Class 08/09 Gallery

The British Rail Class 08/09 was a diesel-electric shunting locomotive built for general purpose shunting. They were one of British Rail's most numerous Class's with a total of 996 built for use in the UK. The class were nicknamed 'Gronks' due to their small but powerful design and being a general purpose workhorse for BR. Class 08's could be viewed pottering about their general business at most mainline stations which had a purposeful requirement for the class to be there. The class were built in 1953 and at the time were seen as a cost effective way of marshalling trains. Since their introduction the way rail freight is moved around the UK has changed considerably with most trains now formed in bulk, and fixed formations. Postal services are now all in the hands of multiple units. The only locations which retain Class 08 operation are dedicated engineering yards which have a requirement to shunt wagon rakes. It seems that locomotive owners seem to favour heavy Type 5 locomotives to do the shunting at some yards, preventing the need for a Class 08 being required. As of 2011, around 100 locomotives remain working on industrial sidings and on the main British network. On heritage railways, they have become common, appearing on many of the preserved standard-gauge lines in Britain, with over 60 of the class preserved. The Class 08 has a maximum speed of 15mph and 350hp with huge tractive effort which made them a very powerful locomotive and able to cope with any duties. Class 08's were once numerous at Taunton, because of the large collections of sidings and yards based in the town. They were an ideal local shunting locomotive used to shunt wagons, coaches and were often utilized on local trip workings in the area. Taunton last had a Class 08 based at the station in the mid 90's. Since then there has been no requirement for a shunting locomotive to be based in the town.

British Railways Class 08 No.08488 is pictured in front of the British Railways Taunton Freight Concentration Depot. The driver pictures is Taunton Driver Fred Blew, the father in law of the photographer Bob Willis. (Photo: Bob Willis)

British Railways Class 08 No.D4165 is pictured shunting at engineers wagons at Taunton West Junction (Staplegerove Road) on an unknown date. (Photo: Owen Mogg (Peter Triggs Collection))

British Rail Blue Class 08 No.08945 is pictured at Taunton in 1989 stabled in Platform 1. A Class 08 shunter was a common sight at many stations across the UK and Taunton was no exception. The offside of the locomotive (out of sight of the station staff) has clearly seen the attention of rail enthusiasts. Locomotive numbers 50045 LE/LA, 47609, 47613, 47605 are visible on the side of the locomotive. (Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)

An Unidentified Class 08 stands at Taunton in the Barnstaple Bay Platform in the early 1960's. Adjacent are several steam locomotives awaiting their next duties. The canopy on the was in the process of being stripped in this image which shows the exposed Victorian steelwork frames. (Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)

BR Green Class 08 No.D3463 and WSRA owned 2-6-2 No.4561 are seen stabled at Bishops Lydeard in December 2000. The Class 08 was subsequently sold to the Mid Hants Railway and no longer resides on the line. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

No Date, (Possibly 1988) BR Class 08 No.08849 in Platform 1 at Taunton (Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)

BR Blue Class 08 No.08576 arrives into Taunton with a mixed rake of wagons from Fairwater Yard on an unknown date. (Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)

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