Southern Region Electro Diesel Locomotives and Units

A Pictorial Survey

David Cable

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport
• Year: 2019
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: British History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781526720627
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The electro-diesel locomotives and multiple units used by the Southern Region of British Railways, were unique to this region. The locomotives of class 73 were used extensively throughout the region, in particular on Gatwick Express services, as well as on departmental and track recording trains. Their versatility in being able to work off 3rd rail electricity as well as diesel-engined power gave them unrivaled areas of work. The class 74s, which only had a short life, were seen particularly on boat trains and parcels services on the South Western main line. The classes 201-3 were 6-car units of narrow bodied construction, so as to be able to work Hastings line services with its restricted clearances. The other classes 204-207 were 3-car units employed on stopping services throughout the region, but especially in Hampshire and the lines to Uckfield and originally East Grinstead. They were also seen on services in East Sussex and Kent. This volume shows all the classes at work, in a variety of color schemes and locations, and has been compiled by David Cable, well known author of a range of books regarding Modern Traction, published by Pen and Sword Books Ltd.

Class 73

The 49 locos in this class were built between 1962 and 1967, the first six at Eastleigh, the remaining 43 at English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry. A Bo-Bo design, they were formed into two sub-groups – 73/0 or JA and 73/1 or JB. The former had an 80mph maximum speed with 1420 electrical HP and a 600 HP English Electric diesel engine. The 73/1s had a 90mph maximum speed and electric power of 1600 HP. The class was originally numbered E6001-49, but after the introduction of TOPS, the JAs became 73001-6 and the JBs 73101-42, one loco having been scrapped after an accident.

Electrical pick-up was by 3rd rail current collectors. The internal wiring system was such that at breaks in the conductor rail (where the voltage could vary due, for example, to voltage drops caused by other traffic) spectacular arcing could occur. This could cause local fires, and when the class was first used on Gatwick Express services leaving Victoria, the fires necessitated using pairs of the class working under diesel power, until fire guards could be fitted around the conductor shoes.

The diesel engine provided the means for the class to be used on non-electrified tracks, or when power was switched off during maintenance work. In 2013/14, seven of the class were re-engined with Cummins and MTU diesels, increasing the power output to 1500/1600 HP respectively. These have been reclassified as 73/9s.

The class has a facility for multiple working, and apart from being compatible with virtually all other Southern Region locos and multiple units, can also work in conjunction with locos of types 2, 3 and 4 from other regions.

Their duties have covered all types of train operation, and in particular have been first choice for trains provided for the Royal Family and other VIPs Twelve of the class were reclassified in 1984 as 73/2s in order to work Gatwick Express services to and from Victoria in push-pull mode. In the late 1980s, when the class 442s were being built using motors from class 432 4REPs, single units replaced a driving coach to for a class 432/9 formed of the 73 and 3 4REP coaches. Others were used in pairs on South Western trains from Waterloo to Bournemouth with 4TC sets.

Much work was undertaken on...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Class 73
• Class 74
• Classes 201, 202 and 203
• Classes 204 and 205
• Class 206
• Class 207
• Summary