British Rail Class 81

British Railways AL1 British Rail Class 81
A row of Class 81 locomotives waiting to be scrapped
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Associated Electrical Industries at Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Build date 1959–1964 Total produced 25
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Bo-Bo  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) Length 56 ft 6 in (17.22 m) Width 8 ft 8+1⁄2 in (2.65 m) Height 12 ft 4+1⁄4 in (3.77 m) Electric system/s 25 kV AC Current pickup(s) Stone-Faiverley ‘V’-type pantograph, 2 off (later 1 off) Traction motors 847 hp (632 kW) AEI 189 quill drive, 4 off Train heating Electric Train Heating Loco brake Air, Rheostatic Train brakes Vacuum; Dual from 1972–1973
Performance figures Power output 3,200 hp (2,390 kW) Tractive effort 50,000 lbf (222 kN)
Career Axle load class Route availability 6 Retired 1968 (2), 1971 (1), 1983–1991 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 81 is an AC electric locomotive that formerly operated on the West Coast Main Line of the London Midland Region of British Rail.

History

As part of the modernization of the West Coast Main Line which included electrification, 100 locomotives of five types were acquired. These were from different manufactures.

The first locomotives were of type AL1, twenty five being designed by the British Thomson-Houston division of AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) and built in 1959 under subcontract by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon in Smethwick .

The first engine was handed over to British Railways on November 27, 1959. They were originally used for crew training on the Styal Line between Manchester and Crewe.

They were numbered E3001 - E3023 and E3096 / E3097. The first twenty-three were Type A, geared for passenger trains while the last two were to have been Type B, geared for freight trains, numbered E3301 and E3302. However the last two were instead geared for passenger service, being delivered in February 1964 as E3096 and E3097.

Power supply

Power was provided by overhead catenary energized at 25,000 V AC.

Operations

Due to the fact that they were restricted to those lines electrified at 25 kV AC they only operated on the West Coast Main Line. Cities where these engines could be seen included London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow. They operated passenger trains, freight trains, and parcel trains.

Early withdrawals

Three locomotives, E3002, E3009, and E3019, were withdrawn before they could be renumbered under the TOPS system. E3002 and E3019 were damaged by fire and both were scrapped at British Rail Crewe Works. E3009 was destroyed in an accident at Hixon in 1968. The train it was pulling collided with a transporter on a level crossing. The remains of this locomotive were also scrapped at Crewe Works.

Renumbering

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

Accidents

81016 was one of a few Class 81 locomotives withdrawn as a result of accident damage.

In addition to the three examples withdrawn before renumbering under TOPS others were withdrawn as a result of damage after being renumbered.

81016 was involved in an accident on December 9 1982 near Linslade, being officially withdrawn in 1983.

81001 was damaged by fire on August 26 1983 near Carstairs on a Motorail train.

The end

Over the years examples of this class were withdrawn from service. The final examples were used for the transfer of empty coaches between London Euston Station and Willesden sidings between 1989 and 1991. The last two examples withdrawn from service were 81012 and 81017.

The majority of the class were scrapped at Coopers Metals in Sheffield.

Preservation

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

Fleet details

Key:	Preserved	Scrapped

Numbers			Withdrawn	Disposal
Type B	Type A	TOPS
-	E3001	81001	1983	Fire damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works September 1986
-	E3002	-	1968	Fire damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works January 1969
-	E3003	81002	1990	Preserved at Barrow Hill Engine Shed
-	E3004	81003	1988	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3005	81004	1990	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow May 1992
-	E3006	81005	1989	Scrapped at Coppers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3007	81006	1988	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3008	81007	1990	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3009	-	1968	Accident damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works August 1968
-	E3010	81008	1988	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3011	81009	1990	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield December 1991
-	E3012	81010	1990	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3013	81011	1989	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3014	81012	1991	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield December 1991
-	E3015	81013	1989	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3016	81014	1988	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3017	81015	1984	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow May 1992
-	E3018	81016	1983	Accident damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works January 1985
-	E3019	-	1971	Fire damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works October 1971
-	E3020	81017	1991	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3021	81018	1986	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow June 1992
-	E3022	81019	1989	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3023	81020	1987	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
(E3301)	E3096	81021	1987	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow July 1992
(E3302)	E3097	81022	1987	Scrapped at Crewe Works by A Hampton November 1988

External links

Media related to British Rail Class 81 at Wikimedia Commons

• AC Locomotive Group - custodians of preserved locomotive no. 81002