BR 33/2 33 206Stewarts Lane Loco Depot Stewarts Lane Loco..

The 12 class 33/2's were built to the BR '0' loading gauge hence the narrower flat bodysides. They were built originally for use on the Tunbridge Wells to Battle route or Hastings line as it is known. This line was found to have sub standard brickwork thickness in the tunnels after a collapse in 1855. The only way at the time to solve the problem was to add additional courses of bricks thus making the tunnels narrower. In 1986 the worst affected tunnels were single tracked thus making the class 33/2's redundant on their original workings so they became part of the general use fleet with the class 33/0's. A new lease of life was found for 3 class 33/2's in late 1988 with 33 203,205 & 206 being selected as heavy duty shunting engines to work the Dover Train Ferry. They were to be renumbered as 33 301 to 33 303 and 33 205 actually carried the number 33 302 for a few weeks before the plan was dropped and they remained as class 33/2's.
The photo above depicts the loco in its BR Railfreight Distribution livery which it carried until being withdrawn on 08/10/1996. The locomotive was cut up for scrap at Eastleigh Depot by M.R.J Phillips Ltd of Llanelli in 02/1997.