North Eastern Railway 13 / Class EE1

Number 13 was the ultimate expression of the North Eastern Railway's electric traction developments in the early twentieth century (see also the Class ES1 shunter and EB1 freight locomotive). Number 13 was an express passenger locomotive designed to haul trains between York and Newcastle. When built it was the one of the most modern and powerful electric locomotives in Europe [1] and the first British high-speed electric locomotive built to haul passenger trains on trunk routes [2].

Number 13 [2]

Information
Number built:	1
Built:	1922
Builder:	NER Darlington
Motor:	6 Metropolitan-Vickers electric motors (1500v DC OHLE)
Power:	1, 800 hp (1, 343 kW)
Wheel arrangment:	2-Co-2

Unfortunately for Number 13 the NER's post First World War plans to electrify their main line remained just that, plans. When the locomotive was finished it was tested along the Shildon-Newport line including hauling fourteen coach test trains. However post-war financial pressures and the absorbing of the NER into the LNER the year after Number 13 was completed finally killed off the main line electrification plan [3].

Number 13 was put into storage and never earned a penny in revenue service however managed to survive it's time as an unused LNER locomotive, it was finally given the name Class EE1 (Express Electric) in 1945. The locomotive passed into British Railways ownership though was finally scrapped in 1950.

Number 13 with a test train [2]

[1] R.L. Vickers, DC Electric Trains and Locomotives of the British Isles (David & Charles, 1986) p. 58 
[2] "North Eastern Railway Electrification", The Electrical Review (Vol. 91 No. 2340) September 29 1922, p. 436
[3] Brian Haresnape, Electric Locomotives (Ian Allan, 1983) p. 7