The Daily Diary

 Production of the first BR Sulzer Type 4's (later class 44) began in September 1958 at Derby Loco Works, alongside BR Sulzer Type 2 (class 24).

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photo BR(LMR) 

 On January 1st 1959, four of the new BR Sulzer Type 4's were in various stages of production and by the end of the year, nine had entered revenue earning service. 

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photo David Hills collection. D5 (later 44 005) Cross Fell at Derby MPD soon after entering traffic. 

 D10 entered traffic in February, when production started on what would later be Class 45. D11 - D19, and D68 - D84 would be in service at years end.

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photo BR/LMR. Publicity shot of D11 on entering traffic. 

 1961 got off to a slow start regarding Peaks entering traffic, D85 emerging from Crewe on 6th February and Derby next to release a loco with D20 on 24th February. On 20th May, Derby turned out its last box headcode example, D30, with D31, released 3rd June, being the first with centre split headcode. Crewe turned out its last box headcode loco, D107, on 20th July, after its first centre split, D109 had appeared on 30th June.  D110 appeared next before their first built, D108, finally appeared on 28th July. With Derby being slower than Crewe, the decision was taken to move production of D50 - D67 to Crewe, after they had finished their current order up to D137. This enabled Derby to start work on the first locos with Brush electrical equipment (later class 46), and the first of these locos, D138, duly appeared on 21st October.The first loco to be turned out with the new small yellow panel on the nose end was D132 on 16th December.

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 January 1961 February 1961 March 1961 April 1961 May 1961  June 1961 July 1961 August 1961 September 1961 October 1961 November 1961 December 1961 

 1962 started with six of D1 - D10 out of traffic in Works, and many of the later locos were having teething problems, too. But the fleet was now finding its way onto the routes and workings that were to be their staple in later years, and by years end all bar the final five were in service, and all would have the new yellow front end panels applied.One of the years most notable events was the arrival in traffic of D163, named Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry during construction and inaugurated at a ceremony at Derby Midland on 21/04/1962.

photo JD's/BW via rmweb courtesy Peter Blunn.

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 January 1962 February 1962 March 1962 April 1962 May 1962  June 1962  

July 1962  August 1962  September 1962

October 1962 November 1962 

December 1962

The year started with just D189 - D193 awaiting entry to traffic and this duly happened on 26th January. The fleet continued to cement themselves to the routes and duties that would be their staple for years to come. Aesthetically, there was very little change through the year with all locos already carrying the small yellow end panels, so the only changes were the adding of taillight grabrails to the remainder of the Holbeck locos between D11 and D30. 

 D15 is working 1S64 "The Waverley" St Pancras - Edinburgh express over the Settle and Carlisle route seen near Selside. 

photo Geoffrey Robinson courtesy John Robinson.   

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January 1963 February 1963 March 1963

April 1963  May 1963  June 1963 

July 1963 August 1963 September 1963 October 1963  November 1963  

December 1963

The fleet continued to nail down its staple workings in 1964, and very few aesthetic changes happened. A further handful of loco's would be named including D70 THE ROYAL MARINES and in September, D94, badly damaged in late 1963, would appear with a central headcode panel at No 2 end, the first loco to be retro fitted with one of these.

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January 1964  February 1964  March 1964

April 1964 May 1964  June 1964  

July 1964  August 1964  September 1964

October 1964  November 1964 

December 1964