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British Rail Class 84
The British Rail Class 84 was a 25 kV AC electric locomotive that operated on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) of the London Midland Region.
The ten strong class was one of five prototype classes of electric locomotives built in the early stages of WCML electrification. Built between 1960 and 1961, the type was not a success, as they were beset by technical problems, and after several lengthy periods of storage, and unsuccessful attempts at resolving these problems, British Rail decided to withdraw the entire fleet between 1977 and 1980.
As part of the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line, which included electrification, 100 locomotives of five types were acquired from different manufacturers. Ten Class AL4 locomotives numbered E3036 - E3045 were built in 1960 by the North British Locomotive Company in Springburn, Glasgow, to a design by GEC.
Locomotive E3040 worked the inaugural AC electric-hauled train from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe on 12 September 1960.
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 6250V AC with the transformer windings in parallel. This voltage was initially to be used where limited clearances gave concern over use of the higher voltage. Since the clearances were found to be adequate, the lower voltage connections were locked out of use.
Once in service a number of problems emerged with the class, including rough riding, flashovers in the transformer windings, short lifespans for the motor spring drives, and major problems with the mercury-arc rectifiers. In April 1963 the entire fleet was temporarily taken out of service, and was returned to GEC Dukinfield, the builder of the electrical equipment, in an attempt to find a solution, and remedial work was carried out.
When the class returned to service, the problems persisted, and in 1967 they were placed into storage, using the former steam shed at Bury, along with Class AL3. During this time E3043 went to Rugby Testing Centre for trials.
The persistent problems could have been the end of the ten locomotives of Class 84, but the extension of the West Coast Main Line electrification to Glasgow meant that more electric locomotives would be needed. It was therefore decided that the stored Class AL3 and AL4 locomotives would be repaired, and returned to service which was conducted at Doncaster.
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British Rail Class 84
The British Rail Class 84 was a 25 kV AC electric locomotive that operated on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) of the London Midland Region.
The ten strong class was one of five prototype classes of electric locomotives built in the early stages of WCML electrification. Built between 1960 and 1961, the type was not a success, as they were beset by technical problems, and after several lengthy periods of storage, and unsuccessful attempts at resolving these problems, British Rail decided to withdraw the entire fleet between 1977 and 1980.
As part of the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line, which included electrification, 100 locomotives of five types were acquired from different manufacturers. Ten Class AL4 locomotives numbered E3036 - E3045 were built in 1960 by the North British Locomotive Company in Springburn, Glasgow, to a design by GEC.
Locomotive E3040 worked the inaugural AC electric-hauled train from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe on 12 September 1960.
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 6250V AC with the transformer windings in parallel. This voltage was initially to be used where limited clearances gave concern over use of the higher voltage. Since the clearances were found to be adequate, the lower voltage connections were locked out of use.
Once in service a number of problems emerged with the class, including rough riding, flashovers in the transformer windings, short lifespans for the motor spring drives, and major problems with the mercury-arc rectifiers. In April 1963 the entire fleet was temporarily taken out of service, and was returned to GEC Dukinfield, the builder of the electrical equipment, in an attempt to find a solution, and remedial work was carried out.
When the class returned to service, the problems persisted, and in 1967 they were placed into storage, using the former steam shed at Bury, along with Class AL3. During this time E3043 went to Rugby Testing Centre for trials.
The persistent problems could have been the end of the ten locomotives of Class 84, but the extension of the West Coast Main Line electrification to Glasgow meant that more electric locomotives would be needed. It was therefore decided that the stored Class AL3 and AL4 locomotives would be repaired, and returned to service which was conducted at Doncaster.