NER Electric Shunter 1 (Class ES1)

A mile long freight branch from Newcastle Quay was electrified by the North Eastern Railway at the start of the 20th century because steam locomotives were proving hard to use on the line. The line had a tunnel with a very sharp hairpin bend in it so that both mouths were pointing in the same direction. This often meant that the exhaust from steam locomotives (which had to work hard because of the gradients in the tunnel) became trapped making conditions very difficult if not dangerous for crews [1]. Two electric shunting engines were instead built for this line by Brush using BTH electrical equipment collecting 600v DC current from overhead lines and third rail (in the tunnel). At the time of construction they were the largest electric locomotives built in the UK [2].

Information
Number built:	2
Built:	1903-04
Builder:	British Thomson-Houston/Brush
Engine:	4 GE/British Thomson-Houston 55 traction motors (600-630v DC third rail & OHLE)
Power:	640 hp (477 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Bo-Bo

Although they spent most of their time on freight shunting they could also work with NER's Tyneside EMUs in the same area [3] at South Gosforth MPD [4]. They later passed into the LNER fleet and finally British Railways where they became known as the Class ES1. They were finally retired in 1964, Number 1 was preserved and can now be found at NRM Shildon.

Three views of Number 1 now preserved at NRM Shildon

Number 2 in original condition with bow style collector, public domain image [5]

Side view of Number 2 notice the third rail shoes deployed, public domain image [6]

[1] Brian Haresnape, Electric Locomotives (Ian Allan, 1983) p. 7
[2] "Electric freight locomotives for the North East of England", The Street Railway Journal October 1904 (Vol XXIV No. 15) p. 674
[3] R.L. Vickers, DC Electric Trains and Locomotives in the British Isles (David & Charles, 1986) p. 57
[4] David Dunn, Tyneside Electrics: 2 (South Shields Branch & System Miscellany) (Booklaw, 2016) p. 37
[5] Street Railway Journal p. 675
[6] Street Railway Journal p. 676