In late 1973 conversion commenced at Doncaster Depot of withdrawn Class 08 locomotives D3006, D3035 and D3078 to snowploughs. Work was completed in early 1974 when they were renumbered ADB966507/08/06 respectively. These conversions were followed by a further two, D3037 and D3069 becoming ADB966510/09 respectively later in the year. This fleet was added too in 1977 with the conversion of 08111, 08117 and 08119 to ADB966512/13/11 respectively, later becoming ADB968012/10/11 respectively.

Following conversion the usual locations to find them berthed were Doncaster, Frodingham, Grantham, Lincoln, March, Thornaby, Tinsley and Wath-upon-Dearne.

Folk-lore has it that when first used in anger during the particularly harsh winter of 1978/1979 they proved somewhat of a disaster. It would be interesting to know if this was actually the case and any sightings/photographs of them in use would be of particular interest. Whatever the truth, all were out of use by the Spring of 1979 and with the exception of ADB966509 were scrapped at Doncaster Works that year.

Although the locations where they were berthed are reasonably well documented there are one or two grey areas in the histories of some of the snowploughs whilst precise date of movement between locations in many cases is not always known. In order to build up a clearer picture, sightings of the Snowplough Class 08’s from time of conversion to eventual scrapping are sought. Clicking on a particular Snowplough Class 08 will take you to its potted history where you are able to submit sightings in the boxes provided. Please be careful to select the correct identity for those that carried more than one using the ‘drop down’ in the box. All dates should be submitted in the form dd/mm/yyyy. Particular care should be taken when submitting sightings at Doncaster to specify whether the sighting was made at the Depot, Works or elsewhere. Also, any sightings at Lincoln should specify whether the sighting was made at the Diesel Depot or at East Holmes (the former Steam Depot used for stabling diesel locomotives at the time).

ADB966506 (ex D3078)

ADB966507 (ex D3006)

ADB966508 (ex D3035)

ADB966509 (ex D3069)

ADB966510 (ex D3037)

ADB966511-ADB968011 (ex 08119)

ADB966512 – ADB968012 (ex 08111)

ADB966513 - ADB968013 - ADB96801 - ADB968010 (08117)