British Rail Class EB1

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British Rail Class EB1
Power type Electric
Builder Flag of the United Kingdom North Eastern Railway
Build date 1914
Total production 1
AAR wheel arr. Bo-Bo
Gauge 1435 mm
Electric system(s) 1500V DC
Curent collection method Pantograph
Engine type 4x275hp, Siemens
Power output 820 kW (1100 hp)
Career North Eastern Railway
LNER
British Railways
Class LNER & BR: EB1
Number in class 1
Number NER: 11
LNER: 6498
BR: 26510
Retired April 1964


The British Rail Class EB1 (Electric Banking 1) was an electrically powered locomotive used by British Rail in England. It was used during the pre-TOPS period. The other NER electric locos built at the same time were classified as EB1 but were never modified, they later became British Rail Class EF1.

These locomotives were built by the NER to haul coal trains from the mines at Shildon to the docks at Middlesbrough. During the 1920s the coal traffic declined and some of the locomotives became surplus to requirements. In 1928 a plan was devised to convert one of them to a Diesel-electric, using a 1,000hp Beardmore diesel engine driving an English Electric generator. This plan did not come to fruition.

Electric traction on the Shildon line was discontinued in 1935 but the locomotives were retained for possible future use. Number 11 (later BR 26510) was rebuilt in 1942 for use on the Manchester-Sheffield line. Horsepower was increased from 1,100 to 1,256 and the twin pantographs were replaced by a single central one.

It was expected that all the locomotives would be similarly modified but this did not happen. In 1949, number 26510 was moved to Ilford Depot (Eastern Region) for use as a shunter. Number 26510 was transferred to departmental stock (as DS100) in 1959 and withdrawn in 1964.

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