| Class 31/1 (31101-31327) - original build |
| built : 1958-1962 / weight : 107-111t / max speed : 90mph / air and vacuum brake |
| Class 31/4 (31400-31469) - modified from 31/1 |
| built : 1958-1962 / weight : 107-111t / max speed : 90mph / dual brake / ETS fitted |
| Class 31/5 (31500-31569) - modififed from 31/4 |
| built : 1958-1962 / weight : 107-111t / max speed : 90mph / dual brake / ETS isolated |
| Class 31/6 (31601/31602) - modififed from 31/1 |
| built : 1958-1962 / weight : 107-111t / max speed : 60mph / ETS through wired |
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History The Class 31 locomotives were built at Brush Traction Loughborough between 1958 and 1962, and the first locomotive was accepted into traffic in September 1957 allocated to Stratford depot for use on traffic in East Anglia. Since the original unmodified fleet was introduced, there have been a number of modifications made to the fleet, which has meant they take a different subclass. The changes are detailed below:
The original number of locomotives built has since been dramatically reduced mainly due to accidents and mass withdrawals as newer traction was introduced by BR.
When Trainload Freight was broken up, the Class 31 fleet was split between Mainline and Transrail and the purchase of all three companies by Wisconsin Central brought the whole fleet back together again under English Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS). During the companies first year it had an unexpected upturn in traffic, and so to cope with demand, it reinstated a large number of locomotives including some Class 31s. These locomotives were withdrawn once the Class 66s started arriving in large numbers. and in Summer 1999, the fleet gained a celebrity when 31110 was repainted into original BR Green as D5528 for the last EWS Class 31 hauled railtour. Later in the month, the locomotive was scheduled to appear at the East Lancashire Railway's Classic Traction event, being named TRACTION Magazine. EWS withdrew its remaining fleet of 4 locomotives in late February 2001 marking the end of 43 years of regular main line Class 31 operation. However, after the withdrawal programme put in place by EWS, there was a major buyer for some of the better quality members of the stored fleet. Fragonset Railways (now FM Rail) acquired a large number of withdrawn Class 31s of which some of have been returned to active service and become something of a success story within the railway industry... Soon after the first two ex-EWS locomotives were returned to service, Fragonset won a contract with Silverlink Trains to power the Bedford - Bletchley trains with two Class 31s. Since then, the locomotives have visited many parts of England including Edinburgh on railtours, the Far North of Scotland on Railtrack inspection saloon specials and have even worked for London operator West Anglia Great Northern for the transfer of Class 317 units to Bedford for hire to Thameslink. Current Duties In October 2002, the then newly formed Network Rail purchased two locomotives, 31105 and 31285, and they formed the first diesel locomotives for a new fleet for operating test trains across the UK. Later joined by 31107 and 31233 (of which only 31233 is in service), they operate on the UTU2 test train along with the structure gauging train. FM Rail would still be considered the market leader in terms of Class 31 supply solutions. Hire contracts to both First North Western and Wessex Trains for Top and Tailed 31s in push pull mode with Mk2 coaching stock, covering for unit shortages, have proved that there is a market for such spot hire and the company is actively persuing opportunities for this type of operation. Meanwhile, the company has 1 set on standby for Wessex Trains which is often used to release DMU's to strengthen other services during times of high demand such as summer Saturdays and special events. FM currently have 9 operational examples.
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Last Updated 23-12-2005 |