The British Rail Class 18 is planned as a class of 15 hybrid locomotives built by Clayton Equipment Company for Beacon Rail. Beacon Rail placed an order in May 2020 with Clayton Equipment Company to supply its CBD90 battery shunting locomotives. The new locomotives are planned for use to replace existing Class 08 and Class 09 locomotives used for shunting duties in private sidings and yards, with the first intended to be delivered towards the end of 2021. The locomotives are expected to weigh 90 tonnes (99 tons) and be powered by 524kWh lead-acid batteries which can be charged from a mains supply, or derive power from an onboard diesel engine. Their top speed will be 12 miles per hour (20 km/h). The Class 18s will be numbered following on from the Class 17s built by Clayton in the 1960s. As these locomotives are not yet in service, it will need to be established which areas they are to operate in order to select a appropriate route and services. Clayton Equipment Company promotional artwork. Livery may be incorrect for Beacon Rail order.
I'd've thought Clayton would go to some lengths to avoid reminding people about their previous attempt at loco' building.
Obviously things have changed at Clayton Equipment Company. The failure of the Class 17 had a lot to do with the difficult specifications laid down by BR during their modernisation era. They never really had any idea what they wanted/needed which led to the plethora of unsuccessful types introduced only to be withdrawn before earning their keep.
Let me see a shunter for GWML Cathcart Circle BML & SEHS. This one will have an internal code S hybrid Electric same way as a DB BR280.5 the replacement for DB BR363
