Class 70 (SR/English Electric 1,470hp Co-Co DC Electric Type CC)

These locomotives were built for Southern Railways / BR Southern Region originally intended for mixed traffic work [1]. The first, originally known as CC1, was built at SR's Ashford Works in 1941, various delays meant the second CC2 was not completed until 1945. The third locomotive was built at BR's Brighton Works in 1948 and had a number of differences over the two earlier locomotives, being slightly longer and with flatter front ends. It also had some equipment changes including a larger boiler for heating trains.

The third locomotive [2]

Information
Number built:	3
Built:	1941, 1945, 1948
Builder:	SR Ashford / BR Brighton Works
Motor:	6 EE245 electric motors (660-750v DC third rail)
Power:	1, 470 hp (1, 100 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Co-Co

The locomotives included a flywheel driven generator, known as the "booster unit", to help prevent the locomotives being stranded by short gaps in the third rail electrification. The locomotives also had a pantograph for operating in goods yards where third rail could be dangerous to railway workers.

The locomotives spent most of their time working passenger trains and were reliable locomotives. They were withdrawn in 1968 due to the small size of the fleet. None were preserved. They were later classified as Class 70 under TOPS though did not carry TOPS numbers, Class 70 was later reused for a Type 5 diesel locomotive.

[1] Brian Haresnape, Electric Locomotives (Ian Allan, 1983) p. 36

[2] Railway Notes (Meccano Magazine January 1949) p. 13