LYR electric units
Encyclopedia
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
electrified urban railway lines in Liverpool
and Manchester
in order to improve the service offered against the competition being put up by new electric tramways.
third rail system was adopted. The first line to be converted was between Liverpool Exchange
and Southport
in March 1904. Liverpool to Aintree
followed in 1906, and the line to Ormskirk followed later. Electricity was generated at the LYR's power station in Formby
.
A variety of electric multiple unit
s was used on these routes. The first batch of 50 cars usually operated as four-car units formed of a Trailer First (TF) and a Trailer Third (TT) between two Driving Motor Brake Third (DMBT) cars. All cars had wooden bodies on steel underframes, were 60 feet (18 m) long and 10 feet (3 m) wide, and the DMBT cars weighed 44 tons, the trailer cars 26 tons.
Further cars (to different designs) were ordered as further lines were converted and services enhanced. In total the LYR had 64 DMBT cars, 51 TT cars, 41 TF cars and 3 luggage vans. The LYR also owned 12 lightweight cars in order to operate over the Liverpool Overhead Railway
.
These units were replaced by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
in the 1930s with new stock that was later classified by British Rail
as class 502
.
In addition, an experimental electric locomotive (rebuilt from a steam locomotive of 2-4-2 wheel arrangement
) was introduced in 1912 for goods traffic. This had four 150 hp motors (total 600 hp) and could pick up current from the third rail on the main line or from overhead wires in the Aintree and North Mersey yards. It was scrapped in 1919.
of Preston, which was developing its products for overseas sales. The system used was 3.5 kV DC overhead, and two two-car units formed of a Driving Motor Brake Third (DMBT) and a Driving Trailer Third (DTT) were built at the LYR's Newton Heath
works for the service.
Despite these tests, the LYR decided to proceed with the electrification of the Manchester to Bury line using 1200 V DC side-contact third rail, opened in 1916, and the following year the branch to Holcombe Brook was converted to the same system. Electricity was generated at the LYR's power station at Clifton
, where a four-wheel battery electric shunter was used (withdrawn 1946).
In contrast to the Liverpool electric multiple unit
s, the stock used on this line was of all-steel construction. 66 cars were built at Newton Heath works and operated in five-car units, formed DMBT + TT + DMBT + TF + DMBT. Each car was 67 feet 7 inches (20.6 m) long and 9 feet 4 inches (2.8 m) wide; the driving motor cars weighed 54 tons and the trailer cars 29 tons.
These units were withdrawn in 1959 and scrapped, being replaced with stock that was later designated Class 504
.
Only two bogies survived. These were used as temporary bogies in Bury depot when the bogies of Class 504 units were removed for maintenance. When the depot closed in 1991, the bogies were cut up and dumped in a skip.
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
electrified urban railway lines in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in order to improve the service offered against the competition being put up by new electric tramways.
Liverpool electrification
In Liverpool, the 630 V DCDirect current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
third rail system was adopted. The first line to be converted was between Liverpool Exchange
Liverpool Exchange railway station
Liverpool Exchange railway station was a railway station located in the town centre of Liverpool, England.- Station construction and opening :...
and Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
in March 1904. Liverpool to Aintree
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
followed in 1906, and the line to Ormskirk followed later. Electricity was generated at the LYR's power station in Formby
Formby
Formby is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It has a population of approximately 25,000....
.
A variety of electric multiple unit
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 was used on these routes. The first batch of 50 cars usually operated as four-car units formed of a Trailer First (TF) and a Trailer Third (TT) between two Driving Motor Brake Third (DMBT) cars. All cars had wooden bodies on steel underframes, were 60 feet (18 m) long and 10 feet (3 m) wide, and the DMBT cars weighed 44 tons, the trailer cars 26 tons.
Further cars (to different designs) were ordered as further lines were converted and services enhanced. In total the LYR had 64 DMBT cars, 51 TT cars, 41 TF cars and 3 luggage vans. The LYR also owned 12 lightweight cars in order to operate over the Liverpool Overhead Railway
Liverpool Overhead Railway
The Liverpool Overhead Railway was the world's first electrically operated overhead railway. The railway was carried mainly on iron viaducts, with a corrugated iron decking, onto which the tracks were laid. It ran close to the River Mersey in Liverpool, England, following the line of Liverpool Docks...
.
These units were replaced by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
in the 1930s with new stock that was later classified by 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...
as class 502
British Rail Class 502
The British Rail Class 502 was a type of electric multiple unit originally built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway at their Derby Works...
.
In addition, an experimental electric locomotive (rebuilt from a steam locomotive of 2-4-2 wheel arrangement
Whyte notation
The Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte and came into use in the early twentieth century encouraged by an editorial in American Engineer and Railroad Journal...
) was introduced in 1912 for goods traffic. This had four 150 hp motors (total 600 hp) and could pick up current from the third rail on the main line or from overhead wires in the Aintree and North Mersey yards. It was scrapped in 1919.
Manchester electrification
From 1913 to 1917, an experimental electric service operated between Bury and Holcombe Brook. The equipment was provided by Dick, Kerr & Co.Dick, Kerr & Co.
Dick, Kerr and Company was a locomotive and tramcar manufacturer based in Kilmarnock, Scotland and Preston, England.-Early history:Having previously been known as W.B.Dick and Company the company had built all kinds of tramway equipment and rolling stock. From 1883 the company joined with John Kerr...
of Preston, which was developing its products for overseas sales. The system used was 3.5 kV DC overhead, and two two-car units formed of a Driving Motor Brake Third (DMBT) and a Driving Trailer Third (DTT) were built at the LYR's Newton Heath
Newton Heath
Newton Heath is an urban area of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is east north east of Manchester city centre and has a population of 9,883....
works for the service.
Despite these tests, the LYR decided to proceed with the electrification of the Manchester to Bury line using 1200 V DC side-contact third rail, opened in 1916, and the following year the branch to Holcombe Brook was converted to the same system. Electricity was generated at the LYR's power station at Clifton
Clifton, Lancashire
Clifton is a village in the English county of Lancashire and in the district of Fylde. The village is part of the civil parish of Newton with Clifton...
, where a four-wheel battery electric shunter was used (withdrawn 1946).
In contrast to the Liverpool electric multiple unit
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, the stock used on this line was of all-steel construction. 66 cars were built at Newton Heath works and operated in five-car units, formed DMBT + TT + DMBT + TF + DMBT. Each car was 67 feet 7 inches (20.6 m) long and 9 feet 4 inches (2.8 m) wide; the driving motor cars weighed 54 tons and the trailer cars 29 tons.
These units were withdrawn in 1959 and scrapped, being replaced with stock that was later designated Class 504
British Rail Class 504
The British Rail Class 504 was a unique type of electric multiple unit that ran on 1200 V DC third rail with side-contact current collection. All other UK third rail has the electric "shoe" on top of the rail. The type was used only between Manchester and Bury...
.
Only two bogies survived. These were used as temporary bogies in Bury depot when the bogies of Class 504 units were removed for maintenance. When the depot closed in 1991, the bogies were cut up and dumped in a skip.