D5705 is a green mixed-traffic diesel engine, and BoCo's brother.

Biography

The Railway Series

D5705 was one of the many BR Class 28s that worked in the Barrow-in-Furness area. During its British Railways life, these diesels were not a greatly successful. Upon seeing them, Sir Topham Hatt decided what he thought was wrong with them and worked out how he might put it right. He subsequently purchased D5705's brother, BoCo. It is later acknowledged that BoCo and D5705 are the only Class 28s preserved in the British Isles, with D5705 ​awaiting restoration at the Peak Railway in Derbyshire.^[2][3]

Annuals

In an interview with Mr. Awdry for the 1987 Thomas & Friends annual, BoCo was delighted to discover that D5705 was preserved, having previously thought that all his classmates were scrapped. According to BoCo, he and his brother used to work together on the Mainland, and D5705 is currently undergoing a restoration process in Derbyshire.^[4]

When Bill and Ben's nameplates have been removed to be cleaned, the twins pretended they were each other. BoCo got confused, but got back at Bill and Ben by pretending to be his twin, D5705, who he named CoBo.^[1]

Technical Details

Real-Life History

D5705 is based on the real British Rail (BR) Class 28 Co-Bo diesel-electric engine of the same number. While all the other Class 28s were withdrawn and scrapped, D5705 survived by a historical accident as a technical services engine and then carriage heating unit TDB968006 before being preserved in 1980. The Class 15 Preservation Society has signed an agreement with the owners of D5705 to become its custodians during its restoration and operation for the next decade, although funding will remain separate. D5705 is currently preserved and under restoration at the East Lancashire Railway.

Livery

D5705 is painted in the BR Deep Bronze green livery. He has yellow warning panels on his front and back end. "D5705" is painted on the left side of his cab in white.

Appearances

Trivia

• During Day Out with Thomas events, D5705 is given a face to resemble BoCo.
• Heljan made of D5705 back in 2011 but has been discontinued.

Gallery

References