TT3001M BR Class 08 0-6-0 08489 - Era 7

The Class 08 will go down in history as one of the most dependable shunters ever built. While all Class 08 shunters were built by British Railways they are actually based on an earlier LMS design. With 996 of these shunters built, they are still a common sight on mainline yards and sidings, and a common sight on heritage railways, with the number preserved almost outnumbering those currently in service.

With no thought given to aesthetics, the Class 08 was a utilitarian workhorse of the railways, with its longevity speaking volumes to its performance. While not intended for mainline duties, some of the Class in the south could be seen trundling up the mainline if there was a short distance between yards that stock needed to be moved between, assuming no express services needed to occupy the track at the time.

Built as D3604 in 1957, this example locomotive would gain its TOPS number of 08489 in March 1974. 08489 was withdrawn from service in 2004 from its home at Motherwell and was cut up by TJ Thomson of Stockton in June of 2009.