British Railways A C Electric Locomotives: A Pictorial Guide

By David Cable

The genesis of 25kv overhead electrification began in the late 1960s on the West Coast Main Line, the 1980s for the East Anglian Main Line, and the East Coast Main Line in the late 1980s. Development took place in stages culminating in fully electrified lines from London to Scotland on both East and West Coast lines, and from London to Norwich. The introduction of these lines required the construction of new motive power.Initially five types were produced for the WCML, from which the second phase of loco design was developed, giving a higher level of reliability, as well as power output. These newer designs were applied to the Anglian services, but the ECML plans required an updated design, ostensibly for mixed traffic, but hardly ever used on anything other than express passenger services, for which their 140mph potential enabled a major recast of the timetable. The opening of the Channel Tunnel required a mixed traffic dual voltage locomotive, running on both 25kv and the Southern Region 750v third rail DC.The locomotives are classified between 81 and 92 inclusive, and this book of photographs by David Cable covers all the classes in a variety of locations and duties.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Nov 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781473896390

David Cable

David Cable was born in 1929, and lives in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. He has had an interest in trains since the age of three, which developed into an interest in train photography in 1947. David is the author of many photo albums, covering modern traction in the UK since the 1960s, as well as volumes based on his visits to the other countries over the last 40 years. He has visited countries throughout Europe, North America and Australia, as well as some Far Eastern countries and Morocco.

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Introduction

The 1955 Modernisation of British Railways plan, amongst other things, aimed to develop a first-class system on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). In view of the deteriorating conditions for the operation and maintenance of steam locomotives, and the limited time for which they were likely to be in fit condition, modern traction was planned to take its place. In the first instance, type 4 diesel-electric locomotives were introduced – the class 40s – but their power output failed to match that of the express steam locos, thus preventing any radical changes to the existing timetables of passenger trains. Not only that, the diesel locos relied on imported fuel, the currency required for that being anathema to the Treasury in those days.

The decision was therefore taken to electrify the WCML, adopting overhead 25kv AC (OHE) as the preferred system. Experiments had been conducted with this system on the line from Lancaster to Heysham, which had been converted to this version, together with a rebuilt locomotive – the original MetroVick gas-turbine-powered loco used on the Western Region, modified for OHE operations and given class number 80.

The electrification was introduced in stages, commencing in 1960 between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly, shortly followed by Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street. It was gradually extended to Stafford, and Stage 1 was completed with the installation through to London Euston by 1965, with the Birmingham area complex by 1967.

Stage 2 was introduced in stages, initially to Preston, and finally to Glasgow Central, where it merged into the existing Strathclyde 25kv suburban operations, the whole WCML system being fully electrified by 1974.

To operate the scheme, new traction in the form of new locomotives and multiple units had to be developed and introduced. This photo album predominantly looks at locomotives. Please note that this is not a technical book and only outline information is provided.

The AC Locomotives

Initially, contracts were issued to four private manufacturers, followed by a contract within British Railway workshops. The new locomotives were specified to meet certain criteria, such as being of Bo-Bo wheel configuration with axle loadings to meet Route Availability 6, to have a top speed of 100mph, vacuum braking, although air braking was fitted in the 1970s, and standardised semi-streamlined cabs. Each of the designs is dealt with below.

Type AL1 Class 81

Twenty-five locomotives were built by BRCW (Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company) under contract to AEI (Associated Electrical Industries). Power output was 3,380HP. They were used throughout the whole WCML, being rostered to all types of trains. As with the other members of the initial designs, they (and also the other first generation of AC locos) were nicknamed Roarers, because of the noise made by their cooling fans. The last locos were withdrawn by 1991, although some had been withdrawn earlier, one being involved in the Hixon accident. They carried BR (British Railway) electric blue and Monastral blue throughout their careers.

Type AL2 Class 82

This class was contracted by Metropolitan Vickers to be built by Beyer Peacock. Ten locomotives were built, which required some modifications, since they were originally too heavy. Power output was 3,300HP. The mercury arc rectifiers used on this class, as well as the classes 83 and 84, had a tendency to catch fire and were replaced with silicon rectifiers. They were withdrawn in 1983, after having been put into storage, although two were put back into service for a short period for empty stock duties at Euston. Apart from carrying the two shades of blue livery, one of the pilots carried Mainline colours.

Type AL3 Class 83

The fifteen locos were built by English Electric, but had a lower power output of 3,000HP. After problems with their rectifiers, they were put into storage, until refitted with silicon rectifiers, after which they worked over the whole WCML. Apart from two withdrawn after accidents, most of the class was withdrawn in the mid-1980s, although three were retained for stock working at Euston until 1989. One of these locos carried Mainline colours, all the others being in the two types of blue. This class has ‘cousins’ in the Polish EU/EP07 classes.

Type AL4 class 84

This class of ten 3,000HP locos, built by North British Loco Co, was probably the least successful of all the AC locos. Persistent problems caused them to be