The Class 345 is the rolling stock built for the Elizabeth Line, a major new railway project originally known as Crossrail - as it crosses London - which finally opened in 2022. The Class 345 was the first of the Bombardier Aventra family of electric multiple units to enter service on the network.
345 040 at Abbey Wood
Information
Number built:
630 (70 9-car sets)
Built:
2015-19
Builder:
Bombardier Derby
Motor:
Bombardier traction system (25kV AC OHLE)
No Class 341 was built but
it did appear on a carrier bag!
The Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) is a 117 kilometre long line stretching from the west (as far as Reading) to the east (Shenfield) of London and serving major London stations such as London Paddington, London Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. The line has a new deep level tunnel section through the centre of London. Unlike other deep level tunnels in London, the Crossrail tunnels are large enough for standard gauge trains and not tube sized stock. The Crossrail project was first mentioned in 1974 though no serious plans or proposals took place until the 1980s and early 1990s. If the project had begun under British Rail then the rolling stock could have been the Networker derived Class 341.
Finally, concrete proposals were formed up in the early 2000s with construction beginning in 2009, twenty one kilometres of new tunnels were needed under London. The Class 345 entered service in the Summer of 2017, operating under the TfL Rail brand until the Elizabeth Line was opened officially.
The Class 345 is designed to be able to move a lot of people very quickly. The train is designed to be able to carry up to 1, 500 passengers at up to 140 km/h (90 mp/h).
Front end comparison at London Liverpool Street, 345 015 in the centre
Preparing to leave Custom House
In TfL Rail days, 345 007 at London Liverpool Street
The Class 197 is part of the CAF Civity family like the Class 195 and 196. It is being built to allow Transport for Wales to withdraw and supplement a number of older classes of diesel multiple unit.
Transport for Wales 197 013 arrives at Warrington Bank Quay
Information
Number built:
180 (77 2 or 3-car sets)
Built:
2020-
Builder:
CAF Newport
Motor:
Rolls-Royce MTU 6H1800R85L diesel per car
Power:
(2-car) 1, 010 hp (750 kW) (3-car) 1, 509 hp (1, 125 kW)
Formation:
(197/0) DMSL (Driving Motor Standard Lavatory)+ DMS (Driving Motor Standard)
(197/1) DMSL+MSL (Motor Standard Lavatory)+ DMC (Driving Motor Composite) or DMS
The Class 197 is being built in two sub-classes. A two-car formation with all standard class seating and a three-car formation which has some first class provision. All cars are powered. Some units from each sub-class have been fitted with support for ETCS (European Train Control System) signalling.
The first Class 197 was completed in 2021 and entered service in late 2022.
The launch stock for the Nottingham Express Transit light rail system was the Bombardier Incentro. For phase two of NET with extensions to Beeston and Clifton, NET needed more trams and ordered a fleet of twenty-two Alstom Citadis 302s, a very successful type of tram used throughout the world.
Tram 237 departs Compton Acres
Information
Number built:
22
Built:
2013-14
Builder:
Alstom
Motor:
Alstom traction system (4 motors) (750v DC OHLE)
Power:
480 hp (358 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
Bo-2-Bo
Deliveries of the trams began in 2013 with an entry into service in 2014. The Citadis introduced a new livery for NET trams which the older Incentros also received when they were refurbished.
Like the Incentros, the Citadis trams are made up of five short articulated sections. The trams have seats for fifty eight passengers [1].
Arriving at Clifton Centre
One of the driver's cab
Tram 224 departs Bulwell
Tram 226 arrives at Nottingham Station
A tram arrives at Southchurch Drive North
[1] Robert Prichard & Alan Yearsley, UK Metro & Light Rail Systems (Platform 5, 2019) p. 134
Taurus was a diesel-hydraulic locomotive developed by the Yorkshire Engine Company trip freight work and heavy shunting. It had two Rolls Royce diesel engines, only one being used at very slow speeds. Taurus was demonstrated on British Railways in 1961-2 though no orders arised, but in any event the kind of duties a locomotive such as Taurus could be used for were soon to disappear.
