Battery Electric Locomotive Vehicles

[iands]

Hi All,

 

I've been reading through a BR(E) Route Availability book (1981) and came across an entry for Battery Electric Locomotive Vehicles LDV975407-410. Just wondered if anyone could confirm if these are the same vehicles as 97703-97706? Also, could anyone provide a resource for details of the history of these vehicles (book(s) or website(s)).

 

Many thanks in anticipation.

[HGR]

Close but not quite ... different vehicles of the same batch of conversions. (though typo I guess ?, next key along the keyboard, prefix was LDB)

 

Originally short-frame (57') motor coaches DMBSO from disbanded North London Line cl. 501 units. Passenger saloons gutted and filled with battery racks. Windows plated over with ventillation grilles. Flat section to roof for access to OLE. End doors added for use in tunnels. They were coupled back-to-back in pairs. Ten vehicles done over the period 1973 (DB 975178/9 later LDB..., then became 97701/2 for Merseyside), 1975 (LDB 975407-10, later ADB..., then became 97707-10 for GN electrification based at Hornsey). The batch for the Bed-Pan electrification ordered in 1978 as LDB 975673-6 were cancelled first time around, and came out later in 1980 as 97703-6 without carrying the originally allocated LDB975... numbers.  

 

 

 

[keefer]

https://www.departmentals.com/departmental/97703

In the comments, it mentions the conversions 97701-10 (also that some were originally in the 975xx series):

 

"97 701 and 97 702 converted at Wolverton in 1974 and ran as DB975178 and DB975179 but also managed to be incorrectly numbered 977363 and 977362 (these numbers already used for ex 4-sub de icing trailers on the Southern Region)

 

Doncaster then converted 97 707 and 97 708 in 1975 running as LDB975407 and LDB975408 these numbers were then used in 1985 for class 40 012 and 40 118.

 

Doncaster then converted 97 709 and 97 710 in 1975 running as LDB 975409 AND LDB975410 these numbers were then used in 1985 for  45 022 and in 1987 for 45 029.

 

Doncaster then converted 97 703/704/705 and 706 in 1980 with no further number change"

 

So they are not the same vehicles, but they are all ex-501 DMBS.

[HGR]

Different numbering series keefer ... the cl.40 locos for use at Crewe were given cl.97/4 numbers 97405 - 97408, and the Peaks dropped into the 97/4 series later. The battery locos were cl. 97/7.

[keefer]

Didn't spot that! Re: the locos. The quoted info missed the distinction (as did I)

[iands]

Many thanks HGR and Keefer for the detailed information, much appreciated. Re the "LDV", I hadn't considered a typo in the "official" document (BR 29993), I just assumed that the "V" stood for "Vehicle" in the typed description.

[keefer]

So did I, it wasn't until you pointed it out that I noticed V & B are next to each other on a keyboard!

[Wickham Green too]

Local Defence Volunteers ............ or loco defence ?

 

 

 

 

......... apologies for the slightly grubby class 503 window in the foreground !

Edited November 21, 2020 by Wickham Green too