Standing on 9 road at Toton depot is 44002 Helvellyn, 16th October 1977.
Locomotive History
44002 was originally D2 and was one of the ten pilot scheme type 4 locomotives (D1 – D10) built at Derby in 1959’ which became class 44. D2 was delivered to Camden in the four weeks ended October 3rd 1959. Initially loaned to Derby for Midland Main Line duties it was back on the West Coast Main Line by May 1960 when the ten locomotives were scattered up the West Coast for crew training, D1 at Longsight; D2 and D9 at Edge Hill; D3, D8 and D10 at Crewe; D5and 6 at Carlisle. This proved something of an odd move in light of the English Electric Type 4's (class 40) being the predominant diesel on the West Coast Main Line expresses. During 1961 the gear ratio was changed on the class from 61/17 to 57/22 bringing these locomotives in line with the newly appearing class 45 series locomotives and tractive effort was lowered from 70,000lb to 55,000lb. This change and other internal electrical changes helped reduced the number of flashovers to the traction motors when operating at high speeds and was completed on the whole class by the end of 1961. D2 was used on a number of 100mph high speed tests on the West Coast Main Line in August 1962 and June 1964. The ten locomotives were transferred in 1962 to Toton , for use on heavy freight duties in the East Midlands and the class no longer had need of their steam heating boilers which were removed as they went through works, with concrete ballast added to ensure even weight distribution. The now redundant water tanks remained on the locomotives. From 1962 until withdrawal the class 44's would be synonymous with Toton, in general only working to the limits of the route knowledge of Toton's goods train drivers and usually on out and back turns. Withdrawal of the class commenced with 44003 in 1976 and 44002 was the sixth condemned when withdrawn on the 1st February 1979. Following withdrawal it moved quickly to Derby works to surrender its engine for installation in 44007. The remains of 44002 were broken up during October 1979.
Praktica LTL, Kodachrome 64
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