Yorkshire Engine Company Janus

The Yorkshire Engine Company Janus was a line of 0-6-0 wheel arrangement, diesel-electric locomotives that weighed 48 long tons (49 tonnes; 54 short tons) and had a maximum speed of 23 mph (37 km/h). The two Rolls-Royce C6SFL diesel engines gave a total power output of 400 hp (300 kW). Each engine had its cooling system at the outer end, and the its generator at the inner end. There were two traction motors, each being powered by one generator, thus simplifying the electrical system.

Janus type locomotive 51 at Corus' Scunthorpe steelworks, 8 September 2009.

Eventually, 102 Janus locomotives were built: mostly for the British steel industry, but other customers included Imperial Chemical Industries (12 locomotives), the Port of London Authority (10), and the National Coal Board (7). Three locomotives were exported: one to Jamaica, and two to the Indian Fertilizer Corporation. The Indian locomotives were 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) metre gauge, and were the only narrow gauge units built. In addition, three modified Janus locomotives – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge on Bo-Bo trucks – were exported to British Guyana.

Later locomotives had their Rolls-Royce engine uprated by 10 per cent to 220 hp (160 kW) each. After Rolls-Royce entered the industrial locomotive manufacturing business, YEC started to offer their locomotives with Cummins diesel engines; seven Janus locomotives were built with pairs of 250 hp (190 kW) Cummins diesels – all for Appleby Froddingham Steel works.^[1]

In 2008, 23 were still in industrial service, and seven had entered preservation.^[2]

The name Janus is from the two-faced god Janus: the locomotive was symmetrical with two 'faces'. The similarity in power and speed would indicate that this type of locomotive could have been use in a similar role to the British Rail Class 08 shunter. In recent years Class 08 shunters owned by EWS have replaced Janus locomotives on some industrial railways.

Loans to British Railways

One locomotive was demonstrated on British Railways; it was the second of this type built (works number 2595 of 1956), both the first two locomotives being demonstrated to potential customers before going to the Appleby-Frodingham Steel works in Scunthorpe. It is thought to have been in use there until being scrapped in 1982.

Other locomotives loaned

In July 1961 an 0-6-0 diesel-hydraulic locomotive was demonstrated on British Railways. It weighed 40 long tons (41 t; 45 short tons) and was powered by a single Rolls-Royce C8SFL engine giving 300 hp (220 kW). The design was similar to a lengthened British Rail Class 02. The locomotive was tested near Derby for four days, and following the demonstration was delivered to Llanwern steelworks, Newport.

One 600 hp 0-8-0 diesel hydraulic, a Taurus, was demonstrated and tested on British Railways during 1961 and 1962. It was a ‘trip’ locomotive intended to carry out shunting work and hauling local (short distance) goods trains. This was the duty for which the British Rail Class 14 locomotives were built in 1963.

References

• Chapman, Stephen J. (1981). "The Era of the Diesel Prototype". Railway World Annual. 
• Marsden, Colin (1981). A Pictorial Record of the Diesel Shunter. 
• Vernon, Tony (2008). Yorkshire Engine Company: Sheffield’s Locomotive Manufacturer. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4530-4. 
• The Industrial Railway Society - Various records and publications
• Yorkshire Engine Co. - Various records and publications