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Class 73 Electro-Diesels: How Far Did They Roam?


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Good Afternoon!

 

I was wondering if anyone might know how far the Class 73 electro-diesels roamed.  I know that since they were powered both by electricity and diesel oil they could travel father afield than a EMU, but how far?  Or was the diesel engine used just for shunting where there wasn't a third rail?

 

Thanks,

William

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Good Afternoon!

 

I was wondering if anyone might know how far the Class 73 electro-diesels roamed. I know that since they were powered both by electricity and diesel oil they could travel father afield than a EMU, but how far? Or was the diesel engine used just for shunting where there wasn't a third rail?

 

Thanks,

William

The diesel engine was mainly used for shunting in yards where there was no 3rd rail.

 

Furthest off the 3rd rail I've seen a 73 under its own power is just north of Duffield (Between Derby and Chesterfield).

 

https://flickr.com/photos/69838920@N04/15169623042/

 

They regulary visit Derby whilst working test trains to and from the technical centre. They have been as far north as Edinburgh when a couple were used as barrier vehicles in moving some HST coaches to a works for attention.

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Back in the early 80s I was surprised to see a 73/1 hauling a southbound train of bogie oil tankers round the Didcot avoiding line. I filmed it on my old Super 8 cine camera - I've no idea how and why it was on that working, but it was managing a good 50mph on diesel power.

 

David

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Some of the 73/0's ended their "normal" railway days in Merseyrail yellow around the Liverpool area.

 

At least once a year for the past 3-4 years, a pair traverse the Merseryrail network on a test train.

 

On diesel power, they're only good for 600hp. (although the 73/9 rebuilds are rated at 1600hp)

 

Cheers,

Mick

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They made it to Birmingham on a couple if occasions with the infamously unreliable Brighton to Glasgow service back in the day and i am prettysure back in BR days one wound up inexplicably at Cardiff once.

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They made it to Birmingham on a couple if occasions with the infamously unreliable Brighton to Glasgow service back in the day and i am prettysure back in BR days one wound up inexplicably at Cardiff once.

Definitely one at an open day in Cardiff Canton in the 80s.

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They made it to Birmingham on a couple if occasions with the infamously unreliable Brighton to Glasgow service back in the day and i am prettysure back in BR days one wound up inexplicably at Cardiff once.

 

Possibly this one?

 

7442869136_e48e5b4f56_o.jpgA Pair of ED's From Birmingham by D1059, on Flickr

 

6904445701_56836bd717_b.jpg73134 & 73108 Leamington Spa, 1M87 11.05 Portsmouth-Manchester 21_8_82 by Andy F 1965, on Flickr

 

6904447753_aa86479550_b.jpg73134 & 73108 Birmingham New Street, 1M87 11.05 Portsmouth-Manchester 21_8_82 by Andy F 1965, on Flickr

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They made it to Birmingham on a couple if occasions with the infamously unreliable Brighton to Glasgow service back in the day and i am prettysure back in BR days one wound up inexplicably at Cardiff once.

 

A couple made it to Cardiff, Canton in the late 80s early 90s for tyre turning - under their own power.

.

One had appeared at the Canton (GWR 150) Open Day circa 1985

 

Another made it to the Barry Depot Open Day in 1990

.

And finally, one turned up at Barry a few years ago, (as brake force runner ?) on the rear of a rake of GatEx stock hauled by a GBRf Cl. 66/7.

 

I'll have to find the photos I took, of some of these events.

 

Brian R

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The most northern based class 73 was 73119 which was at one time based on the Keith and Dufftown Railway.  It was moved to Dufftown in September 2004, but saw very little use and was bought by Knights Rail and moved South in July 2008. (info Scot-Rail.co.uk)

 

There is a picture of 73204 at Craigentinny here http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Class+73 plus details of other class 73 workings in Scotland.

 

Jim

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I have a picture somewhere of a dead one at Shenfield.  It had been sent up to Norwich to collect some coaching stock that was heading to Eastleigh for refurbishment, and it ran out of fuel and died at Shenfield in the evening peak.  They had to send a 37 from Stratford (when it had a depot) to drag it down and give it some fuel.

