1,000 HP English Electric Thunder! Class 20 Number 20227 Sherlock Holmes Roars Under the Road Bridge

British Rail Class 20 No. 20227 (Sherlock Holmes) in London Transport Livery
Constructed by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire in February 1968 (works number EE3795/VFD1189, entering service as D8327 as the very final locomotive built of the 228-strong English Electric Type 1 fleet, and later renumbered under TOPS as 20227 in December 1973), 20227 is a 58-year-old Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotive owned and maintained by the Class 20 Locomotive Society (C20LS). Powered by a 1,000 hp (746 kW) English Electric 8CSVT 8-cylinder turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine driving four axle-hung English Electric traction motors, the 73-tonne locomotive delivers a maximum starting tractive effort of 42,000 lbf (187 kN), a continuous tractive effort of 25,000 lbf (111 kN), an operational top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), and an onboard fuel capacity of 2,270 litres (500 imperial gallons). Locomotive 20227 is immaculately turned out in London Transport heritage maroon livery featuring polished gold waistline lining, classic London Underground roundels, and full yellow warning cab front ends. The locomotive proudly carries cast bodyside nameplates reading Sherlock Holmes, commemorating its extensive mainline work for London Underground including track renewal contracts, rail tour operations, and heritage services celebrating the Metropolitan line.

British Rail Mark 1 6-Coach Passenger Consist
Trailing directly behind 20227 in sequential order is a six-carriage rake of preserved British Rail Mark 1 mainline passenger stock. Coupled immediately behind the locomotive is carriage E4982, a Mark 1 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) built at Doncaster Works in 1962 to Diagram 93. This is followed by carriage M81382, a Mark 1 Gangwayed Full Brake (BG) built by Pressed Steel in 1957 to Diagram 711 providing dedicated parcel and luggage stowage. Third in the formation is carriage W4758, a Mark 1 Tourist Standard Open built at York Works in 1957 to Diagram 89. Fourth in line is carriage M4948, a Mark 1 Tourist Standard Open constructed at York Works in 1962 to Diagram 93. Fifth in the rake is carriage E25302, a Mark 1 Corridor Second (SK) featuring eight passenger compartments built at Swindon Works in 1957 to Diagram 146. Completing the formation at the rear is carriage M26366, a companion Mark 1 Corridor Second (SK) constructed at Derby Carriage & Wagon Works in 1956 to Diagram 146.

Departing Loughborough Central Station on the 16:20 Service to Quorn & Woodhouse
Seen in 8K 16:9 widescreen departing Loughborough Central station on Saturday, 5th of September 2026 at 16:22 during the Great Central Railway's Autumn Diesel Gala, London Transport-liveried Class 20 No. 20227 (Sherlock Holmes) works the 16:20 passenger service to Quorn & Woodhouse and Leicester North. Timetable diagrams had originally scheduled Class 55 Deltic No. D9015 (Tulyar) to work this departure, but in an unadvertised traction substitution, No. 20227 stepped in to take charge of the six-coach rake. Notching up hard out of the platform, the 58-year-old locomotive makes a thunderous noise with its 1,000 hp English Electric 8-cylinder engine, sending a resonant roar echoing under the Great Central Road bridge as it hauls the Mark 1 carriages southwards along the double-track mainline into the warm autumn afternoon.

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