DC Electric Locomotives
The North Eastern Railway electrified a short freight line on Tyneside in 1905, and commissioned British Thomson-Houston to built a pair of steeple-cab locomotives. The Bo-Bo locomotives worked exclusively on the line and both remained in traffic until 1964. ES1 is preserved as part of the National Collection.
The NER also electrified the Shildon to Newport freight line in 1915 with 1500v DC overhead catenary. Ten Bo-Bo locomotives were built at Darlington Works and continued is service until 1935 when the coal traffic had declined and extensive renewal of the infrastructure was necessary. The locomotives were stored, and 9 were subsequently scrapped. One locomotive was retained and transferred to Ilford where it continued in use until 1960.
The intention of the NER to electrify the York to Newcastle main line did not proceed beyond the planning stages, but one Express Electric Locomotive was built in 1922 and tested on the Shildon line. This was later stored and scrapped
as late as 1950.
The LNER intended to electrify the Woodhead route from Sheffield to Manchester and built the first 1500v DC electric locomotive at Doncaster Works in 1941 to a design by Sir Nigel Gresley. The electrification of the line was delayed by WW2 and the locomotive was loaned to the Netherlands State Railway from 1947 to 1952, during which time it was affectionately named 'Tommy'. A further 57 EM1 Bo-Bo locomotives were built from 1950-53, and in 1953-54 seven EM2 Co-Co express passenger locomotives were built. The line closed in 1981.
The decision to extend electrification on BR was a key part of the 1955 Modernisation Plan, and the engineers adopted 25Kv AC as the supply voltage. Therefore no further development of the overhead DC system was made.
The LSWR and Southern Railway pursued an extensive programme of electrification using a third rail 660/750V DC system. This was ideally suited to its passenger network and the rapid development of Electric Multiple Units soon meant that only the prestigious named trains were locomotive hauled.
The Southern Railway built three Co-Co electric locomotives in 1941-8 and these are detailed in the Prototype section.
The 24 Doncaster built HA electric locomotives of the Southern Region were an instant success on the Night Ferry and Golden Arrow services. These locomotives employed the flywheel booster system of the Bullied/Raworth design. However, as the introduction of new EMU's progressed during the 1960's the work available for these straight electric locomotives became more and more restricted. Ten HA's were converted to HB Electro-Diesels at Crewe in 1964. The remaining 14 continued is service but were eventually withdrawn, fully operational but without work, in 1977.
The London Underground had several DC electric locomotive types. The Metropolitan Railway Bo-Bo locomotives built by Metro-Vic in 1922/3 hauled passenger trains from Aldgate to Rickmansworth until 1962. Two have been preserved, 'John Hampden' in the London Transport Museum and 'Sarah Siddons' which is maintained in working order and can still be seen hauling special excursion trains.
The North Eastern Railway electrified a short freight line on Tyneside in 1905, and commissioned British Thomson-Houston to built a pair of steeple-cab locomotives. The Bo-Bo locomotives worked exclusively on the line and both remained in traffic until 1964. ES1 is preserved as part of the National Collection.
The NER also electrified the Shildon to Newport freight line in 1915 with 1500v DC overhead catenary. Ten Bo-Bo locomotives were built at Darlington Works and continued is service until 1935 when the coal traffic had declined and extensive renewal of the infrastructure was necessary. The locomotives were stored, and 9 were subsequently scrapped. One locomotive was retained and transferred to Ilford where it continued in use until 1960.
The intention of the NER to electrify the York to Newcastle main line did not proceed beyond the planning stages, but one Express Electric Locomotive was built in 1922 and tested on the Shildon line. This was later stored and scrapped
as late as 1950.
The LNER intended to electrify the Woodhead route from Sheffield to Manchester and built the first 1500v DC electric locomotive at Doncaster Works in 1941 to a design by Sir Nigel Gresley. The electrification of the line was delayed by WW2 and the locomotive was loaned to the Netherlands State Railway from 1947 to 1952, during which time it was affectionately named 'Tommy'. A further 57 EM1 Bo-Bo locomotives were built from 1950-53, and in 1953-54 seven EM2 Co-Co express passenger locomotives were built. The line closed in 1981.
The decision to extend electrification on BR was a key part of the 1955 Modernisation Plan, and the engineers adopted 25Kv AC as the supply voltage. Therefore no further development of the overhead DC system was made.
The LSWR and Southern Railway pursued an extensive programme of electrification using a third rail 660/750V DC system. This was ideally suited to its passenger network and the rapid development of Electric Multiple Units soon meant that only the prestigious named trains were locomotive hauled.
The Southern Railway built three Co-Co electric locomotives in 1941-8 and these are detailed in the Prototype section.
The 24 Doncaster built HA electric locomotives of the Southern Region were an instant success on the Night Ferry and Golden Arrow services. These locomotives employed the flywheel booster system of the Bullied/Raworth design. However, as the introduction of new EMU's progressed during the 1960's the work available for these straight electric locomotives became more and more restricted. Ten HA's were converted to HB Electro-Diesels at Crewe in 1964. The remaining 14 continued is service but were eventually withdrawn, fully operational but without work, in 1977.
The London Underground had several DC electric locomotive types. The Metropolitan Railway Bo-Bo locomotives built by Metro-Vic in 1922/3 hauled passenger trains from Aldgate to Rickmansworth until 1962. Two have been preserved, 'John Hampden' in the London Transport Museum and 'Sarah Siddons' which is maintained in working order and can still be seen hauling special excursion trains.