LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Nuneaton Station: lnwrns1685

Ex-Southern Region Diesel No 10203 is seen at the head of an up express service passing through Nuneaton station's platform 3. Produced for Southern Region based on the 1-CO CO-1 design used for 10201 and 10203 these were in turn based upon the LMS's design for its mainline diesel prototypes Nos 10000 and 10001. 10203 entered service in 1954, equipped with a more powerful engine. These engines had the more European flat fronted body style, which became the norm on later classes of BR engine. As they were built for Southern Region they had five head code disks to allow for the SR route indicating codes. These were arranged three above the buffer beam, two to either side just under the drivers windows and one between the drivers windows.

As prototypes these locomotives were highly successful and were used for some of the most prestige passenger services including the Royal Scot, Golden Arrow and Night Ferry services. They made excursions on the LMR for training in 1951 but spent most of the time on Waterloo-Exeter express services for Southern Region. The first two were then transferred permanently to LMR in 1954 (at which time they were repainted from their original BR black with silver grey lining to BR green livery). As newer machines came on line these engines were transferred to mixed freight workings and minor passenger services. Scrapped in 1962 these locomotives (10203 in particular) formed the basis of the later class 40 locomotives.

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