Oldest working 08

[jamie56]

Trying to see all 08s in service so just wondering what's the oldest 08 in service as of right now?

 

[Sun Chariot]

From the list in post #31 of this thread:

How many Class 08/09s are still in service?

Wikipedia puts it at 100 for 08 and 25 for 09. Given how little passenger services still use coaches and how freight shunting is mainly done by large locos because of rakes and maintenance costs it seems unlikely that there's still so many in service.

www.railforums.co.uk

Looks like the oldest in-service 08 is 08375 at Boston Docks.
08308 (Batrow Hill) is the battery-electric conversion.

The oldest remaining 08 is D3018 (08011) "Haversham" and I think it's still at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.
It was a Bletchley stalwart when I lived not too far from there, in the 1980s.

 

[Gloster]

Isn’t the oldest remaining 350, based on date of entry to service, D3002. It entered service a week or so before D3000.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Isn’t the oldest remaining 350, based on date of entry to service, D3002. It entered service a week or so before D3000.

Where is it currently operating? I've not seen any info on that one being in working condition.

My 1978 ABC book listed 08004, 08008 and 08011 as the 3 oldest examples in BR service.
By the start of the 1980s, 4 and 8 had gone.

 

[Cowley]

Where is it currently operating? I've not seen any info on that one being in working condition.

That one’s at the Plym Valley Railway and painted in BR black.

 

[Sun Chariot]

That one’s at the Plym Valley Railway and painted in BR black.

Thanks @Cowley and @Gloster - now I just need to convince the wife why we need a week's holiday down there.

 

[Cowley]

Thanks @Cowley so now I just need to convince the wife why we need a week's holiday down there.

You absolutely do! Mind you, I’ve never actually visited the line even though I’m reasonably local.

 

[Mogz]

08375 was built in 1957.

Three years before the last 9F.

What longevity!

 

[Julia]

The oldest remaining 08 is D3018 (08011) "Haversham" and I think it's still at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.
It was a Bletchley stalwart when I lived not too far from there, in the 1980s.

One of the three regulars at Wolverton works, along with 08160 "Wolverton" and 08806 "Bradwell", for many years.

 

[D6130]

One of the three regulars at Wolverton works, along with 08160 "Wolverton" and 08806 "Bradwell", for many years.

....and it (08 011) finished up as the Aylesbury pilot in the late 1980s/early 1990s. I never drove it, but once second-manned it from Aylesbury to Bletchley on a Saturday afternoon for a maintenance changeover.

 

[D7666]

Isn’t the oldest remaining 350, based on date of entry to service, D3002. It entered service a week or so before D3000.

D3000 too ?

Surely the "date of entry to service" is the date of allocation to a traffic depot, and both D3000 and D3002 are same date 01/11/52 to Tyseley by all allox data I can find.

 

[Gloster]

D3000 too ?

Surely the "date of entry to service" is the date of allocation to a traffic depot, and both D3000 and D3002 are same date 01/11/52 to Tyseley by all allox data I can find.

I went by BR Database which has D3002 to service at Tyseley on 24/10/52 and D3000 on 01/11/52. D3001 was on 21/10/52, but that has been scrapped.

 

[Sun Chariot]

D3000 too ?

I don't think Peak Rail has it in operational condition. D3002, Plym Valley, is running.

The OP's ask was oldest 08 in service as of right now. As D3000 and D3002 were taken off BR stock pre-TOPS, I'd suggested 08011 (Chinnor & Princes Risborough).

 

[390123]

There is 08617 in use for shunting at oxley depot

 

[D7666]

I went by BR Database which has D3002 to service at Tyseley on 24/10/52 and D3000 on 01/11/52. D3001 was on 21/10/52, but that has been scrapped.

I too checked BR Database - and it don't say that.

It is the 'built' column that says 24/10/52 - the 'allocation' column says both D3000 and D3002 Tyseley 01/11/52 along with D3001 same date.

The way I see, allocation to depot is date to traffic, not the built date.

I am only aware of this not spectacularly useful bit of data as it has been discussed here before or maybe elsewhere before.

A snip just now of the page at the end

I don't think Peak Rail has it in operational condition. D3002, Plym Valley, is running.

The OP's ask was oldest 08 in service as of right now. As D3000 and D3002 were taken off BR stock pre-TOPS, I'd suggested 08011 (Chinnor & Princes Risborough).

yes but others introduced the point about oldest existing 08 - we are not limited to just answering the OP question - and 'in service' is a grey area as it is not clear if this means operational, or merely on the books as 'in service' but incapable of operating

 

[Sun Chariot]

'in service' is a grey area as it is not clear if this means operational, or merely on the books as 'in service' but incapable of operating

I use the same corollary as I do for my car. If I can't switch it on and drive it there and then, it's not in service

Another example: SWR's farcical "Arterio" class 701 units: 4 years behind schedule for delivery and acceptance, drivers' training yet to roll out, units stored in MoD Marchwood and Wimbledon.
They're on SWR's books - I don't think anyone would venture to say the units are in service.

....and it (08 011) finished up as the Aylesbury pilot in the late 1980s/early 1990s. I never drove it, but once second-manned it from Aylesbury to Bletchley on a Saturday afternoon for a maintenance changeover.

Blimey, Aylesbury - Bletchley flyover in a Gronk. I am jealous

I did that route (but onwards to MK) as a passenger, in 1992, on an NSE "Christmas shopper" trip. Pair of 108/115 hybrids.

 

[D6130]

Blimey, Aylesbury - Bletchley flyover in a Gronk. I am jealous

You wouldn't have been jealous if you'd had to sit on those original wooden swivel-stool seats while it lurched up and down and side-by-side at 15 mph on the rickety jointed track. I suffered it for the first twenty minutes and then had to stand up for the rest of the trip!

 

[Sun Chariot]

You wouldn't have been jealous if you'd had to sit on those original wooden swivel-stool seats while it lurched up and down and side-by-side at 15 mph on the rickety jointed track. I suffered it for the first twenty minutes and then had to stand up for the rest of the trip!

Oh of course - unforgiving loco chassis, jointed bullhead and nigh-rottten sleepers all the way.
I took a photo by Swanbourne, before the track lifted and the station demolished. I am under no illusion how bad the track condition was by then.