Locomotives are listed by the number as displayed at the time of their disposal with, in most cases, their former numbers listed in brackets. Where a renumbering after withdrawal from normal service for departmental use has been issued this is listed. It should be noted however that several locomotives issued departmental numbers after withdrawal didn’t actually physically carry these numbers.

Prior to privatisation locomotives would, at some point, be officially withdrawn either direct from traffic or from storage prior to or at the time of condemnation. This practice has generally petered out since 1995 and the number of official withdrawals since 1999 has been extremely minimal. Complicating matters was the introduction of pool allocations in 1989. Since 1995 and certainly since 1999 we have had de-registration whereby a locomotive is removed from the records (Rolling Stock Library and TOPS) at some point. This could be regarded as a withdrawal date (and indeed is by some) however the use of these dates as a reference point for withdrawal is not entirely accurate as many de-registrations take place some time after the actual disposal has been completed.

For locomotives withdrawn prior to the introduction of pool allocations (pre 1989) the date shown is the date of withdrawal of the locomotive and its corresponding depot allocation. In the case of locomotives stored or withdrawn after the introduction of pool allocations (1989 onwards) the date shown is the date they were last transferred to a storage or non operational pool. Many with dates between 1989 and 1999 may well have been withdrawn at the same time or at a later date but those listed with dates later than 1999 almost certainly haven’t been officially withdrawn.

As a general rule of thumb if a final pool allocation is shown then this is referring to when the locomotive was removed from active service, either storage or withdrawal, prior to disposal but if the date does not have a final pool allocation then this will be a withdrawal date. Examples…

31245 01/87 IM (pre 1989 so will be its withdrawal date)
31247 01/95 TO ENRN (after 1989 and showing a final pool allocation so will be its storage date)
31248 09/93 BS (after 1989 but no pool allocation showing so will be a withdrawal date pending entry of its storage details)

C: Loco cut.
D: Departmental use after withdrawal.
E: Exported.
P: Preserved / Private owner. (Includes industrial and privately owned locomotives reregistered for main line use)
X: Other

Where known an actual cut date, to the nearest month, is listed however many of early disposals to private contractors for breaking are listed by the date of disposal to the various yards concerned as no other information is available.

Location where locomotive was disposed of and who by. Those in industrial use, preserved and privately owned are listed as simply ‘Preserved / Private Owner’ as no attempt is being made here to keep up with their movements.