Class 77 (BR/Metropolitan Vickers 2,490hp DC Electric Locomotive EM2)

The EM2 electric locomotive (later Class 77) was built to haul express passenger services over the Woodhead route, which had been electrified to 1,500v DC overhead) alongside the mixed-traffic Class 76. The Class 77 was based on the Class 76 though larger and more powerful and had Co-Co bogies - a result of the ride problems the Class 76 Bo-Bo bogies had at speed [1].

Originally twenty seven locomotives were planned but in the end only seven were, some later build Class 76s were instead fitted with train heating boilers and improved bogies for passenger duties.

Information
Number built:	7
Built:	1953-54
Builder:	BR Gorton
Motor:	6 Metropolitan-Vickers 146 traction motors (1500kV DC OLHE)
Power:	2, 490 hp (1, 857 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Co-Co

They entered service in the mid-1950s hauling expresses between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield Victoria [2]. However their British Railways life was short. They were withdrawn in 1968 as passenger services along the Woodhead route were phased out (the line and the Class 76 remained in service for freight until 1981).

Happily the still fairly fresh locomotives found a buyer. They were sold to the Dutch railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen and became the NS 1500 class. They received new headlights and pantographs and remained in service until 1986. Three have been preserved.

NS 1505 now preserved at MOSI Manchester

In NS service the locomotives received new cab light clusters

The locomotives retained their original BR names in Dutch service

Side view of 1505, in BR service the Class 77 had cross-arm pantographs

Another view of 1505

The locomotive was E27001 in BR service

[1] Brian Haresnape, Electric Locomotives (Ian Allan, 1983) p. 32
[2] Colin J. Marsden, Diesel & Electric Locomotive Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2011) p. 214

Wallasey Corporation Tramways

Wallasey Corporation Tramways began operations in 1903 on Merseyside replacing a horse tramway what had operated since 1879. The initial service served between the Seacombe and New Brighton ferries with two more routes added later on. The fleet eventually compromised seventy eight trams which were built in a number of batches between 1902 and 1920.

Information for 37-41 Class
Number built:	4
Built:	1908
Builder:	United Electric Car Company

Although the trams were built by a variety of manufacturers they all shared the "Bellamy roof" style established in Liverpool (named after the manager who introduced it) [1]. The style had an enclosed roof but with open balconies. The last batch of trams built by Brush in 1920 still retained this style even though it was rather old fashioned by then. The original plan was for the trams to have the roofs fitted so they could be easily removed and the trams could be converted from open to closed and back in minutes. However after serious water leaks in bad weather it was decided to make the roof permanent.

The tram network didn't last long. Closures began in 1929 and the network was completely shut down in 1933. One tram, Number 78, has survived into preservation. This Brush built tram was the last one built and spent fifty years serving as a store in a farmyard in North Wales before being handed over to a preservation society in 1978 and now runs as part of the Wirral Tramway.

Three views of Wallasey 78 at Wirral Transport Museum

Wallasey trams wore this lime green and cream livery

The open balcony can be seen here

The roof and balcony can be seen here

[1] R.W. Rush, British Electric Tramcar Design 1885-1950 (Oxford Publishing, 1976) p. 85

Baguley-Drewry 3698-3701

Baguley-Drewry built these four diesel-hydraulic shunters for the Royal Air Force's ammunition depot at RAF Chilmark in Wiltshire. Goods were transferred from a standard gauge rail link via a 600mm narrow gauge railway which ran into several caverns. RAF Chilmark closed in 1995.

Information
Number built:	4
Built:	1973
Builder:	Baguley-Drewry
Motor:	Gardner diesel
Power:	65hp / 48kW
Formation:	4wDH

All four locomotives have survived, though in different locations. 3698 is now at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway. 3699 at the Gartell Light Railway. 3700 is in Turkey and 3701 at the Richmond Light Railway.

3698 at Stonehenge Works, Leighton Buzzard Light Railway

3698 now carries the number NG46

Front view of 3698

Northfleet Series Electric Tramway

One the earliest electric tramways was opened at Northfleet in Kent in the Spring of 1889, it pioneered a different method of electric transmission to earlier systems (although had been already tried in the United States). The Northfleet system was a series electric instead of parallel like other tramways. With a parallel electric system the electric current that passes through a motor (or any other electric device like a lamp) does not pass through any other [1]. With a series electric the whole current of the system passes through the devices using it. One advantage of this system was that a much smaller current could be applied as parallel systems needed larger current to counter the dropping off effect the further one got from the generating dynamo.

Information
Built:	1889
Builder:	Falcon Engine & Car Works
Motor:	Elwell & Parker electric motor (200v)
Power:	15 hp (11 kW)

The problem for engineers was how to run multiple motors in series at the same time. The solution was to divide the conductor into segments (in the Northfleet case about six and half metres long [2]) and for the tram to close the circuit as required as it passes over the segments. The Northfleet system used a buried conductor underneath one of the running rails with a slot for an "arrow" which opened the circuit at successive points by opening two "spring jacks". A dynamo on board the tram was used to maintain a steady supply to the motor which otherwise would have been subject to the circuit being opened and closed by other tramcars.

The tramway, which replaced an existing horse drawn tram, was narrow gauge (1067mm). This required special motors to be built for it. The Northfleet tram apparently worked well though was no more than an experiment, though a bold one which attracted a good deal of interest from engineers.

By the end of 1890 the tram had returned to living breathing horse power, though a more conventional electric tram system was started in 1901.

Northfleet tram [3]

Front of tram and detail of the motor, the narrowness of the motor can be seen [3]

Cross section of rail and conductor [1]

[1] "The Northfleet Series Electric Tramway", Nature (May 9 1889) p. 39
[2] Robert J Harley, North Kent Tramways (Middleton Press, 1994) Fig. 60
[3] "The Northfleet Series Electric Tramway - Dynamo and Cars", The Engineer (March 15 1889) p. 219

Robel Romis System Mobile Maintenance Train

Network Rail have bought eight Mobile Maintenance Trains from Robel which are designed to give a safe working environment for on-track staff. The Mobile Maintenance Train, known as the Romis System, consists of three vehicles [1], the Mobile Maintenance Unit is an open bottomed vehicle. It has adjustable walls for protection from the elements, passing trains and glare at night and a number of tools for working on the track such as rail welders, cutters and grinders [2].

Information
Number built:	8
Built:	2015-16
Builder:	Robel
Motor:	2 diesels per train
Power:	1, 609 hp (1, 200 kW)

The Intermediate Wagon is used for carrying supplies and included a built in crane and hydraulic platforms. Finally the Traction & Supply Unit provides propulsion for the unit, power for tools as well as a workshop and a kitchen.

DR97501 at Darlington, this is the Traction & Supply Unit

DR97501 at Darlington

[1] Royston Morris, Railway Maintenance Vehicles & Equipment (Amberley, 2017) p. 35
[2] Robel, Romis System Mobile Maintenance System, p. 3