Julius second 08 model, this one in 5” gauge. As the standard BR general-purpose diesel shunter, the 08  became a familiar sight. Since their introduction in 1952, however, rail traffic has changed considerably and the  shunting locomotives are needed less. A large proportion of the class has now been  scrapped, exported or sold to industrial or heritage railways.

However, these locomotives are still working, and more are to be found on  heritage railways. More than 80 are preserved, including the first one built.

That first locomotive, number 13000, was built in 1952. Production continued until 1962 with 996 locomotives produced, making it the most numerous of any British shunting locomotive class, and  the most numerous of any British locomotive class.

The locomotives were built at the BR's Crewe, Darlington, Derby, Doncaster and Horwich works.

The Class 08 design was based on the LMS 12033 series (later TOPS Class 11) design. There were also 26 of the near-identical but higher-geared Class 09, and 171 similar locomotives fitted with different engines and transmissions (some of which became Class 10), which together brought the total number of outwardly-similar machines to 1,193.