POWER OF THE HYMEKS

In early 1961, the first of 101 Type 3 diesel-hydraulics was delivered by Beyer Peacock in Manchester to British Railways Western Region. Designed for mixed traffic duties in the medium power range and scheduled to replace ‘Hall’ and ‘Grange’ class 4-6-0s, the ‘Hymeks’, as the type became known, were to find themselves utilised on a considerable variety of both passenger and freight traffic.

The ‘Hymeks’ proved to be relatively successful in service. However, diminishing requirements for motive power after the massive closures of the 1960s rendered all of the diesel-hydraulic classes as non-standard and thus surplus to requirements. The first ‘Hymek’ was withdrawn in late 1971 and all had gone by mid-1975. Fortunately, four have been preserved. It is now more than 30 years since the last ‘Hymeks’ were withdrawn, indeed the surviving examples have now been in preservation almost three times as long as they served BR. Despite this, interest in the diesel-hydraulic classes remains strong and for the many enthusiasts of these classic designs and for the increasing number who model the 1960s and the 1970s, this will be a very welcome addition to the highly successful ‘Power of’ series. 

Author: John Vaughan
Format: HB 112 pages
Publisher: OPC
Pub date: Jan 2006
ISBN 10: 086093599X
ISBN 13: 9780860935995

List Price: £19.99