It may have been one of the least successful 1960s era diesel locomotives, but the Clayton Type 1s continue to be exceptionally popular in model form. MIKE WILD reviews Heljan’s all-new and eagerly awaited Class 17 for ‘O’ gauge.
WHEN BR PLACED the first order for 88 twin-engine centre cab Bo-Bo diesels with Clayton in 1961, little did the board realise just how much of a disaster these locomotives would be. In total, 117 were built between 1962 and 1965, with the final 29 completed by Beyer, Peacock in Manchester.
The class had been designed as the standard Type 1 diesel where the all-round visibility from the cab was seen as an advantage, though the driver had to look over a long bonnet in both directions. Each was equipped with two Paxman 6ZHXL engines (apart from D8586 and D8587 which had Rolls Royce power units), but they were dogged by reliability issues related to cylinder heads, crankshaft movement and oil contamination.
So poor was their availability that BR opted to place more orders for more English Electric Class 20s as the standard Type 1 rather than pursue the Class 17s meaning that the 117 Claytons were gradually phased out in the late 1960s with the last being withdrawn in 1971. One, …
