The LNER Encyclopedia

What would have happened if the LNER plan to build 25 mainline diesel locos had gone ahead?

Would this have meant that the A1s wouldn't have been built, or that they would have replaced other locos, eg A3s?

I understand the LNER diesels would have been 1 600hp (or 'Type3'/6P) so probably would have had to be used in pairs (like 10000/10001).

Pyewipe Junction: The plan to order 25X 1,600hp diesel electrics for the ECML at one time tended to be regarded by many as a pre-nationalisation LNER pipe dream. However, more recent rsearch shows that it was a serious and credible project. Tenders for the diesel locomotives were provided by several manufacturers, together with unit costs and projected delivery dates. It also appears that the project was driven more at Board level rather than by the CME's Dept, though Peppercorn would undoubtedly have known of it. Nationalisation put a stop to it as others with different agendas took charge. Michael Bonavia has expressed his regrets at its demise, as it would have given the opportunity for a decent sized trial of main line diesels and may also have helped avoid some of the costly mistakes of the later 1955 Modernisation Plan.The 1,600 hp units would have been used in multiple in the main and while steam would have still been very much in evidence they might have made a sizeable impact on the operation of anglo-scottish services in terms of diagrams covered per day.

Or if Sir Vincent Ravens grandiose plans had progressed for the Newcastle - York electrification scheme for that matter.