Taurus on test [1]
Information
Number built:
2
Built:
1961-63
Builder:
Yorkshire Engine Company
Motor:
2 Rolls Royce C8SFL diesels
Power:
600 hp (450 kW)
Formation:
0-8-0DH
With a glut of ex-BR shunting locomotives entering the market in the late 1960s, the Yorkshire Engine Company found it difficult to sell Taurus to any industrial users. A second Taurus was built however, this was for the Spanish railway operator RENFE and was to 1668mm gauge. No other orders were forthcoming though the Spanish Taurus has survived into preservation.
A similar type built by the Yorkshire Engine Company was the Indus. This was very similar to the Taurus though had a similar gearbox (the differential compound gearbox of Taurus having proved to be problematical - indeed the Spanish Taurus was given the Indus gearbox). Two Indus were built for industrial users and survived into the 1980s.
Taurus under construction [1]
[1] "The Taurus multi-purpose locomotive", International Railway Journal Vol. 1 Issue 5 (1961) p. 16
The Supertram is a fleet of trams built for the Sheffield Supertram light rail network which began operation in 1994. At nearly thirty five metres long the Supertrams are one of the longest articulated vehicles built for public transport in the UK [1].
Supertram 120 departs Spring Lane
Information
Number built:
25
Built:
1993-4
Builder:
Siemens-Duewag
Engine:
4 Three-Phase Siemens traction motors (750v DC OHLE)
Power:
1, 420 hp (1, 060 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
B-B-B-B
The trams were built at Siemens-Duewag and first tested on Düsseldorf's Rheinbahn network before being shipped over. The Supertrams consist of three articulated sections [2] and have all powered axles due to the steep gradients on part of the network [3].
The Supertrams underwent a full refurbishment in 2006-08 which included interior an exterior changes including the replacement of the original destination boards with LEDs to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Tram 117 arrives at Attercliffe
Aboard a Supertram behind the cab
Tram 118 at Fitzalan Square / Ponds Forge
Tram 119 at Hyde Park
Tram 118 again, passing a sister tram at Woodbourn Road
These locomotives were built for the Córas Impair Éireann (Irish Railways) in the 1950s and became the backbone of the CIE locomotive fleet performing mixed traffic duties for several decades. However, as built they had Crossley 2-stroke diesel engines which turned out to be very unreliable. Finally in the late 1960s, CIE had the fleet rebuilt with EMD engines which proved much better, though had to be downrated from 1, 650 hp due to stresses on the cooling and transmission systems.
CIE A3 in service [1], this locomotive is now preserved
The Class 777 is an electric multiple unit for the Merseyrail network replacing Classes 507 and 508. The Class 777 is part of Stadler's Metro family and is designed for high capacity and rapid acceleration on the busy Merseyrail network. The first Class 777s were delivered in 2020, with the official hand over and public unveiling at Birkenhead North in September 2021 [1] though the type did not enter service until January 2023.
Merseyrail 777 142 in battery mode at Headbolt Lane
Information
Number built:
212 (53 4-car sets)
Built:
2018-2021
Builder:
Stadler Rail
Motor:
Stadler traction system (750v DC third rail or battery)
Power:
2, 800 hp (2, 100 kW)
The Class 777 is designed to work with the Merseyrail 750v DC third rail network, though can be fitted for AC overhead operation if required in the future. Seven of the units have been fitted with batteries for operation to the new station at Headbolt Lane which openedin 2023, the line at the station not being third rail electrified. Merseyside could order a further fifty nine trains in future for future service enhancements and extensions.
The Class 777 has all of the usual features of a modern multiple unit, including walk-through wide gangways, electronic information screens and seats of questionable comfort! The Class 777 was phased into operation on the Merseyrail network, starting with the branches to Kirkby and Ormskirk in early 2023 but by late 2023 has largely taken over from the 507s and 508s.
