The Swindon and Cricklade Railway has announced that it has acquired a second Class 03 0-6-0 diesel shunter No, 03022 to join sister locomotive D2152 which has been there for a few years.

Although 03022 has been a resident at the railway for some time, until now it has been privately owned. It was built at British Railways workshops at Swindon in July 1958 as D2022 and initially allocated to Immingham shed in Lincolnshire.

D2022 was one of the class that was originally intended to be numbered in the series 11187 to 11211, with the number 11209, but before being built that numbering was abandoned in favour of the ‘D’ series numbers.

In May 1974 it was renumbered under British Rail’s TOPS system as 03022, and carried that number until November 1982 when it was withdrawn from British Railways service from Gateshead shed and leased to Swindon scrap dealer Coopers.

It remained at Coopers until 1996 when it was transferred to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway at Blunsdon, where it has been ever since, albeit under private ownership.

Sister locomotive D2152 was also built at British Railways workshops at Swindon, but six years later in July 1960, and was initially allocated to York shed. Like 03022, D2152 was also renumbered under British Rail’s TOPS system in May 1974 as 03152.

Also in in 1974, its cab was cut-down and reduced in height so that it could pass under low bridges on the Gwendraeth Valley Line in South Wales, where it was used to pull coal trains. At that time it was allocated to Landore shed in Swansea, and withdrawn from there in October 1983,

The Swindon and Cricklade Railway is always on the lookout for new members who wish to volunteer for work in its diesel department, or even looking to become a future locomotive driver. Further details about the opportunities are on the railway’s website here.

The diesel department also has its own Facebook group here.