D9523

The Class 14’s were the last class of engines built at Swindon and were one of the few BR diesels built to a common steam design (ie the standardised pannier tank locos they partly replaced). They were designed for freight work on rural lines and also for the South Wales coalfields. They were suitable for trip working as well as shunting, hence the four-character route indicators.
Although a large number were allocated to South Wales the work for them diminished and most were transferred to Hull Dairycoates, albeit for a short time only before being withdrawn as surplus to requirements. Within four years of being built these modern diesels were, for most, sold to British Steel or the National Coal Board Ashington.

D 9523 started its working life at Old Oak Common, December 1964; then onto Bristol Bath Road, October 1965: Hull, January 1967; British Steel Corby, December 1968; Great Central Railway, October 1981; and has resided at Wansford since June 1989.