British Railways’
War of the diesels
One of British Railways most controversial decisions was to standardise on electric, rather than hydraulic transmission for diesel locomotives. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at the background to this choice and and assesses whether it was correct.
Above: The BR ‘Warships’ delivered 2,100hp for just 78tons – a huge challenge for diesel-electric locomotives which were always heavier for high power outputs. On May 20 1965 D837 Ramillies stands at London Paddington after arrival with the Up ‘Cornish Riviera Express’. Brian Stephenson.
With
