D2289
Ex BR Diesel Shunting Locomotives Exported to Italy - top page
Ex BR Class 03s & Class 04s exported in 1972 to Italy
Recorded as withdrawn from Eastleigh in September 1971. Although no dated sightings have been traced it is probable it remained at the depot until moving to Shipbreaking (Queenborough), Queenborough, Kent, about April 1972. It was then exported by sea in May 1972 to the port of La Spezia, Liguria, Italy, thence to Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works (1), Brescia, Italy (company now known as Lonato SpA) and was still in use on 31st October 2009. When observed in 2015 it was no longer in working condition, the steelworks having become a sugar warehouse. In early 2018 an appeal to repatriate D2289 was launched. This was successful and it departed by road for England on 10th June 2018 and arrived at its new home, the Heritage Shunters Trust at Rowsley, Derbyshire three days later.
(1) – IRS Bulletin 206 of October 1976 reports that D2295 was then at this location rather than D2289. Whilst this could have been the case it is suspected the identity of the locomotive was presumed based on it being blue. At that time the only blue Class 04 that had been reported as being exported was D2295 that was probably in the south of Italy.
One of the builders plates off D2289. The custodian says that It was removed from the locomotive at Eastleigh before it was sold to the scrapyard in Kent. He purchased it off a fitter when he started working there in the 1980s. Andy Crespin
D2289 at Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steelworks, Lonato, Brescia, Italy. The picture was taken around about the turn of the century Francesco Bloisi
D2289 at Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steelworks, Lonato, Brescia, Italy on 28th September 2001 Michael Ulbricht
D2289 is just visible at the Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy on 6th August 2003. Robert Cruickshank
D2289 at Acciaierie di Lonata SpA, Lonato steelwoorks, Lonato, Brescia in April 2006. The other locomotive is F.C.Hibberd & Company Planet 3944/1960 which saw use at Settle, Speakman & Company, Queenborough before being exported to Italy in 1972. Francesco Bloisi collection
D2289 at Acciaierie di Lonata SpA, Lonato steelworks, Lonato, Brescia in April 2006. The other locomotive is F.C.Hibberd & Company "Planet" 3944/1960 which saw use at Settle, Speakman & Company, Queenborough before being exported to Italy in 1972. Francesco Bloisi collection
D2289 at Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steelworks, Lonato, Brescia, Italy on 31st October 2009. Ermanno Barazzoni
Still surving in Italy in September 2015 was D2289. It is located at Acciaierie di Lonato sugar warehouse (formerly a steelworks), Lonato, Brescia. Italy where it was photographed on 26th September. Peter Wreford
Photographed on 26th September 2015 at Acciaierie di Lonato sugar warehouse (formerly a steelworks), Lonato, Brescia. Italy is D2289. Peter Wreford
Photographed on 26th September 2015 at Acciaierie di Lonato sugar warehouse (formerly a steelworks), Lonato, Brescia. Italy is D2289. Peter Wreford
On 6th June 2018 D2289 was craned onto a low-loader at Acciarierie di Lonato, two days later it departed for England. This picture was taken on 8th June 2018. Mark Jones
On 13th June 2018 D2289 is craned off the low-loader that had brought it from Italy. The first time for forty six years that the locomotive had been in contact with a British railway line. Mark Jones
In addition to sightings of D2289 after withdrawal in September 1971 it would be appreciated if any one who observed it during its active BR career could forward those sightings. This will be very much appreciated by those who have repatriated the locomotive who are compiling as full a history as possible of the locomotive. Photographs of the locomotive during its BR career would also be welcomed.
Sightings for D2289
| Loco | Location | Date | Seen by |
| D2289 | Southampton Docks | 23/07/1960 | Rail Routes in Hampshire & East Dorset (picture) |
| D2289 | Eastleigh Depot | 08/06/1963 | Andrew Lait |
| D2289 | Eastleigh Depot | 16/08/1964 | Roy Hennefer |
| D2289 | Stewarts Lane Depot | 17/07/1966 | Roy Hennefer |
| D2289 | Stewarts Lane Depot | 12/02/1967 | Roy Hennefer |
| D2289 | Norwood Junction Depot | 26/03/1967 | Roy Hennefer |
| D2289 | Norwood Junction Depot | 07/05/1967 | Roy Hennefer |
| D2289 | Swindon Works | 03/12/1967 | Andrew Dodgson |
| D2289 | Eastleigh Works | 18/04/1970 | Adrian Booth |
| D2289 | Eastleigh Depot | 25/09/1970 | Strathwood Photograph |
| D2289 | Eastleigh | 21/04/1971 | Ivor Thomas |
| D2289 | Eastleigh Depot | 04/07/1971 | Philip Cartwright |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 01/03/1974 | p.209 Deutsche Lokomotiven in Italien |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 04/09/1991 | Mark Chaldeecott |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy (captioned D2295) | 05/09/1991 | IRS 5BRD |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 01/08/1996 | p.209 Deutsche Lokomotiven in Italien |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 28/08/1996 | Mark Jones |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 05/06/1998 | David Newton |
| D2289 | Acciaerie di Lonato Spa, Lonato, steel works, Lonato, Brescia,Italy | 22/08/1999 | Gary Pullan |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 26/07/2000 | David Newton |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 29/09/2001 | Michael Ulbricht |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 06/08/2003 | Robert Cruickshank |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 14/04/2005 | Stefano Paolini |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato. Brescia, Italy | 22/04/2006 | Caruso William |
| D2289 | Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 01/09/2007 | via Michael Ulbricht |
| D2289 | Lonata SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 13/06/2009 | LCGB 10/09 pp 362 |
| D2289 | Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 31/10/2009 | ermanno |
| D2289 | Lonato SpA, Lonato Sugar Warehouse, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 04/11/2012 | David Newton |
| D2289 | Lonato SpA, Lonato Sugar Warehouse, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 18/09/2015 | Peter Wreford |
| D2289 | Lonato SpA, Lonato Sugar Warehouse, Lonato, Brescia, Italy | 16/03/2018 | Mark Jones |
| D2289 | Heritage Shunters Trust, Peak Rail, Rowsley | 13/06/2018 | nsporne |
This page is maintained by Peter Hall.