Class 33 Gallery

Images of Class 33 Locomotives taken in the Taunton Area. The Class 33's were built at the Birmingham Railway and Carriage & Wagon works as a Type 3 (mid power range) locomotive. They have become one of the most popular modern traction classes. The class was originally built as a direct replacement for steam on the Southern Region. They were confined to the Southern Region for most of their working life until the 1980's when the Class was given a new lease of life working further afield on the Western Region. The Class was unique in many ways, they were one of the first classes to be built with electric train heating (ETH), they had dual driving controls so the locomotive could be driven from the second man side of the cab. The last 12 of the fleet were also built with a narrower body for use on the Hastings route. Some of the class were also modified to allow 'push pull' mode to be used, modifications included the relocation of multiple working pipes under the cab windows. The Class 33's gained several nicknames which have become common terms when referring to the locomotive type. The Class were built with Crompton & Parkinson electrical equipment so the nickname 'Cromptons' soon stuck. 'Shredders' was also another popular term, so called because of the classic shredding noise made when under power. 'Bagpipes' was applied to the Class 33/1 which was fitted for push pull working, with air pipes located under the cab windows, resembling a set of bagpipes hanging from the locomotive front. 'Slim Jims' was a term given to the 33/2's which were built with the narrower bodies for use on the Hastings route. Taunton saw the majority of the class members pass through its platforms during their operation on the Western Region, their use in pairs on the Meldon stone traffic is perhaps their most memorable accolade. 2010 marks the 50th Birthday of the introduction of the Class 33 having been built in 1960. We have assembled a selection of images which we hope illustrates how versatile the locomotive has been.

29th August 2026 DEPG Class 33 No.33057 (D6575) and No.33048 (D6566) arrive at Minehead on the 29th August 2026. The pair were operating in top and tail formation on the 10:55 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service. Adjacent No. 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' prepares to depart to Bishops Lydeard with the 12:20 from Minehead. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

29th August 2026 BR Green Class 33 No.33048 (D6566) waits for its classmate No.33057 (D6575) to shunt onto the front to form a double-headed service from Minehead on Saturday 29th August 2026. The pair operated the 15:25 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard service. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

29th August 2026 Class 33 locomotives No.33048 (D6566) and No.33057 (D6575) arrive into Williton in top and tail formation on the 29th August 2026. No.33048 was leading the 13:15 Minehead - Williton service before the train terminated to head back to Minehead, with No.33057 leading. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

29th August 2026 A matching pair at Minehead. Class 33 locomotives No.33048 (D6566) and No.33057 (D6575) are pictured alongside one another on Saturday 29th August 2026. No.33057 was running around its train to form a double-headed passenger service departing as the 15:25 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard during the 'Diesels at 65 ' event. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

29th August 2026 British Railways Green Class 33 No.33048 (D6566) departs from Crowcombe Heathfield on Saturday 29th August 2026. The loco was operating the last diesel service at the 65 event as the 17:35 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

8th August 2026 With a steam ban in place, West Coast No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and No.33025 double-head the 1Z26 15:30 Minehead – London Paddington ‘West Somerset Steam Express’ on Saturday 8th August 2026. West Coast Class 47 No.47848 was also present, attached to the rear of the charter service. (Photo: S A Ginn)

8th August 2026 Following a delay near Bedwyn caused by stray sheep on the line, West Coast Class 33 No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and No.33025 working in 'top & tail' formation with No.47848 passed through the parched landscape of Creech St Michael hauling the 'West Somerset Steam Express' on Saturday 8th August 2026. With a steam ban in force, diesel traction ensured that the 1Z25 07:00 London Paddington to Minehead charter was still able to run. (Photo: S A Ginn)

8th August 2026 West Coast "Slim Jim" Class 33/2 No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and Class 33/0 No.33025 double-head the returning West Somerset Steam Express through Creech St Michael on Saturday 8th August 2026. Attached at the rear was West Coast No.47848, which had accompanied the tour throughout the day. The Image records the 1Z26 15:30 Minehead West Somerset Railway to London Paddington (Photo: S A Ginn)

