British Rail Class 71
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 71 was an electric locomotive
used on the Southern Region of British Railways
, unlike most other Southern Region electric locomotives (such as classes 73
and 74
) they could not operate away from the electrified
(750 V DC third rail) system.
Coast main lines. They were built at the British Rail
workshops in Doncaster
. Numbers were originally E5000 - E5023 but the first locomotive, E5000, was renumbered E5024. They were classified type HA under the pre-TOPS scheme.
, as in British Rail Class 70
. In some yards (notably Hither Green
, South East London and Snowdown colliery near Dover) overhead catenary energized to 650 V DC was used. This overhead collection method was only employed where it was deemed too dangerous to have third rail with staff constantly at ground level reaching into low running areas to couple and uncouple trains. The overhead system utilised tram-style catenary and pantographs - it was not necessary to collect traction current at speed and these provided a cost saving. The pantograph retracted into a cut-out recess in the roof when not in use, to keep within the loading gauge. Certain examples were delivered new without pantographs and ran with the recess vacant for some time. Evidently supply of the overhead equipment was short. Later in life (when the catenary in yards had almost completely been removed) during overhaul the opportunity was taken, on some examples of the class, to remove the sometimes troublesome pantograph, leading again to a vacant roof recess.
The danger of electrocution of staff at track level was the entire tenet behind the Southern Region/Railway adopting high-level brake pipes and control jumpers that are so distinctive of SR stock (nicknamed "bagpipes"). Low-level brake pipes were still fitted to maintain the standard with other regions' stock but only used when high-level could not be. The ten redundant class 71 that were modified to become class 74 emerged from Crewe works with bagpipes in 1967/8 and 19 members of class 33 (a purely diesel powered locomotive), which were modified at Eastleigh for push-pull operation Southern Region TC units were so-fitted. In contrast, almost all other contemporary locomotive classes (excepting notably classes 07, 09, 73 [all SR locomotives] & class 50) had the multiple control jumpers and brake connectors on or under the buffer beam - a perilous place to be with 750 volts inches away! Despite overhead equipment being confined to just a handful of yards, class 71 was never retro-fitted with high-level connectors.
" (London to Paris overnight by train-ferry) and the "Golden Arrow", the latter a Pullman
service, were a mainstay of the class for many years.
Reliability of the class as a whole was good - rather predictable considering the Swiss ancestry of their electrical and control gear. As more and more areas of the Eastern section were given over to the flexibilities of Multiple Unit (EMU) operation, the class found itself ousted almost completely from passenger work. During their later years their passenger duties were only the 'Night Ferry' and the nightly Victoria-Dover
/Ramsgate
newspaper train. Even this latter was rostered for a Class 33
(diesel locomotive) on Saturday nights due to the probability of engineering works enroute.
Their reliance on the electricity supply proved a hindrance - much freight is moved overnight when congestion on the busy commuter corridors is low. This is also the time when engineering possessions of the track take place - the power being switched off to whole districts while this happens. Subsequently, Class 71 was faced with frequent, circuitous detours purely to stay "on the juice" and an electric-only locomotive was limited in scope for inter-regional freights. The smaller Class 73 electro-diesel locomotive
s had deputised for them with ease (albeit often in pairs) and they had the ability to work lines when the power was off and to run into yards on other regions where there was no electricity supply of any kind - Class 71 was beginning to look (once again - see Class 74) like a white elephant
. With nowhere else to go, the class was doomed. When the end came, most were scrapped in fully working order, purely because they had no work.
A single member of the class survives in preservation, E5001 is also in fully working order (although currently minus its 3rd rail collector shoes). They never received the standard SR 'raspberry' horns, retaining their melodious air whistles right up until being withdrawn.
workshops in Crewe
into electro-diesel locomotive
s. They were originally assigned the numbers E7001 - E7010 but were numbered E6101 - E6110 and classified type HB
in the pre-TOPS scheme. Under TOPS the rebuilt ten became Class 74
.
Because of the rebuilds there were three renumberings to fill gaps left by engines rebuilt.
The remaining fourteen became Class 71, numbered 71001 - 71014, under the TOPS scheme.
electro-diesels as part of a new timetable and better use of that class.
in York
and has been restored as E5001.
