Technical Specification
Engine: Rolls Royce C6SFL straight six 12.7 litre supercharged diesel
Transmission: Rolls Royce Twin Disc CF11500 torque converter
Final Drive: SCG RF11 gearbox driving both axles via 2 ½ in pitch duplex roller chains
Weight: 34 tons
Output: 230 hp at 1500 rpm
Speed: 18mph
Wheels: 0-4-0
Wheelbase: 6 ft 6 in
Tractive Effort: 21,600 lbs
History
Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce Sentinel, Shrewsbury
Works Number: 10175
Class: LB 0-4-0CD
Lifespan 1959-1968
Number Built 104
Role: Works Shunter
Livery: Oxford Blue
Rolls Royce took over the Sentinel Works in Shrewsbury in 1957 to use it for production of its range of diesel engines. Sentinel had produced steam lorries and small steam shunting locos for over 30 years, so RR decided to use their expertise to produce a diesel shunting loco using their own engines. Instead of a simple conversion of the previous steam shunter to diesel, the design team took a completely fresh view of the requirements of the industrial loco and came up with an award winning and stylish design. 290 Sentinels were produced from 1959 to 1971 to four sizes, all utilising standard cabs and bodywork, the largest being the twin-engined 0-8-0. The final development was the shaft-drive "Steelman" 450 hp 0-6-0.
DH16 is a class LB 0-4-0CD (Chain Drive) type of which 104 were built. It is one of 18 supplied to the Manchester Ship Canal Railway from 1964-66. It worked there until the closure of the docks in 1970 and was sold to Bowaters at Ellesmere Port, where it worked until 1980, when it was donated to the fledgling East Lancs Railway. The ELR used it extensively on the reconstruction of their line, but in later years it became disused and abandoned in a very sorry state. It was rescued by DEPG member and Sentinel enthusiast Colin Girle, who took it to Foster Yeoman's Quarry rail shed at Merehead in Somerset to restore it. By August 2001 most of the work was complete and the loco moved to Williton for repairs to an axle journal and drive chain, before taking up its role as Williton depot pilot. The loco is finished in it's original livery of Oxford Blue, lined out in yellow.
motive DH 16 Author: Colin Girle