The first member of the class D400 Fearless, here repainted into its original overall blue livery but obviously not restored to its original condition, was displayed at a Wimbledon Traincare Depot open day. When the class was renumbered into TOPS D401-449 became 50001-50049 consecutively but D400 became 50050.

photograph by Jonathan Hall

In 1965 British Rail needed a high powered diesel locomotive to speed up services on the West Coast Main line between Crewe and Glasgow prior to completing the electrification. The relatively new Class 47s, which would have been an obvious choice, were proving unreliable at the time due to engine problems. However DP2 - a one off prototype produced by English Electric for evaluation by British Rail - was proving very successful in trials. An order for 50 locomotives was placed with English Electric based on the DP2 power plant and mechanicals but with a BR designed bodyshell and additional electronic systems. These electronic systems were new to Britain and largely untried at the time. They included dynamic braking, wheelslip protection, electronic power control with automatic control of tractive effort and slow speed control for MGR (coal Merry-go-Round) working.

The 50 locomotives, then numbered D400-D449, were built at EE's Newton-le-Willows Vulcan Foundry between September 1967 and November 1968. BR initially leased the fleet from English Electric and it was not until 1973 that BR bought the locomotives. Upon introduction there were initial problems with their engines resulting in poor availability and new cylinder heads were fitted. Between 1969 and 1970 track improvements permitted higher speeds so the locomotives were required to work double headed. Although all were wired for MU working only D400 and 401 had been fitted with front mounted MU jumper cables from new so the rest of the class then had them fitted.

The entire WCML had been electrified by 1974 so the locomotives were re-deployed as had originally been planned. Fifteen were initially retained by the MR for secondary passenger duties in North Wales and the North West, the remainder were allocated to the WR as part of the drive to replace their non-standard diesel hydraulics. The introduction of TOPS saw the locomotives designated class 50 and renumbered 50001-50050. Having had their idiosyncratic motive power removed from them the WR decided to impose some of their style by naming the class after British Warships, thus replacing the original WR Warship class.

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Colin Duff