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
Class 71 was an electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
used on the Southern Region of British Railways
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
, unlike most other Southern Region electric locomotives (such as classes 73
British Rail Class 73
The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...
and 74
British Rail Class 74
British Rail Class 74 was an electro-diesel locomotive that operated on the Southern Region of British Railways, rebuilt from redundant Class 71 locomotives in the late 1960s...
) they could not operate away from the electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
(750 V DC third rail) system.
History
As part of the BTC Modernisation Plan of 1955, twenty-four electric locomotives were built in 1958 for the KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
Coast main lines. They were built at the British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
workshops in Doncaster
Doncaster Works
Doncaster railway works is in the town of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.Always referred to as "the Plant", it was established by the Great Northern Railway in 1853, replacing the previous works in Boston and Peterborough...
. Numbers were originally E5000 - E5023 but the first locomotive, E5000, was renumbered E5024. They were classified type HA under the pre-TOPS scheme.
Power supply
Power collection was from a 3rd rail at 650 volts DC (Eastern & Central sections) or 750 volts DC (Western section) and control was by flywheel boosterBooster (electric power)
A Booster was a motor-generator set used for voltage regulation in direct current electrical power circuits. The development of alternating current and solid-state devices has rendered it obsolete...
, as in British Rail Class 70
British Rail Class 70
The British Rail Class 70 was a class of three 3rd rail Co-Co electric locomotives. The initial two were built by the Southern Railway at Ashford Works in 1941 and 1945 and were numbered CC1 and CC2. Electrical equipment was designed by Alfred Raworth and the body by Oliver Bulleid. CC2 was...
. In some yards (notably Hither Green
Hither Green
Hither Green is a district in south east London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated 6.6 miles south east of Charing Cross, and on the Prime Meridian....
, South East London and Snowdown colliery near Dover) overhead catenary energized to 650 V DC was used. This overhead collection method was only employed where it was deemed too dangerous to have third rail with staff constantly at ground level reaching into low running areas to couple and uncouple trains. The overhead system utilised tram-style catenary and pantographs - it was not necessary to collect traction current at speed and these provided a cost saving. The pantograph retracted into a cut-out recess in the roof when not in use, to keep within the loading gauge. Certain examples were delivered new without pantographs and ran with the recess vacant for some time. Evidently supply of the overhead equipment was short. Later in life (when the catenary in yards had almost completely been removed) during overhaul the opportunity was taken, on some examples of the class, to remove the sometimes troublesome pantograph, leading again to a vacant roof recess.
The danger of electrocution of staff at track level was the entire tenet behind the Southern Region/Railway adopting high-level brake pipes and control jumpers that are so distinctive of SR stock (nicknamed "bagpipes"). Low-level brake pipes were still fitted to maintain the standard with other regions' stock but only used when high-level could not be. The ten redundant class 71 that were modified to become class 74 emerged from Crewe works with bagpipes in 1967/8 and 19 members of class 33 (a purely diesel powered locomotive), which were modified at Eastleigh for push-pull operation Southern Region TC units were so-fitted. In contrast, almost all other contemporary locomotive classes (excepting notably classes 07, 09, 73 [all SR locomotives] & class 50) had the multiple control jumpers and brake connectors on or under the buffer beam - a perilous place to be with 750 volts inches away! Despite overhead equipment being confined to just a handful of yards, class 71 was never retro-fitted with high-level connectors.
Operations
They were mixed-traffic locomotives. Their 2700 hp packed quite a punch for a small Bo-Bo locomotive and proved useful in both theatres of heavy freight and express passenger work. Acceleration on passenger trains (even when heavily loaded) was quite astonishing. Prestigious services including the "Night FerryNight Ferry
The Night Ferry was an international sleeper train between London Victoria and Paris Gare du Nord . It was operated by the SNCF and the Southern Railway then, following nationalisation on 1 January 1948, the Southern Region of British Railways.-Rolling stock:Introduced on the night of 5 October...
" (London to Paris overnight by train-ferry) and the "Golden Arrow", the latter a Pullman
Pullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
service, were a mainstay of the class for many years.
Reliability of the class as a whole was good - rather predictable considering the Swiss ancestry of their electrical and control gear. As more and more areas of the Eastern section were given over to the flexibilities of Multiple Unit (EMU) operation, the class found itself ousted almost completely from passenger work. During their later years their passenger duties were only the 'Night Ferry' and the nightly Victoria-Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
/Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
newspaper train. Even this latter was rostered for a Class 33
British Rail Class 33
The British Rail Class 33 also known as the BRCW Type 3 or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered in 1957 and built for the Southern Region of British Railways between 1960 and 1962....
