#3338· Class 15

British Rail Class 15

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by British Thomson-Houston· from 1957· class of 44 Bo′Bo′ 800hp diesel-electric locomotives

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. D8234 at Liverpool Street (8191900836): Hugh Llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
2. British Thomson Houston Type 1 D8208 (8315658288): Hugh Llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Colchester MPD Diesel Class 15 (D8233) BTH Diesel ADB968001: Steven Duhig from Bowie, Maryland, USA· CC BY-SA 2.0
4. Colchester MPD Diesel Class 15 (D8203) BTH Diesel ADB968003: Steven Duhig from Bowie, Maryland, USA· CC BY-SA 2.0
5. British Rail Class 15 D8234 (cropped): Brian Townsley· CC BY 2.0
6. British Rail Class 15 D8234: Brian Townsley· CC BY 2.0
7. Class 15 ADB 968003 at Finsbury Park Depot on 03 July 1977 (1): The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
8. Class 15 ADB 968003 at Finsbury Park Depot on 03 July 1977 (2): The Basingstoker· CC BY-SA 2.0
9. Class 15 at Finsbury Park: Paul Miller· Attribution
10. Colchester MPD Diesel Class 15AD8975453 BTH: Steven Duhig from Bowie, Maryland, USA· CC BY-SA 2.0

what is it?

The British Rail Class 15 diesel locomotives, also known as the BTH Type 1, were designed by British Thomson-Houston, and built by the Yorkshire Engine Company and the Clayton Equipment Company, between 1957 and 1961. They were numbered D8200-D8243. The Class 15 was ordered by British Railways (BR) shortly after the announcement of the 1955 Modernisation Plan, which led to the procurement of a diverse number of diesel locomotives under the 'pilot scheme'.

who runs it

British Rail Eastern Region of British Railways London Midland Region of British Railways

base stats

speed 97 km/htop speed
power 597 kWpower output
built 44made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 69 years ago, in 1957.
597 kW is about 7 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
12.8 m long: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
Served for 14 years (1957–1971).

diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).

spec sheet

built: 1957–1961
in service from: 1957
retired: 1971
status: preserved
number built: 44
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: British Thomson-Houston, Yorkshire Engine Company, Clayton Equipment Company
operators: British Rail, Eastern Region of British Railways, London Midland Region of British Railways
top speed: 97 km/h
power: 597 kW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: Bo′Bo′
length: 12.8 m
Dutch name: Class 15

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q4970738, Wikipedia: British Rail Class 15 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.