777 018 at Orrell Park
777 009 at Moorfields
777 018 at Sandhills
Aboard a Class 777 showing the cab end
777 011 arrives at Bidston
[1] "First Class 777s handed over", Modern Railways (October 2021) p. 72
Huddersfield Corporation Tramways operated between 1883 and 1940 to 1,416mm gauge. The trams were initially horse and steam powered but electric trams began operating from 1901. The first trams built for the corporation were twenty five double bogie double deckers built by G.F. Milnes. These had open top decks initially.
English Electric built 121 [1]
Information for original tramcars
Number built:
25
Built:
1900
Builder:
G.F. Milnes
A second batch of thirty six tramcars built by the British Electric Car Company were built as the electrified network expanded. These tramcars were single bogie cars though were also double deckers. More trams were built in the following decades by the United Electric Car Company which later became part of English Electric. The corporation also operated a couple of dedicated coal trams.
Despite much of the tram fleet still being fairly young the corporation began converting over to trolleybuses in the early 1930s. The trams ran for the final time in June 1940. All trams were scrapped.
[1] English Electric Journal 1923-04 Vol 2 Issue 4 p. 175
The Class 86 AL6 was the production class of AC electrics built for the West Coast Main Line following on from the pilot-scheme AL1-5 (Classes81 to 85). The AL6 took advantage of experience gained from the earlier locomotives including the fitting of only one pantograph and with changes to equipment. The AL6 is very similar to the Class 85 AL5 technically except for the stub nose cab ends.
Freightliner 86 622 at Crewe Heritage Centre
Information
Number built:
100
Built:
1965-66
Builder:
BR Doncaster / English Electric
Engine:
4 AEI 282AZ or GEC G412AZ (86/1) traction motors (25kV AC OHLE)
Power:
(86/0) 5, 900 hp (4, 400 kW) max output
Wheel arrangement:
Bo-Bo
The AL6 was designed for mixed traffic including travelling at up to 100mp/h on West Coast Main Line expresses. Unfortunately this caused some problems with the original axle-hung traction motors, with troublesome riding qualities and damage caused to the track and to bogies. Following research at BR Derby, a "flexicoil" suspension system was adopted for fifty eight of the class which were designated Class 86/2 [1]. Another early sub-class was the 86/1, a trio rebuilt to help develop the follow-on Class 87 and able to reach 110mp/h [2][3].
A later sub-class was the 86/3 which were fitted with SAB resilient wheels for improved high speed running and reducing track wear, and with equipment for multiple-working. The Class 86/4 were fitted with flexicoil suspension and SAB wheels for mixed-traffic duties. The 86/5 was a trial locomotive to test ways of improving performance on heavy freights. The 86/6 were a sub-class used on Freightliner trains, finally the 86/9s were a couple of locomotives used as load banks by Network Rail.
Despite their advancing years the Class 86 can still be seen on the network, they have recently been withdrawn from hauling Freightliner trains though can appear on some passenger charters (86 259 as shown below has been returned to it's original Electric Blue livery [4]). Some have also been exported to Eastern Europe.
86 259 at Tyseley
Freightliner 86 639 and friend head through Stafford
Also heading through Stafford is 86 259
Most Freightliner 86 hauled duties uses pairs of locomotives
Another Freightliner 86 pair head through Rugeley Trent Valley
[1] Brian Haresnape, Electric Locomotives (Ian Allan, 1983) p. 64 [2] Gavin Morrison, AC Electric Locomotives in Colour (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 25 [3] Pip Dunn, British Rail Main Line Locomotives Specification Guide (Crowood Press, 2013) p. 161 [4] David Lawrence, British Rail Designed 1948-97 (Ian Allan, 2016) p. 155
The Class 701 is a huge class of electric multiple units intended to renew much of the fleet of South Western Railways. Part of the Aventra family, though branded as Arterio by SWR, the Class 701 is intended to replace the Class 455, 456and707and allow for the cascade of the Class 458. The Class 701 comprises ten-car 701/5 and five-car 701/5 sets.
