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British Rail Class 81

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British Railways AL1,
British Rail Class 81
81004 at Birmingham New Street in 1984
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderAssociated Electrical Industries at Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Build date1959–1964
Total produced25
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo′Bo′
 • CommonwealthBo-Bo
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
BogiesFabricated steel, Alsthom suspension[1]
Wheel diameter4 ft 0 in (1.219 m)[1]
Wheelbase42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)[1] ​
 • Bogie10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)[1]
Pivot centres31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)[2]
Length:
​
 • Over beams56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)[1]
Width8 ft 8+1⁄2 in (2.65 m)[1]
Height:
​
 • Pantograph13 ft 0+9⁄16 in (3.977 m)[2]
 • Body height12 ft 4+1⁄4 in (3.77 m)[1]
Axle load20 long tons 4 cwt (20.5 t)[2]
Loco weight79.60 long tons (80.9 t; 89.2 short tons)
Electric system/s25 kV AC Catenary
Current pickupsStone Faiveley[1] ‘V’-type pantograph, 2 off (later 1 off)
Traction motors4 × AEI 189 6-pole Alsthom Quill drive[1] 847 hp (632 kW) ​
 • Rating 1 hour760A[3]
 • Continuous700A[3]
Gear ratio
  • 29:76 (Type A)
  • 26:83 (Type B)[1]
Train heatingElectric Train Heating
Loco brake
Train brakesVacuum; Dual from 1972–1973
Performance figures
Maximum speed
  • 100 mph (161 km/h)
  • Full field: 60 mph (97 km/h)
  • Weak field: 71 mph (114 km/h)[1]
Power output:
​
 • 1 hour4 × 920 hp (690 kW)[3]
 • Continuous4 × 847 hp (632 kW)[3]
Tractive effort50,000 lbf (222 kN)
Career
OperatorsBritish Rail
NumbersE3001–E3023, E3096, E3097; later 81001–81022
Axle load classRoute availability 6
Retired1968 (2), 1971 (1), 1983–1991
Preserved81002
Disposition1 preserved, 24 scrapped

The British Rail Class 81 is a type of AC electric locomotives that formerly operated on the West Coast Main Line of British Rail's London Midland Region. Originally designated AL1, it was the first class of AC electric locomotive to be delivered to British Railways.

History

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As part of the modernisation 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 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 of 100 mph and were designated Type A. The other two locomotives were intended for freight train use and geared for a top speed of 80 mph; these were designated Type B.[4]

Before the work was completed, BTH amalgamated with Metropolitan Vickers to form Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) traction division[4] and it was under this name that the locomotives were built in 1959, under subcontract by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon in Smethwick. The first locomotive, E3001, was handed over to British Railways on 27 November 1959.[5] The type was initially used for crew training on the Styal Line between Manchester and Crewe.

The AL1 were numbered E3001-E3023 and E3096/97; the first twenty-three being Type A and the last two Type B (initially numbered E3301 and E3302).[6] However, these last two were actually geared for passenger service, being delivered in February 1964.

Power supply

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The locomotives always worked on power provided by overhead catenary, energised at 25,000 V AC. However, the main transformer, normally operated with the four windings in series, could be operated at 6250 V AC with the transformer windings in parallel.[4] 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 25 kV voltage.

Operations

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

Renumbering

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Under the TOPS system, twenty-two examples were reclassified as Class 81 from 1972 and were numbered 81001-81022.[7]

Withdrawals

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A row of Class 81 and 85 locomotives waiting to be scrapped. The first and third locomotives from the left are Class 81s

Three locomotives (E3002, E3009 and E3019) were withdrawn before they could be renumbered under the TOPS system, which was implemented in 1972. E3002 and E3019 were damaged by fire and both were scrapped at British Rail's Crewe Works. The remains of E3009 were also cut up at Crewe Works; the locomotive was wrecked in the Hixon rail crash of January 1968.[5]

Two further members of the class saw relatively early withdrawal due to accident or fire damage:

  • 9 December 1982 (1982-12-09): locomotive 81016 was derailed and severely damaged in an accident at Linslade Tunnel, in Bedfordshire, after striking an inadequately secured load that had fallen from a preceding train, killing the driver.[8] It was officially withdrawn in 1983.
  • 26 August 1983 (1983-08-26): locomotive 81001 was damaged by fire near Carstairs, in Lanarkshire, whilst working a Motorail train.

