description British Rail Class 33 Overview
The British Rail Class 33 is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered by British Railways in the late 1950s and built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. Designed for mixed-traffic operations, the fleet was initially allocated to the Southern Region, where it hauled both passenger and freight trains. The locomotives are commonly referred to by the nickname "Cromptons" due to their Crompton Parkinson electrical equipment, and they feature an English Electric power plant known for its operational reliability. A total of 98 units were built between 1960 and 1962, and a small number remain operational on heritage railways today.
help British Rail Class 33 FAQ
When was the British Rail Class 33 built?
British Rail ordered the Class 33 in 1957, and Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company built the locomotives between 1960 and 1962. The fleet was designed for the Southern Region's mixed-traffic routes.
What does Bo-Bo mean on a Class 33 locomotive?
Bo-Bo describes two bogies, each with two independently powered axles. That arrangement gives the Class 33 four powered axles and good flexibility for passenger and freight work.
Why is the Class 33 called the Crompton?
The nickname comes from Crompton Parkinson electrical equipment fitted to the locomotives. The Class 33 used that equipment with a Sulzer diesel engine and produced about 1,550 horsepower.
Could British Rail Class 33 locomotives haul passenger trains?
Yes. They were mixed-traffic locomotives used for freight, parcels, and passenger services in southern England. Modified Class 33/1 locomotives could work push-pull trains with driving trailers.
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