British Rail Class AM1
Encyclopedia
Class AM1 was allocated to the prototype AC electric multiple unit
s, converted from fourth-rail DC electric stock in 1952 and used on the Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham
route. This route had been electrified by the Midland Railway
at 6.6 kV, 25 Hz AC, but the frequency was changed to 50 Hz in 1953 to test the prototype AM1 stock.
The line was closed to passengers and the stock withdrawn in early 1966. Unlike classes AM2-AM11, which became TOPS
Classes 302-311, class AM1 was withdrawn before it could take its place in the system as class 301. However, it was the success of these tests that contributed to the decision to choose 25 kV AC overhead electrification as standard in Great Britain outside the Southern Region.
built in 1914 by the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Company for use on the West London line fourth-rail DC electrification. They had been stored early in World War II
after the West London route on which they worked was closed to passengers due to bomb damage.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s, converted from fourth-rail DC electric stock in 1952 and used on the Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham
Morecambe Branch Line
The Morecambe Branch Line is a railway line in Lancashire, England, from Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham where services connect with the ferry service to Douglas on the Isle of Man. To reach Heysham, trains must reverse at Morecambe....
route. This route had been electrified by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
at 6.6 kV, 25 Hz AC, but the frequency was changed to 50 Hz in 1953 to test the prototype AM1 stock.
The line was closed to passengers and the stock withdrawn in early 1966. Unlike classes AM2-AM11, which became TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
Classes 302-311, class AM1 was withdrawn before it could take its place in the system as class 301. However, it was the success of these tests that contributed to the decision to choose 25 kV AC overhead electrification as standard in Great Britain outside the Southern Region.
Previous use
The carriages converted to form the prototype units were drawn from former LNWR electric unitsLNWR electric units
During 1909-1922 the London and North Western Railway embarked on a project to electrify their London inner-suburban network, encompassing the lines from London Euston to Watford and the North London Railway from London Broad Street to Richmond, including branch lines such as Watford to Croxley...
built in 1914 by the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Company for use on the West London line fourth-rail DC electrification. They had been stored early in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
after the West London route on which they worked was closed to passengers due to bomb damage.
Formations
Unit numbers were not allocated, but sets were referred to by the last two digits of the DMBSO number. The numbers of individual carriages were:| DMBSO | TSO | DTSO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set 19 | M28219M | M29721M | M29021M |
| Set 20 | M28220M | M29722M | M29022M |
| Set 21 | M28221M | M29723M | M29023M |
| Set 22 | M28222M | M29724M | M29024M |
Books
- 100 Years of Electric Traction by Colin J Marsden, published by Oxford Publishing Company in 1985, ISBN 0-86093-325-3