Preserved Diesels in the UK

Most British Rail diesel locomotive types are represented in preservation, though some classes are much more prolific than others. Sadly, several early types were lost completely because they were withdrawn around the same time as steam traction finished on British Railways, a time when most enthusiasts had no interest in saving diesels. As a result, no North British locomotives survived, and of several other types there is just one survivor, for example Classes 15 and 28, both of which are under restoration. A number of types have also now spent longer in preservation than main line service, such as the hydraulic. There are a large number of heritage railways running diesel locomotives today, some hosting special events bringing together several classes and operating intensive services, others using them to supplement steam traction, and many have locos under restoration for future use. Using his fantastic collection of photographs, Ross Taylor displays the surviving examples of a wide range of classes.