Much has been documented elsewhere about the remarkable story of Dai Woodhams scrapyard in South Wales. Over 200 steam locomotives were saved from this site and serve as the backbone of steam preservation in the UK today. Little is written, though, about the four diesels that escaped the cutters torch and languished in the yard alongside their steam counterparts. Few people know (and even fewer photos exist), that Class 15 BTH locomotive No. D8206 entered the site under unexplained reasons after withdrawal in September 1968; compared with D601 & D6122 the locomotive was quickly disposed of in February 1970. NBL  Warships D600 Active  and D601 Ark Royal  arrived at the site soon after their withdrawal in December 1967. D600 seemed to have the same fate as the Class 15 and only survived  two years at the site; it was no more by March 1970. D601, however, rusted, along with the rest of the hulks for an amazing twelve years, before being cut up in July 1980, three years longer than it had been in service with British Rail! Barrys forth resident diesel, again a North British machine, Class 21 No. D6122, came from the Scottish Region. After withdrawal in December 1967 it was moved south for use in re-railing exercises at Hither Green. This use fulfilled, it joined  D601 for many years before its demise came just one week before the NBL A1A-A1A.

From 1978.........
An interesting letter appeared in a 1978 edition of a leading railway magazine from a Mr Peter T Morley:-
Sir, Unfortunately the appeal a few years ago to save and restore to working order D601 'Ark Royal' which is still at Barry scrapyard, did not succeed. In my opinion the sum needed to do this today seems totally out of reach, due to the mechanical condition of the locomotive is now in. It has occurred to me that if 'Ark Royal' was to be bought as a shell - that is, without any mechanical equipment which does not alter its external appearance - the scrap price would be comparatively low. If this was to be done the body of the locomotive (which is made of a non rusting alloy) and cab interiors could be restored to give the appearance of a complete locomotive; the engine compartment could then be floored in to give a room of approximately 8 1/2 by 43 ft. This room would provide an excellent location for an exhibition or society shop; or maybe a museum based on the history of the Western Region diesel - hydraulics could be compiled. If any group took up this challenge, they would not only be producing a useful item, but be partially preserving an historic diesel locomotive, which will end up as a pile of scrap if nothing is done.