A historic railway locomotive roundhouse, with a crowd of people walking between two steam locomotives and approaching an electric shunting locomotive rebuilt from a class 08 diesel

British pioneers spark new battery-powered life into centurion shunter

Walking into the future. Guests approach the prototype 08e at the launch event in Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield in England Image by Simon Walton

Don’t try to tell Positive Traction that there is no future in the most humble of locomotives still at work today. Quite the opposite. The British technological achievers see a long life ahead for the class 08 shunter, and it’s thanks to their radical makeover. What was born a diesel pioneer in the age of steam, is about to become a battery-electric pioneer in the age of digital streaming.

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Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is UK correspondent for RailTech.com and Railfreight.com

1 comment op “British pioneers spark new battery-powered life into centurion shunter”

tristram mitchell|20.10.23|23:11

Sorry to correct you but the shunting locomotive is a pilot the man who works alongside the pilot and not on it is the shunter!!

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