(diesel locomotive) on Saturday nights due to the probability of engineering works enroute.
Their reliance on the electricity supply proved a hindrance - much freight is moved overnight when congestion on the busy commuter corridors is low. This is also the time when engineering possessions of the track take place - the power being switched off to whole districts while this happens. Subsequently, Class 71 was faced with frequent, circuitous detours purely to stay "on the juice" and an electric-only locomotive was limited in scope for inter-regional freights. The smaller Class 73 electro-diesel locomotive
Electro-diesel locomotive
An Electro-diesel locomotive is powered either from an electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine...
s had deputised for them with ease (albeit often in pairs) and they had the ability to work lines when the power was off and to run into yards on other regions where there was no electricity supply of any kind - Class 71 was beginning to look (once again - see Class 74) like a white elephant
White elephant
A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth...
. With nowhere else to go, the class was doomed. When the end came, most were scrapped in fully working order, purely because they had no work.
A single member of the class survives in preservation, E5001 is also in fully working order (although currently minus its 3rd rail collector shoes). They never received the standard SR 'raspberry' horns, retaining their melodious air whistles right up until being withdrawn.
Rebuilds and renumberings
In the late 1960s, ten examples were withdrawn, eventually being converted between 1967 and 1968 at the British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
workshops in Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
into electro-diesel locomotive
Electro-diesel locomotive
An Electro-diesel locomotive is powered either from an electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine...
s. They were originally assigned the numbers E7001 - E7010 but were numbered E6101 - E6110 and classified type HB
British Rail Class 74
British Rail Class 74 was an electro-diesel locomotive that operated on the Southern Region of British Railways, rebuilt from redundant Class 71 locomotives in the late 1960s...
in the pre-TOPS scheme. Under TOPS the rebuilt ten became Class 74
British Rail Class 74
British Rail Class 74 was an electro-diesel locomotive that operated on the Southern Region of British Railways, rebuilt from redundant Class 71 locomotives in the late 1960s...
.
Because of the rebuilds there were three renumberings to fill gaps left by engines rebuilt.
The remaining fourteen became Class 71, numbered 71001 - 71014, under the TOPS scheme.
The end
The class survived relatively un-scathed with no members being scrapped early. Two were awaiting repair at Ashford due to failures and the end finally came on the last day of 1977 when all 14 members were withdrawn en-bloc as a result of motive power rationalisation. Their rostered duties were turned over to Class 73British Rail Class 73
The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...
electro-diesels as part of a new timetable and better use of that class.
Preservation
The one preserved example (erstwhile 71001) was saved by the National Railway MuseumNational Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and has been restored as E5001.
| Type HA | 1950s renumberings | Type HB | 1960s renumberings | TOPS | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E5000 | E5024 | E6104 | |||
| 74004 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5001 | |||||
| 71001 | Preserved | ||||
| E5002 | |||||
| 71002 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5003 | |||||
| E6107 | |||||
| 74007 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5004 | |||||
| 71004 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5005 | |||||
| E6108 | |||||
| 74008 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5006 | |||||
| E6103 | |||||
| 74003 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5007 | |||||
| 71007 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5008 | |||||
| 71008 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5009 | |||||
| 71009 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5010 | |||||
| 71010 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5011 | |||||
| 71011 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5012 | |||||
| 71012 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5013 | |||||
| 71013 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5014 | |||||
| 71014 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5015 | |||||
| E6101 | |||||
| 74001 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5016 | |||||
| E6102 | |||||
| 74002 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5017 | |||||
| E6109 | |||||
| 74009 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5018 | |||||
| E5003 | 71003 | Scrapped | |||
| E5019 | |||||
| E6105 | |||||
| 74005 | Scrapped | ||||
| E5020 | |||||
| E5005 | 71005 | Scrapped | |||
| E5021 | |||||
| E6110 | |||||
| 74010 | Departmental then scrapped |
||||
| E5022 | |||||
| E5006 | 71006 | Scrapped | |||
| E5023 | |||||
| E6106 | |||||
| 74006 | Scrapped |