British Rail Class 81

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British Railways AL1
British Rail Class 81
81004 at Birmingham New Street.jpg
81004 at Birmingham New Street in 1984
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
Builder Associated Electrical Industries at Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Build date1959–1964
Total produced25
Specifications
Configuration:
   AAR B-B
   UIC Bo′Bo′
  Commonwealth Bo-Bo
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Bogies Fabricated steel, Alsthom suspension [1]
Wheel diameter4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) [1]
Wheelbase 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) [1]
   Bogie 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) [1]
Pivot centres31 ft 6 in (9.60 m) [2]
Length:
  Over beams56 ft 6 in (17.22 m) [1]
Width8 ft 8+12 in (2.65 m) [1]
Height:
  Pantograph13 ft 0+916 in (3.977 m) [2]
  Body height12 ft 4+14 in (3.77 m) [1]
Axle load 20 long tons 4 cwt (20.5 t) [2]
Loco weight79.60 long tons (80.9  t; 89.2 short tons)
Electric system/s 25 kV AC Catenary
Current pickup(s) Stone-Faiveley [1] ‘V’-type pantograph, 2 off (later 1 off)
Traction motors 4 × AEI 189 6-pole Alsthom Quill drive [1] 847  hp (632 kW)
  Rating 1 hour760A [3]
  Continuous700A [3]
Gear ratio
  • 29:76 (Type A)
  • 26:83 (Type B) [1]
Train heating Electric Train Heating
Loco brake
Train brakes Vacuum; Dual from 1972–1973
Performance figures
Maximum speed
  • 100 mph (161 km/h)
  • Full field: 60 mph (97 km/h)
  • Weak field: 71 mph (114 km/h) [1]
Power output:
  1 hour4 × 920 hp (690 kW) [3]
  Continuous4 × 847 hp (632 kW) [3]
Tractive effort 50,000  lbf (222  kN)
Career
Operators British Rail
NumbersE3001–E3023, E3096, E3097; later 81001–81022
Axle load class Route availability 6
Retired1968 (2), 1971 (1), 1983–1991
Preserved81002
Disposition1 preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 81 is a class of AC electric locomotives that formerly operated on the West Coast Main Line of the London Midland Region of British Rail. Originally designated AL1, it was the first type of AC electric locomotive to be delivered to British Railways.

Contents

History

As part of the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line, which included electrification, 100 locomotives of five types were acquired; each type from a different manufacturer.

The first locomotives to be delivered were type AL1, designed by British Thomson-Houston (BTH), an order being placed for 25 examples. Of these, 23 were for use on passenger trains with a top speed of 100 mph and were designated Type A. The other two locomotives were intended for freight train use, and geared for a top speed of 80 mph; these were designated Type B. [4]

Before the work was completed, BTH amalgamated with Metropolitan Vickers to form AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) traction division [4] and it was under this name that the locomotives were built in 1959 under subcontract by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon in Smethwick. The first locomotive, E3001, was handed over to British Railways on 27 November 1959. [5] The type was initially used for crew training on the Styal Line between Manchester and Crewe.

The AL1 were numbered E3001 - E3023 and E3096 / E3097; the first twenty-three being Type A and the last two Type B (numbered E3301 and E3302). [6] However, these last two were actually geared for passenger service, being delivered in February 1964 as E3096 and E3097.

Power supply

The locomotives always worked on power provided by overhead catenary, energised at 25,000 V AC. However, the main transformer, normally operated with the four windings in series, could be operated at 6250V AC with the transformer windings in parallel. [4] This voltage was initially to be used where limited clearances gave concern over use of the higher voltage. However, this approach was never used on the West Coast main line, although it was employed elsewhere such as Glasgow Central in the initial 'Blue Train' electrification there. By the time the WCML wiring was extended to Glasgow, it had been revised there to the mainstream 25 kV voltage.

Operations

The class only operated on the West Coast Main Line because they were restricted to lines electrified at 25 kV AC. Cities where these engines could be seen included London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. They operated passenger, freight and parcel trains. There is no record of operation on the ex-Great Eastern line, which was being electrified at the time of their introduction, nor subsequently on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) when that was electrified in the 1980s.

Renumbering

Under the TOPS system, twenty-two examples were reclassified as Class 81 and numbered 81001 - 81022.

