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Class Twenties, or English Electric type ones as they were then known were introduced by the British Railways Board In 1957. The First group was D8000 to D8128. The BRB then decided they preferred Clayton class 17s, so built a big batch of those. They were so unsuccessful that the decided to build another batch of 99 class twenties between 1965 & 67. These were numbered D8129 to D8199 & D8300 to D8329. They had detail differences such as roller blind route indicators instead of the steam style 'discs' and electronics were introduced into the power control circuits. Our two are from the earlier batch, chosen not least for there simplicity over the later ones.
Twenties were designed to work small pick up freight trains during the day and to be coupled in multiple to work longer faster freights at night. They also worked summer passenger trains, singly around the highlands and further a field in multiple. But were not supposed to do this in the winter as they had no means of train heating! They seemed the obvious choice for us back in 1991 as they are relatively small, light, powerful, reliable and back then there were plenty to choose from. Ideal for a small branchline like ours.
20 118 was originally numbered D8118 and built in February 1962 in English Electric's 'Robert Steven Hawthorn' Factory at Darlington. It was first allocated to Glasgow's Polmadie Depot (66A as it's code was then) But was transferred to Eastfield Depot later that same year. By the start of 1964 the loco was back at Polmadie, this time staying until November 1969 when it went to the Nottingham Division. However it returned to Polmadie once again towards the end of 1971 and was again transferred to Eastfield TMD in March the following year. It Moved South again, this time to Sheffield Tinsley in March 1985. On 29 April 1987 it was given the unofficial name of "River Don", this being applied in connection with the now legendary "Three to the Sea" Railtour which ran on 2 May 1987. The name was short lived as another move saw 20118 arrive at Thornaby later that same month. On 13 August 1987 it was again named (this time officially) "Saltburn-by-the-Sea", the ceremony taking place at Saltburn Station (also named on the same day was 20165 "Henry Pease"). In May 1990 the loco went back to Eastfield and by August had lost its name. Once again its stay at Eastfield was short and by July 1991 the loco was transferred back south, this time to Toton TMD. On 18 August 1991 the loco was allocated to ZQ (BR HQ) but later the same year was restored to normal use and lasted just over a year until being stored unserviceable on 11 December 1992. It was again restored to use (28 April 1993) still at Thornaby, but was reallocated to Bescot the following month. on 13 August 1993, whilst at Saltley LIP it received it's second unofficial name "Vulcan". This was applied for a railtour "Triple Chopper Tripper" via the Settle and Carlisle, but due to a last minute fault on the loco it was replaced by 20187.
More Railtour work came on the 11 September 1993 when together with 20169 it top and tailed 37075 and 37225 on the Amlwch branch with the "Anglesey Odyssey", whilst on 2 May 1994, paired with 20131, 20118 reached Exeter from Paddington with "The Big E". The loco had its last "A" Exam on 26 September 1995 but did not work again as it was placed out of service at 1130 on 26 September 1995 with two smashed windscreens and was officially stored unserviceable at 1315 on 4 December 1995.
In mid 1999 it was sold to us and moved by road to Buckfastleigh where it arrived on 10 December 1999. 20 118 was out of traffic for four years before we bought her, consequently she needed considerably more time and effort to restore than 110 did. All of this was repaid on 26 May 2000 when 20118 was started up for the first time in preservation. Since then many more hours have been spent restoring the loco which has been out shopped in the popular Railfreight Large Logo livery complete with Red Strip and has been reunited with its "Saltburn-by-the-Sea" name.
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