BR NBL prototype 10800 Profile and Models

10800 at Upper Warlingham in April 1953. ©N Sprinks/ Colour-Rail.com

Designed as a replacement for medium sized steam locomotives, this prototype diesel electric was ordered by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1946, but did not enter service until two years after the nationalisation of British Railways in 1948. The locomotive was the first mixed-traffic diesel locomotive in the UK, and was operated on a variety of passenger and freight services in the Midlands and South of England throughout the 1950s. After withdrawal, the locomotive was used for testing early AC transmission technology and was based at Brush Traction's Loughborough Works, being renamed "Hawk". The tests were successful, however the locomotive quickly became obsolete and was scrapped by 1976. (Information provided via Wikipedia)
Type of Locomotive	Diesel-Electric
Builder	North British Locomotive Company
Build Date	1950
Total Built	1
Tractive Effort	34,500 lbf
Power Output	827hp (as built) 1400hp (rebuilt)
Top Speed	70mph
Wheel Configuration	Bo-Bo
Operated By	British Railways
Main Duties	Mixed Traffic
In Service Until	1959 (In Service) 1968 (Test Locomotive)
Surviving Examples	None