Built by English Electric in 1957 at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton le Willows, this locomotive was one of a prototype batch of Class 20 locomotives which owed its origins to the 1955 modernisation plan, in which manufacturers were asked to produce trial builds for evaluation. The design was based on one which EE had designed for export and consequently proved extremely successful at home.

In all, 228 were built by 1968 for freight work, but were also used for summer passenger excursion trains. The prototype batch was first allocated to Devons Road Depot in London and the locomotives of this class were eventually used throughout almost the entire network but to begin with on the Scottish, Eastern and London Midland regions.

A number of the class are still in use on the main line and at least 28 are now preserved. D8001 worked in the construction of the Channel Tunnel and was for some time at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley. This loco had a brief spell at Washwood Heath in 2011 for an engine overhaul.

Builder:	English Electric, Vulcan Foundary	Built:	1957
Class or Type:	20	Works No:
Weight:	74 T	Running No:	D8001
Brake Type:	Air/Vacuum	Operational Status:	Operational
Owner:	Class 20 Locomotive Society	Arrived:	09/06/2008
Remarks:	Prototype of class