BR 'Class 15' or 'BTH Type 1' Bo-Bo diesel No. D8243. Built by British Thompson Houston in February 1961, much of the construction was contracted out. Withdrawn in February 1969 and converted to train heating unit No. DB968000 and cut up in 1991.

I don't know what the cost of this locomotive was to BR but I suspect their accounting ledgers were bleeding red ink with just eight years active service before withdrawal. The additional cost of trying to resolve their unreliable Paxman engines only added to their woes. Seen here at Stratford MPD in October 1963.

© Andrew Woodcock - Steve Armitage Archive