This page is here to outline the key services the Hymeks worked which is not well documented.

The Hymeks were introduced between 1961 and 1964 and took over from steam engines replacing them on a like for like basis on many duties. The well designed type three locomotives were designated as mixed traffic locos meaning they would handle a range of Freight and Passenger duties.  

The locomotives were originally allocated to the following Depots:
-Bristol Bath Road- 49 locos
-Cardiff Canton- 40 locos (some outbaseed at Swansea Landore for West Wales work)
-Newton Abbot- 4 locos
-Old Oak Common- 2 locos

At the start the Hymeks worked South Wales-Paddington express trains. By 1963 enough Westerns were available to take over this role and as a result a number of Hymeks were transferred to Old Oak Common in London. These locos were used on ECS duties around Paddington station and virtually took over the Paddington-Oxford, Hereford and Worcester trains. 
Hymeks were used on a range of Freight services in the Western region and had workings in the London Midland and Southern regions.  Big cities like London, Cardiff and Bristol still had a massive amount of Freight services running giving plenty of work for the Class. In addition many branch lines received the occasional Hymek on Freight workings.
During 1967 5 locomotives were moved to Worcester for use on Lickey incline ‘banking duties’. Sometimes triple heading was used to help get heavy freight trains over the bank.

In terms of passenger work the Hymeks mostly did the following:
- Most Paddington-Oxford, Hereford and  Worcester trains both expresses and local passenger work.
- Some West Wales passenger trains.
- Some Paddington-Bristol, Paddington-GGloucester trains and Paddington-Cardiff trains.
- Occasional Paddington-Barnstaple and  Paddington-Kingswear trains.
- Some Cross Country Cardiff-Portsmouthh workings
- Summer Saturday Paddington-Minehead trains.

An interesting working the Hymeks undertook later in their careers was working
breaking trains which ripped up the Taunton - Barnstaple lines. Thanks to BG for that. 

If anyone has further information on Hymek workings please email me. Information on specific regular Hymek workings would be greatly appreciated.
Produced by Matt Cambourne