This week’s model of the week is one of 2013’s stars of the Locoyard Movember competition.  It is also the first diesel locomotive to feature in this series of blog posts and the only diesel currently in the Locoyard fleet. Tonight we find out more about this villain from the Thomas the Tank engine and Friends series!

Aptly, Devious Diesel is first featured in book 13 in Rev W. Awdry’s original “The Railway Series”.  In the book, after being embarrassed by making a mistake, Diesel spreads nasty rumours about Duck, leading to poor Duck being sent away.  Eventually, the truth comes out and Devious Diesel is sent off the island of Sodor by the Fat Controller.

Awdry is very clever, as through the children’s stories, reader’s (and later watcher’s) learn of how important our steam locomotives are to our heritage.  Equally, in time the books and TV series as continued through Awdry’s son and others, diesels are looked at more favourably, in line with the fact that they too are an important part of our heritage.  Devious Diesel’s character softens in later books and TV shows in line with this.

Devious Diesel is a member of the British Railway’s class 08, the most numerous type of locomotive ever built in the UK – 996 were built between 1952 and 1962.  Based on the LMS class 12033 the class 08 are basic 350hp Diesel shunter’s, with maximum speed’s varying between 15mph and 20 mph depending on design variations within the class.  Construction took place across Crewe, Darlington, Derby and Doncaster works.

It estimated that around 100 class 08 diesel shunters can still be found on the main British network and another 60 on preserved lines around the country.  It is a truly successful class that has a career spanning well over 60 years and counting.

Despite Devious Diesel’s villainous tendencies, he is proving to be a great ambassador for our Movember competition.  Don’t forget to check out the Locoyard fleet to learn about other prototypes in the model collection.