SWR 701 517 on a delivery run at Derby
Information
Number built:
750 (90 10 and 5-car sets)
Built:
2019-
Builder:
Bombardier Derby / Alstom
Motor:
Bombardier traction system (750v DC OHLE)
Power:
900 hp (670 kW) / 1, 350hp (1, 005kW)
The original entry into service was planned to be 2019 though delays in construction meant the first unit was not completed until mid-2020. COVID delays and problems with the units (the Aventra family in general have had a troublesome entry into service) has meant that as of October 2023 the Class 701 has yet to enter service! Entry into service is planned for December 2023.
The Class 701 has regenerative braking and wide gangways between cars as well as wide doors and efficient layouts. Something yet to be enjoyed by any passengers!
Cab side of 701 517 with Arterio branding
SWR branding
In Derby we are a long way from third rail land, motive power is via a Class 47!
The 1995 Tube Stock fleet was built in the late 1990s to modernise the Northern Line. They replaced the 1959 and 1972 Tube Stock on the line. Externally, the 1995 Tube Stock looks very similar to the 1996 Tube Stock which was built concurrently for the Jubilee Line. The 1995 Tube Stock is in six-car sets [1] not seven like the 1996 trains and has quite different electrical equipment and internal layouts to the Jubilee Line stock.
51502 at Edgware
Information
Number built:
636 (106 6-car sets)
Built:
1996-1999
Builder:
GEC Alstom Birmingham
Engine:
4 Alstom ONIX three-phase AC induction motors per motor car (630v DC fourth rail)
Formation:
Driving Motor (DM)+Trailer (T)+Non-Driving Motor (UNDM)+UNDM+T+DM
The 1995 Tube Stock has an AC traction control system unlike earlier tube stock which had DC. It has an Alstom ONIX three phase insulated gate bipolar transistor drive (IGBT) drive which supplies variable voltage and frequency to four traction motors per motor car [2]. This is considered more efficient than DC drive and lighter (for example AC motors have no brushes) giving a better power/weight ratio. The IGBT drive can switch high currents very rapidly with a smoother and more even acceleration than earlier systems including the Gate Turn Off system used on the 1996 Tube Stock [3].
The fleet has served the Northern Line well and was given a refresh in 2013 with new seats and improved interiors [4]. The extension of the Northern Line to BatterseaPower Station [5] and a possible splitting of the two Northern Line branches into separate lines was at one time thought to require more rolling stock. A top-up order of 1995 Tube Stock was mooted, however recent financial constraints have put paid to that plan for now.
51622 arrives at Highgate
51677 departs Tufnell Park
51683 at Battersea Power Station
51665 arrives at Totteridge & Whetstone
51683 arrives at Nine Elms
[1] Ben Muldoon, London Underground Rolling Stock Guide (Ian Allan, 2014) p. 50 [2] TfL London Underground Rolling Stock Information Sheet (4th Edition) [3] Piers Connor, The London Underground Electric Train (Crowood Press, 2015) p. 175 [4] Kim Rennie, Underground and Overground Trains (Capital Transport, 2017) p. 22 [5] Northern Line extension <https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/northern-line-extension>
F.C. Hibberd began building petrol and diesel locomotives for industrial purposes in 1927. Their locomotives had the name Planet, though this name was also used by the company's road tractors. The origin in the name came from the Kent Construction & Engineering Company who built industrial locomotives after World War 1 under the Planet name. In 1926 the company closed but two of the directors set up F.C. Hibberd and continued the Planet name.
Planet locomotive [1]
Information for typical late model Planet
Built:
1960
Builder:
F. C. Hibberd
Motor:
BUT 680 series 6-cyl diesel
Power:
163 hp (122 kW)
Wheel arrangement:
4wDH
F.C. Hibberd continued building Planet locomotives in a variety of configurations and gauges until 1968, by then the company was part of Butterley Engineering. Many examples of Planet locomotives have been preserved.
[1] "Products of interest", International Railway Journal (December 1961) p. 54