 

Fun evening.  Only one I "cabbed" :)

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Probably the most versatile loco ever built, it could run in multiple with most of the Southern stock, 33/1, blue square diesels, vac brake, air brake, Hastings line gauge. they were only limited by the fuel tank capacity and the fact they were only 600hp on diesel.

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They got across London on inter regional freight traffic, Acton was one yard they visited.

 

Here is one passing through Kensington Olympia

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54a_south_dock/7679912374/in/photolist-cGDyoj-6AoVvz-ofivFZ-brWPcm-5TwWvn-qhVPUL-9JGXAR-pyUer5-oeHkGs-dibNdz-kBPq9v-ow12ED-qXge2U-rRY4L7-rU8Wwm-8parkL-mbhzdW-pyUcG3-dB2out-ieHjK2-84ovKn-DM8dF-de7xdX-4icKrS-nJrPtR-ccqgL3-ccoUWA-9ebfE4-9NAASu-de7wA5-ikct4c-mytgmR-brgFq2-godZSn-nmPEk8-gfixFJ-gfidat-dVa38W-bqabiC-gc1mjf-rRQg3U-6QFBo9-8FuN34-rAdG2n-6ri55D-95238w-94r5rE-r5QXep-rU8Td7-rUbFkc

 

And a photo by Brian Daniels of one at Acton

https://www.flickr.com/photos/brianews/5734138497/in/photolist-9JGXAR-pyUer5-oeHkGs-dibNdz-kBPq9v-ow12ED-qXge2U-rRY4L7-rU8Wwm-8parkL-mbhzdW-pyUcG3-dB2out-ieHjK2-84ovKn-DM8dF-de7xdX-4icKrS-nJrPtR-ccqgL3-ccoUWA-9ebfE4-9NAASu-de7wA5-ikct4c-mytgmR-brgFq2-godZSn-nmPEk8-gfixFJ-gfidat-dVa38W-bqabiC-gc1mjf-rRQg3U-6QFBo9-8FuN34-rAdG2n-6ri55D-95238w-94r5rE-r5QXep-rU8Td7-rUbFkc-qXggfm-ebD27E-78QBPC-i2NHLz-roSaeD-oeMTUG

 

 

Another one at Acton

https://www.flickr.com/photos/52323442@N03/8109339006/in/photolist-dmAtXL-8b5n5K-cbTuDj-bmkp5U-9GZFjT-rmZHt4-oszvwJ-odbpK5-ouPUHx-odkTNc-owqFuj-ourpnU-qdtyKz-6JnQGu-nxKSDM-pqcZac-pqub6n-ciLFf5-DeM5D-gzY7zD-mGjMuB-nmRrgL-mGmtTj-mGjUi4-mGjTUk-mGf26T-ciLMAE-pjFR6z-dhAh7i-dhAgL9-dhAjE5-dhAhbm-dhAhuv-dhAjkT-dhAhwC-m73FEX-dce9Dh-DeLVf-8b5n5P-ovFNba-ciLRLJ-iGU1ao-cDYPYj-8kfugH-8kfugV-8kiJNC-8kfwgH-oef5M2-odo19f-oeQYht

 

Later in my railway career around 1999/2000 I worked with a supervisor who had come from Eastleigh 

who reckoned that they had a tendency to boil the radiator if they worked on diesel power for prolonged periods,

I don't know how common that was, or whether it was as they were getting older and due to lack of maintenance, 

 

 

cheers

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Probably the most versatile loco ever built, it could run in multiple with most of the Southern stock, 33/1, blue square diesels, vac brake, air brake, Hastings line gauge. they were only limited by the fuel tank capacity and the fact they were only 600hp on diesel.

The lack of power on diesel was their only Achilles Heel I think.  Experience related by various ex SR (Region that is) folk suggests that they could be quite heavily loaded but I was always a tad distrustful of that and went by the book as far loads were concerned (and in the Operating Co. I finished up I was the author of the Loads Book ;) ).

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks, gentlemen, for your info.  

 

I was wondering if anyone has any pictures and/or information about a specific locomotive - E6010 to be exact.  I know it spent most of its life at Stewarts Lane Depot, but other than that have not been able to find any pictures or information.  

 

Thanks,

William

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