BR Class 28 Metropolitan-Vickers Co-Bo

Introduced in 1959 the British Rail Class 28, originally Metropolitan-Vickers Type 2, diesel locomotives, or Metrovicks as they were known, were built as part of the British Railways Modernisation plan.

They were built with low-speed Crossley 8-cylinder two stroke engines as an experiment in two stroke versus four stroke engines for diesel-electric traction. Almost immediately the Metrovick's Crossley engines suffered chronic problems and all 20 locos D5700 - D5719 were sent back to the manufacturer for the engine failures and resolve the problem of the cab windows falling out while running. The engines were also extremely noisy and prone to high levels of exhaust fumes.

Another experiment was the unusual wheel arrangement consisting of a 6-wheel bogie at one end and a 4-wheel bogie at the other. This affected their route availability and complicated their maintenance.

Initially they were allocated to the Midland Division of BR where they were often used in pairs on the overnight London to Glasgow "Condor" express freight service. Later, they were transferred to the Barrow-in-Furness area prior to withdrawal after only 10 years service. With continuing engine problems BR briefly considered replacing the engine but instead, the entire class was scrapped in 1968.

A single locomotive, D5705, survives by accident after being a technical services engine and then train heating unit. It was preserved in 1980 and is currently located on the East Lancs Railway.