British Rail Class 45 Diesel Locomotive

Explore the Sulzer Type 4 – workhorse of the Midland Mainline and Transpennine routes from the 60s until after the arrival of HSTs.

Sulzer Type 4

The British Rail Class 45 Diesel Locomotive – also known as the Sulzer Type 4 – was built by British Rail at the Derby and Crewe Works in a 1Co-Co1 configuration between 1960 and 1962.

Principal Locomotive

Initially put into service on the Midland Main Line in 1962, it became the principal locomotive offering improved acceleration over steam engines. The class were also extensively employed on the cross country routes from the North East to the South West of Britain.

Transpennine Route

Used extensively on the route until the introduction of High Speed Trains in 1982, the Class 45s were subsequently put to work on the Transpennine route until their withdrawal and retirement in the late 1980s.