​   The total number of locomotives a spotter will have seen is very much dependent on when they started. By the time the Northern Counties Transport Society was formed in 1969, BR had dispensed with its main line steam locomotive fleet, so lets take steam out of the equation.

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   It has been calculated that BR had a total of 5,930 main line diesel and electric locomotives, a summary of these are listed below or can be found here.  They fall into three numbering groups.  Firstly, those that only carried 1XXXX or 2XXXX numbers, many of which were withdrawn in steam days, totalling 273.  Secondly, those numbered in the D and E series, totalling 5,206.  Thirdly those that only carried TOPS numbers, totalling 451.  This doesn't include any narrow gauge locomotives or those that only ever saw departmental service. 

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   To see all 5,930 you would though, have needed to have been spotting in 1951, that being the year 26502/03/04/05/06/07/08/09/11 & 26600 were scrapped. 10100, 11001, 12002 & 15107 had also been scrapped by the end of 1960. Thus, 5,916 locomotives have existed since 1960. 

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   Defining which standard gauge diesel and electric Departmental locomotives needed to be seen to 'Clear BR' is open to different interpretations. However, the consensus is that it was those that survived of the 24 listed at the foot of this page and here that you needed to see.  These being included in the various books and listings used by spotterrs.

   How many did you see?   Let us know how many of the 5,930 you saw to gain a place in the 'Northern Counties Spotter Charts'.   Currently in the top spot is former Society Treasurer John Frisby with 5,884.  There is also a 'Departmentals Chart', the number in bracketed italics is how many of the 24 departmental locomotives were seen.

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