Class 26 Profile and Models

Class 26

26041 at Carlisle in August 1991. ©Phil Richards

The fleet of Class 26 locomotives were produced as part of the pilot scheme for BR’s modernisation plan. BR required a large number of small diesels in the 800 to 1,250hp range and the Class 26s were one such of these designs. The initial batch of 26/0 locos were evaluated in London on a variety of duties, including commuter services from Kings Cross. The second batch of 26/1 locos were appointed to the Scottish region and by the mid-1960s it was decided to move the entire Class 26 fleet for use in Scotland exclusively. Like other Type 2s, the 26s were “maids of all work” in the 60s and 70s and could be seen on a huge variety of duties.
 

Type of Locomotive

 Diesel-Electric

Builder

 Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company

Build Dates

 1958 to 1959

Total Built

 47

Tractive Effort

 42,000 lbf

Power Output

 1,160 hp

Top Speed

 80 mph

Wheel Configuration

 Bo-Bo

Operated By

 British Railways

Main Duties

 Mixed Traffic

In Service Until

 1994

Surviving Examples

 13

 

OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
trainModels Produced
Logo for Lima
Lima OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Class 26

DCC compatible but no socket. Pancake motor
Logo for Heljan
Heljan OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Class 26

DCC Ready. 8-pin socket
Logo for Heljan
Heljan OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Class 26

DCC Ready. 21-pin socket
compare_arrowsCompare these models
format_paintLiveries Produced
BR green with late crest livery sample BR green with late crest
(1957 - 1972)
BR blue livery sample BR blue
(1965 - 1990)
Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe) livery sample Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe)
(1982 - 1992)
Railfreight 'Sector' triple grey livery sample Railfreight 'Sector' triple grey
(1987 - 1994)
Civil Engineers 'Dutch' livery sample Civil Engineers 'Dutch'
(1990 - 2000)
View All Products Produced
N Gauge
trainModels Produced
Logo for Dapol
Dapol N Gauge Class 26

DCC Ready. 6-pin socket


DCC Ready. 18-pin socket
format_paintLiveries Produced
BR green with late crest livery sample BR green with late crest
(1957 - 1972)
BR blue livery sample BR blue
(1965 - 1990)
Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe) livery sample Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe)
(1982 - 1992)
Railfreight 'Sector' triple grey livery sample Railfreight 'Sector' triple grey
(1987 - 1994)
Civil Engineers 'Dutch' livery sample Civil Engineers 'Dutch'
(1990 - 2000)
View All Products Produced
O Gauge (1:43 Scale)
trainModels Produced
Logo for Heljan
Heljan O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Class 26

DCC compatible but no socket
Logo for Heljan
Heljan O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Class 26

DCC Ready. ESU XL decoder socket
compare_arrowsCompare these models
format_paintLiveries Produced
BR green with late crest livery sample BR green with late crest
(1957 - 1972)
BR blue livery sample BR blue
(1965 - 1990)
Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe) livery sample Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe)
(1982 - 1992)
Civil Engineers 'Dutch' livery sample Civil Engineers 'Dutch'
(1990 - 2000)
View All Products Produced

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
N Gauge CJM 26011 Class 26 26011 in BR Blue with Yellow Ends RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set 26011
View 		Class 26 26011 in BR Blue with Yellow Ends BR blue
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) PRMRP No image available Requires assembly Not set BRL-026R
View 		Class 26 locomotive kit (Railfreight version - freight only configuration) Awaiting Categorisation
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale) Fleischmann No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set 4227
View 		Class BR 260 108-6 of the DB Awaiting Categorisation