1955 Electric Locos

[6Gman]

Further to my request re main-line diesel locos, I turn to the electrics.

20001-3 were at Durnsford Road. Now this was a SW depot yet most of the coverage I've seen of these locos seem to involve the Central Division - Newhaven boat trains and the like. Of course, other than Portsmouth the SW didn't have much long-distance work that could be worked by electrics !

The EM1 and EM2s are straightforward; freight and passenger work respectively on the Woodhead route (with some EM1 passenger work when necessary; some were boiler-fitted for such work).

26500/1 - shunting work on the North Tyneside electric system from their Heaton base.

26510 - built for banking work on the Woodhead (was it ever used in that way?), but by 1955 was based at Stratford and - I think - was used as a depot shunter at Ilford. Is that correct?

Thanks for any info that you can provide.

 

[Gloster]

26510 built for Newport-Shildon, later (ca. 1941) rebuilt for use as a Woodhead banker, but possibly never used. Moved to Ilford ca. 8/49.

EDIT: I think that 26500 and 26501 were normally only used on the Quayside branch, possibly on the basis of a week on and a week off (unless I am mixing up that detail another class).

20001 to 20003 were allocated to Brighton. In addition to the Boat Trains, I think they worked goods trains, including a Norwood- Chichester (I think, at some time). There was DS 74 at Durnsford Road and 75S on the Waterloo & City.

(Most of the above from Shed by Shed, vol. 7, or memory.)

 

[Taunton]

The Woodhead passenger electric locos had electric boilers (like a big electric kettle). The Co-Co EM2 locos seem to have only been used on Manchester-Sheffield trains, and there seem more than enough to cover those services, but some of the later Bo-Bo EM1 were likewise fitted as well. The boilered locos, only, are identifiable by being named, all after Greek Gods (and Goddesses). The Co-Cos had female Goddess names, the Bo-Bos had male God names. One of the engineers on the project must have recollected their traditional teenage school days doing the classics!

 

[6Gman]

The Woodhead passenger electric locos had electric boilers (like a big electric kettle). The Co-Co EM2 locos seem to have only been used on Manchester-Sheffield trains, and there seem more than enough to cover those services, but some of the later Bo-Bo EM1 were likewise fitted as well. The boilered locos, only, are identifiable by being named, all after Greek Gods (and Goddesses). The Co-Cos had female Goddess names, the Bo-Bos had male God names. One of the engineers on the project must have recollected their traditional teenage school days doing the classics!

Only just! In the mid-50s there were 7 locos for 6 diagrams. So if one was under maintenance there was no spare.