The remaining locomotives of the class had relatively successful service lives of 25 to 30 years; in their latter years, they became unreliable and displayed an increasing tendency to catch fire. However, a shortage of electric locomotives ruled out withdrawal of the fleet until the newer Class 90 locomotives came into service in the late-1980s.[5][9] The remaining examples were withdrawn from service in the late-1980s and early-1990s. The final examples were used for the transfer of empty coaches between London Euston and Willesden sidings between 1989 and 1991 following the withdrawal of the final Class 83s in that role. The last two examples withdrawn from service were 81012 and 81017 in July 1991. The majority of the class were scrapped at Coopers Metals in Sheffield.[5]

Preservation

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One example, 81002, has been preserved by the AC Locomotive Group; it is located at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, in Derbyshire.[5]

Fleet details

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Key: Preserved Scrapped
Numbers AEI Works Number[10] Date Introduced[10] Withdrawn[11][12] Final Depot Disposal[11]
Type B Type A[10] TOPS[10] Location Date
- E3001 81001 1083 December 1959 July 1984 GW Fire damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works 		September 1986
- E3002 - 1084 January 1960 November 1968 ACL Fire damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works 		January 1969
- E3003 81002 1085 February 1960 October 1990 WN Preserved at Barrow Hill Roundhose
- E3004 81003 1086 April 1960 March 1988 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3005 81004 1087 May 1960 April 1990 WN Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow May 1992
- E3006 81005 1088 July 1960 February 1989 GW Scrapped at Coppers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3007 81006 1089 August 1960 October 1988 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3008 81007 1090 October 1960 February 1990 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3009 - 1091 October 1960 August 1968 ACL Accident damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works 		August 1968
- E3010 81008 1092 November 1960 March 1988 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3011 81009 1093 December 1960 February 1990 WN Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield December 1991
- E3012 81010 1094 December 1960 May 1990 WN Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3013 81011 1095 December 1960 April 1989 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3014 81012 1096 December 1960 July 1991 WN Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield December 1991
- E3015 81013 1097 December 1960 October 1989 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3016 81014 1098 March 1961 March 1988 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3017 81015 1099 May 1961 December 1984 GW Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow May 1992
- E3018 81016 1100 March 1961 July 1983 GW Accident damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works 		January 1985
- E3019 - 1101 April 1961 July 1971 ACL Fire damaged
Scrapped at Crewe Works 		October 1971
- E3020 81017 1102 May 1961 July 1991 WN Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3021 81018 1103 June 1961 January 1986 GW Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow June 1992
- E3022 81019 1104 October 1961 January 1989 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
- E3023 81020 1105 February 1962 July 1987 GW Scrapped at Coopers Metals, Sheffield November 1991
(E3301) E3096 81021 1106 June 1962 April 1987 GW Scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow July 1992
(E3302) E3097 81022 1107 February 1964 July 1987 GW Scrapped at Crewe Works by A Hampton November 1988

Models

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There have been no recent OO gauge models of the Class 81, although Hornby Dublo produced a model from 1964, prior to the purchase of Hornby by Lines Bros (owners of the Tri-ang Railways brand). This model was very crude, even by the standards of the day; it lacked cab interiors, had a poor pantograph and there wad a lack of detail in the roof pan. It was issued under Tri-ang Hornby (predecessors to the current Hornby Railways brand) from 1966.[7]

There has, however, been a static model in HO scale produced by Atlas Editions; some of these have been successfully motorised.[citation needed]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 6
  2. ^ a b c Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 27
  3. ^ a b c d Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 28
  4. ^ a b c Bradley, Roger P. (November 1980). "Pioneer AC electrics". Railway Modeller. Vol. 31, no. 360. Beer: Peco Publications & Publicity Ltd. pp. 385–387.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Class 81 History". AC Locomotive Group. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  6. ^ Longhurst 1979, Class AL1–81
  7. ^ a b "Locomotive Class: Class 81 (AL1)". Hornbyguide.com. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Report on the Derailment that occurred on 9th December 1982 at Linslade Tunnel" (PDF). Department of Transport. October 1983. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  9. ^ "From the archives: Class 91s...promise unfulfilled". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 32
  11. ^ a b Furness, Ian. "Disposals: Class 81". WNXX.com. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  12. ^ "The Class 81 Fleet". Rail Blue. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2016.

Sources

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Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 81.