today part of the Wabtec Corporation; the Falcon Works continues as a heavy-overhaul facility for British rail freight operators, maintaining the diesel locomotive heritage of the company's own most productive era.

About

Brush Traction operated the Falcon Works at Loughborough, a substantial British locomotive works founded in 1865 by Henry Hughes as the Falcon Engine and Car Works. It was acquired by the Brush Electrical Engineering Company in 1889 and became Brush's principal works for traction equipment, locomotive bodies and (latterly) complete diesel-electric locomotives.

For British Railways, Brush at Loughborough built the Class 31 (originally Class 30) of 1957, 263 built, and the highly successful Class 47 of 1962, of which 512 were eventually built (the largest single class of British diesel locomotives). Both classes used Brush's own electrical equipment and a Sulzer 12-cylinder prime mover.

Brush also built the Class 60 heavy freight diesel of 1989 (100 built) and supplied electrical equipment for many other classes including the Class 92 Channel Tunnel locomotive. Brush Traction is today a subsidiary of Wabtec; the Falcon Works continues in operation as a heavy-overhaul facility for British rail freight operators.

Locomotives built here

British Rail Class 47 — BR Class 47 "Brush Type 4" — Co-Co diesel-electric, built 1962–68 by Brush Traction/Sulzer. 512 built — the most numerous British mainline diesel class. The standard medium-power BR diesel for two decades. Numerous preserved; many remain in mainline service in 2026.
British Rail Class 48 — BR Class 48 — Co-Co diesel-electric, prototype variant of Class 47 with Sulzer 12LVA24 engine. 5 built 1965; converted to standard Class 47 in 1971.
British Rail Class 57 — BR Class 57 — Co-Co diesel-electric rebuilds of Class 47 with reconditioned American General Motors 645E engines, beginning 1998. 33 rebuilt. Three subclasses: 57/0 freight (Freightliner), 57/3 dragger (drag trains over the West Highland Line for Virgin Trains), 57/6 sleeper (GBRf). The 1966 metadata year is incorrect — these are 1998 rebuilds. Many remain in service in 2026.
British Rail Class 60 — BR Class 60 "Tug" — Co-Co diesel-electric, built 1989–93 by Brush Traction/Mirrlees. 100 built. Specifically for heavy freight (steel, coal, oil). Withdrawn from BR/EWS service 2008–10; many subsequently overhauled and returned to service with DB Cargo and DC Rail. The class was named after British peaks (Class 60/0) and trains/horticultural varieties (60/5).
NER ES1 — Wilson Worsdell's 1905 NER ES1 class — Britain's first electric mainline locomotives, built for the NER's Newport-Shildon mineral electrification. Two locomotives. Pioneering — but the line was de-electrified in 1935. None preserved.