Withdrawals

Three locomotives (E3002, E3009 and E3019) were withdrawn before they could be renumbered under the TOPS system, which was implemented in 1972. E3002 and E3019 were damaged by fire and both were scrapped at British Rail Crewe Works. The remains of E3009 were also cut up at Crewe Works, the locomotive having been wrecked in the Hixon rail crash of January 1968. [7]

Two further members of the class saw relatively early withdrawal due to accident or fire damage:

A row of Class 81 and 85 locomotives waiting to be scrapped. The first and third locomotives from the left are Class 81s. Class81.jpg
A row of Class 81 and 85 locomotives waiting to be scrapped. The first and third locomotives from the left are Class 81s.

The remaining locomotives of the Class had relatively successful service lives of 25 to 30 years, although in their latter years they became unreliable, and displayed an increasing tendency to catch fire. However, a shortage of electric locomotives ruled out withdrawal of the fleet until the newer Class 90 locomotives came into service in the late-1980s. [7] [9] The remaining examples were withdrawn from service in the late-1980s and early-1990s. The final examples were used for the transfer of empty coaches between London Euston and Willesden sidings between 1989 and 1991 following the withdrawal of the final Class 83's in that role. The last two examples withdrawn from service were 81012 and 81017 in July 1991. The majority of the class were scrapped at Coopers Metals in Sheffield. [7]

Preservation

One example, 81002, has been preserved by the AC Locomotive Group, located at Barrow Hill Engine Shed.

Models

There have been no recent OO gauge models of the Class 81, although Hornby Dublo produced a model from 1964, prior to the purchase of Hornby by Lines Bros (owners of the Tri-ang Railways brand). This model was very crude, even by the standards of the day - a lack of cab interiors; a very crude pantograph; a lack of detail in the roof pan - but was issued under Tri-ang Hornby (predecessors to the current Hornby Railways brand) from 1966.

There has, however, been a static model in HO scale produced by Atlas Editions - some of these have been successfully motorised.

Fleet details

Key:PreservedScrapped
NumbersAEI Works Number [10] Date Introduced [10] Withdrawn [11] [12] Final DepotDisposal [11]
Type BType A [10] TOPS [10] LocationDate
-E3001810011083December 1959July 1984 GW Fire damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works
September 1986
-E3002-1084January 1960November 1968ACLFire damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works
January 1969
-E3003810021085February 1960October 1990 WN Preserved at Barrow Hill Engine Shed
-E3004810031086April 1960March 1988GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3005810041087May 1960April 1990WNScrapped at MC Metals, GlasgowMay 1992
-E3006810051088July 1960February 1989GWScrapped at Coppers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3007810061089August 1960October 1988GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3008810071090October 1960February 1990GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3009-1091October 1960August 1968ACLAccident damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works
August 1968
-E3010810081092November 1960March 1988GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3011810091093December 1960February 1990WNScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldDecember 1991
-E3012810101094December 1960May 1990WNScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3013810111095December 1960April 1989GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3014810121096December 1960July 1991WNScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldDecember 1991
-E3015810131097December 1960October 1989GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3016810141098March 1961March 1988GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3017810151099May 1961December 1984GWScrapped at MC Metals, GlasgowMay 1992
-E3018810161100March 1961July 1983GWAccident damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works
January 1985
-E3019-1101April 1961July 1971ACLFire damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works
October 1971
-E3020810171102May 1961July 1991WNScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3021810181103June 1961January 1986GWScrapped at MC Metals, GlasgowJune 1992
-E3022810191104October 1961January 1989GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
-E3023810201105February 1962July 1987GWScrapped at Coopers Metals, SheffieldNovember 1991
(E3301)E3096810211106June 1962April 1987GWScrapped at MC Metals, GlasgowJuly 1992
(E3302)E3097810221107February 1964July 1987GWScrapped at Crewe Works by A HamptonNovember 1988

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 6
  2. 1 2 3 Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 27
  3. 1 2 3 4 Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 28
  4. 1 2 3 Bradley, Roger P (November 1980). "Pioneer AC electrics". Railway Modeller. Vol. 31, no. 360. Beer: Peco Publications & Publicity Ltd. pp. 385–387.
  5. "Class History – 81". AC Locomotive Group . Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  6. Longhurst 1979 , Class AL1–81
  7. 1 2 3 "Class History - AL1 / 81". The AC Locomotive Group. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  8. "Report on the Derailment that occurred on 9th December 1982 at Linslade Tunnel" (PDF). Department of Transport. October 1983. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  9. "FROM THE ARCHIVES: Class 91s...promise unfulfilled". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Webb & Duncan 1979 , p. 32
  11. 1 2 Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 81". wnxx. End of the Line: Withdrawn & Stored Locomotives UK. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  12. "The Class 81 Fleet". Rail Blue. Retrieved 11 February 2016.[ permanent dead link ]

Sources

Further reading