The British RailClass 33, also known as theBRCW Type 3or Crompton, is a class ofBo-Bodiesel-electric locomotives, ordered in 1957 and built for theSouthern Region of British Railwaysbetween 1960 and 1962. They were produced as a more powerful Type 3 (1,550bhp) development of the 1,160bhpType 2 Class 26. This was achieved, quite simply, by removing thesteam heating boilerand fitting a larger 8 cylinder version of the previous 6 cylinder engine.

This was possible because of the traffic requirements of theSouthern Region: locomotive-hauled passenger traffic depended on seasonal tourist traffic and was heavier in the summer, when carriage heating was not needed. In the winter, their expected use was to be for freight. Thus, they became the most powerful BR Bo-Bo diesel locomotive. The perennially unreliable steam heating boiler could also be avoided. A total of 98 were built by theBirmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company(BRCW) and they were known as Cromptons after theCrompton

Parkinsonelectrical equipment installed in them. Like their lower-powered BRCW sisters, the Class 26 andClass 27locomotives, their bodywork and cab ends were of all steel construction. They were very similar in appearance to Class 26 locos, but carried Southern Region two-digitheadcode blindsbetween the cab windows. The original (1957) number sequence was D6500D6597.

Features

• Detailed body with etched grills and separately fitted handrails
• RP25.72 darkened wheels with pin point bearings
• 5 pole Super creep motor with huge pulling power and slow running speed
• All wheel drive and pick up
• Independently controllable directional lighting
• Dapol's low friction mechanism for efficient quiet running
• Heavy split frame chassis for excellent running and haulage qualities