The Class 08 will go down in history as one of the most dependable shunters ever built. While all Class 08 shunters were built by British Railways they are actually based on an earlier LMS design. With 996 of these shunters built between 1953 and 1962, they are still a common sight at mainline yards and sidings, and a common sight on heritage railways, with the number preserved almost outnumbering those currently in service.
With no thought given to aesthetics, the Class 08 was a utilitarian workhorse of the railways, with its longevity speaking volumes to its performance. The locomotive would have a cab at the number one end and equipment housed in the long nose extending towards the number two end.
While not intended for mainline duties, some of the class in the south could be seen trundling up the mainline if there was a short distance between yards that stock needed to be moved between, assuming no express services needed to occupy the track at the time.