8th August 2026 Running 53 minutes late due to sheep on the line near Bedwyn on Saturday 8th August 2026. No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and No.33025 power through Cogload Junction in top and tail formation with No.47848. The West Somerset Steam Express operated as 1Z25 07:00 London Paddington - Minehead with West Coast Railways heritage diesel traction due to the ongoing steam ban and heat. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

8th August 2026 West Coast Railways Class 33 locomotives No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and No.33025 operating in a top-and-tail formation with No.47848. The 1Z25 07:00 London Paddington - Minehead was running 47 minutes late due to sheep on the line near Bedwyn. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

18th July 2026 With a mainline steam ban in force, the Railway Touring Company charter 'The West Somerset Steam Express' operated with heritage Class 33 locomotives from West Coast Railways. No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and No.33025 pass Woolston Moor on the 18th July 2026, operating 1Z26 15:30 Minehead - London Paddington. (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

18th July 2026 A buys a heritage diesel scene at Crowcombe Heathfield on the 18th July 2026. No.33048 (D6566) is pictured while operating the 16:30 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service, passing The Branchline Society/ Hastings Diesels charter operating with Hastings DEMU as 1Z14 16:20 Minehead - Hastings. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

14th June 2026 British Railways Green Class 33 No. 33075 (D6575) is pictured at Minehead on the 14th June 2026. Behind is BR 4-6-0 Manor No. 7812 'Erlestoke Manor', which is currently out of traffic. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

14th June 2026 British Rail Green Class 33 No.33048 (D6566), the loco was used to operate the final diesel diagram of the day (having taken over from No. 50049 'Defiance'), on Sunday 14th June 2026. The loco was operating the 16:25 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead, pictured passing Cedar Falls. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

7th June 2026 British Railway Green liveried Class 33 No.33048 (D6566) is pictured with visiting Class 47/7 No.47714 on the inner and outer Norton Fitzwarren Triangle complex on Sunday 7th June 2026. Having operated in Tamden to Norton Fitzwarren, the pair later returned to Bishops Lydeard, where the Class 33 was then called upon to cover for failed steam locomotive No.9351 by operating a round trip to Minehead. (Photo: Thomas Courtney)

7th June 2026 Covering for a failed steam locomotive on the mixed traffic day of the West Somerset Railway Summer Diesel Festival resulted in additional diesel haulage for enthusiasts on Sunday, 7th June 2026. No.33048 (D6566) is pictured at Bishops Lydeard, having arrived with the 17:30 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard service, bringing close to the four-day Summer Diesel Festival. (Photo: Thomas Courtney)

7th June 2026 British Railways Class 33 No.33048 is pictured at Bishops Lydeard on Sunday, 7th June 2026. The locomotive was called upon on the mixed traffic day of the Summer Diesel Festival to cover for failed steam locomotive No.9351. No.33048 covered the 14:25 Norton Fitzwarren - Minehead and 17:30 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard service. (Photo: Thomas Courtney)

28th September 2025 West Coast Railways Class 33 locomotives No. 33207 'Jim Martin' and No.33025 are pictured paused at Taunton in Platfrom 4 on the 28th September 2025. The pair were returning 'The Royal Duchy' charter 1Z34 17:10 Par - Bristol Temple Meads was retruning north having visited Cornwall. (Photo: Russell Ayre)

28th September 2025 Making a rare and welcome appearance in Devon, West Coast Railways Class 33 locomotives stand in for the booked steam traction on 'The Royal Duchy'. No.33025 and No. 33207 'Jim Martin' operated the 1Z33 08:48 Bristol Temple Meads - Par charter due to the non availibility of any West Coast Railways steam locomotives. (Photo: Russell Ayre)

28th September 2025 A continued shortate of West Coast Railways servicable steam locomotives on Sunday 28th September 2025 saw the rare opertunity for a pair of Class 33 'Cromptons' to head into Cornwall. No.33025 and No. 33207 'Jim Martin' climb through beambridge with a mixed rake of West Coast Railways Mk2 stock, while hauling 1Z33 08:48 Bristol Temple Meads - Par 'The Royal Duchy'. (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

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