Suburban Electric Railway Association
Located at the COVENTRY ELECTRIC RAILWAY CENTRE, Rowley Road, Baginton, Warwickshire
Established 1996
Ruston & Hornsby 165DE - Principle Data
| Engine | Ruston 6VPH 4 Cylinder of 155hp |
| Weight In Working Order | 28 tons |
| Transmission | Electric - single traction motor on rear axle drives both axles via side rods |
| Length | 21 feet 6 inches |
| Wheel Diameter | 3 feet 2.5 inches |
268881 - MAZDA - A Brief History
A total of 164 of locomotive type 165DE were built by Ruston and Hornsby of Lincoln between January 1950 and October 1963. This was the very first of that build run. The loco was designed in partnership with British Thompson Houston (BTH) of Rugby who supplied the locos generator and traction motor. The loco's chassis, superstructure and engine were the same as that used on their 165DS, mechanically driven locos which had started production four years previously. By marrying the standard diesel loco layout with BTH's electric transmission Ruston & Hornsby were able to produce their first diesel electric locomotive. The design was very successful and customers for further builds included British Railways and many overseas customers.
This example being the prototype was used by the BTH company in their rail sidings at Rugby. It was fitted with improved head, tail and marker lights during its service time and gained the name MAZDA. When retired from use it was sold to a consortium of Coventry Steam Railway Centre members who took it to the Rowley Road site in 1990 and gave it a full overhaul. It is the longest serving resident of the Coventry site and still an essential part of the operation there.
