British Rail Class 81

British Railways AL1
British Rail Class 81

300px 81017 at Manchester Piccadilly

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 Bo-Bo AAR wheel arr B-B UIC class 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 Height Loco weight 79.60 long tons (80.9 t; 89.2 short tons) Electric system(s) 25 kV AC Catenary Current collection Stone-Faiveley ‘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 Maximum speed 100 mph (161 km/h) Power output Tractive effort

Career Operators British Rail Numbers E3001–E3023, E3096, E3097; later 81001–81022 Axle load class Route availability 6 Retired 1968 (2), 1971 (1), 1983–1991 Preserved 81002 Disposition Non-operational

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. Originally designated AL1, it was the first type of AC electric locomotive to be delivered to British Railways.

History

As part of the modernization 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 of 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 on 100 mph and were designated Type A. The two remaining locomotives were to be for use on freight trains with a top speed of 80 mph, and were designated Type B.

Before the work was completed, BTH amalgamated with Metropolitan Vickers to form AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) traction division, and it was under this name that the locomotives were built in 1959 under subcontract by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon in Smethwick. The first engine, number E3001, was handed over to British Railways on 27 November 1959. 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 were Type A, while the last two were to have been the Type Bs and 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

The locomotives always worked on power provided by overhead catenary energized 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. 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 25Kv voltage.

Operations

Because 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. 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.

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. The remains of E3009 were also cut up at Crewe Works following an accident in 1968.

Renumbering

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

Accidents and incidents

Main article: Hixon rail crash

• On 6 January 1968, locomotive No. E3009 was hauling an express passenger train which was in collision with an abnormal load at Hixon, Staffordshire. Eleven people were killed and 45 were injured. The locomotive was consequently scrapped due to damage sustained.

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

File:81016 after accident at Linslade 1.jpg

81 016 was one of a few Class 81 locomotives withdrawn as a result of accident damage.

File:Class81.jpg

A row of Class 81 locomotives waiting to be scrapped

• On 9 December 1982, locomotive 81 016 was involved in an accident near Linslade, Buckinghamshire. It was officially withdrawn in 1983.
• On 26 August 1983, locomotive 81 001 was damaged by fire near Carstairs, Lanarkshire whilst working 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			Works Number	Date Introduced	Withdrawn	Final Depot	Disposal
Type B	Type A	TOPS
-	E3001	81001	1083	Nov-59	Jul 1984	GW	Fire damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works September 1986
-	E3002	-	1084	Jan-60	Nov 1968	ACL	Fire damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works January 1969
-	E3003	81002	1085	Feb-60	Oct 1990	WN	Preserved at Barrow Hill Engine Shed
-	E3004	81003	1086	Apr-60	Mar 1988	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3005	81004	1087	May-60	Apr 1990	WN	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow May 1992
-	E3006	81005	1088	Jul-60	Feb 1989	GW	Scrapped at Coppers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3007	81006	1089	Aug-60	Oct 1988	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3008	81007	1090	Sep-60	Feb 1990	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3009	-	1091	Oct-60	Aug 1968	ACL	Accident damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works August 1968
-	E3010	81008	1092	Oct-60	Mar 1988	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3011	81009	1093	Nov-60	Feb 1990	WN	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield December 1991
-	E3012	81010	1094	Nov-60	May 1990	WN	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3013	81011	1095	Dec-60	Apr 1989	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3014	81012	1096	Dec-60	Jul 1991	WN	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield December 1991
-	E3015	81013	1097	Dec-60	Oct 1989	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3016	81014	1098	Mar-61	Mar 1988	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3017	81015	1099	May-61	Dec 1984	GW	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow May 1992
-	E3018	81016	1100	Mar-61	Jul 1983	GW	Accident damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works January 1985
-	E3019	-	1101	Apr-61	Jul 1971	ACL	Fire damaged Scrapped at Crewe Works October 1971
-	E3020	81017	1102	Apr-61	Jul 1991	WN	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3021	81018	1103	Jun-61	Jan 1986	GW	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow June 1992
-	E3022	81019	1104	Sep-61	Jan 1989	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
-	E3023	81020	1105	Sep-61	Jul 1987	GW	Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
(E3301)	E3096	81021	1106	Apr-62	Apr 1987	GW	Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow July 1992
(E3302)	E3097	81022	1107	Feb-64	Jul 1987	GW	Scrapped at Crewe Works by A Hampton November 1988

Further reading

• AC Type A Electric Locomotives for British Railways, No E3001-E3023 at The Railways Archive. Publisher: Associated Electrical Industries Ltd.

External links

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