British Rail Class 83

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Class 83, no. E3035, on display at Doncaster Works open day on 27th July 2003. This locomotive is preserved by the AC Locomotive Group at Barrow Hill Engine Shed.

The British Rail Class 83 electric locomotives were built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification.

[edit] History

Fifteen engines of British Rail Class 83 were built between 1960 and 1962 by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, as part of British Rail's policy to develop a standard electric locomotive. Five prototype classes (81-85) were built and evaluated, which eventually led to the development of the Class 86 locomotive.

Three of these engines were to have been built as Type B, geared for freight trains, but as it was only two were so built, becoming E3303 and E3304. The third Type B, E3305, was never built as such. Instead it was used as a test bed with silicon rectifiers and transducers, this being the first step towards thyristor control. It became a Type A, geared for passenger trains, and numbered E3100.

The other two Type B locomotives were eventually rebuilt as Type A, being renumbered E3098 (ex E3303) and E3099 (ex E3304).

[edit] Power supply

Power was provided by overhead catenary energized at 25,000 V AC.

[edit] Rebuild

As with the Class 84 the Class 83 suffered with problems due to the mercury-arc rectifiers. After spending several years in storage, 1967 to 1971, they were rebuilt with silicon rectifiers, as was already fitted to E3100.

The decision to reinstate the fifteen engines of Class 83 was the result of the extension of the electrification requiring more electric locomotives. With both Class 83 and Class 84 being returned to traffic only thirty-six Class 87 were required to be built.

[edit] Operations

The class were used to haul trains on the then newly electrified West Coast Main Line, from Birmingham, to Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool and later Preston. By 1965, electrification had spread south to London Euston. Electrification finally reached Glasgow in the early 1970s, allowing this class to operate the full length of the West Coast Main Line.

[edit] Numbering

Under the pre-TOPS British Rail classification, the first fourteen locomotives, E3025 - E3035 and E3303, E3304 (later E3098 and E3099) were Class AL3 (meaning the 3rd design of AC Locomotive). The fifteenth engine, E3100 became Class AL3/1. All fifteen were included in the TOPS numbering system, being renumbered 83001-015.

[edit] Accidents

Two engines were withdrawn early as a result of accidents. The first was 83003, withdrawn in 1975, which was severely damaged in an accident with a Class 86 at Watford.

The second engine was 83004 which on December 24, 1977 was severely damaged in a collision with a Class 47 at Willesden.

[edit] The end

In 1983 ten of the remaining thirteen engines were withdrawn, all being sent to the Vic Berry Scrapyard in Leicester.

The last three in service, 83009, 83012, and 83015 were retained for use on empty coaching stock workings from London Euston Station to Willesden.

[edit] Preservation

One locomotive has been preserved by The AC Locomotive Group.

• 83012 / E3035 - Barrow Hill Engine Shed

[edit] Fleet details

[edit] External links

• AC Locomotive Group - Owners of preserved locomotive no. 83012 / E3035