| British Rail Class 73 |
|---|
|
|
| Specifications |
|---|
Configuration:
| |
|---|
| • AAR | B-B |
|---|
| • UIC | Bo'Bo' |
|---|
| • Commonwealth | Bo-Bo |
|---|
| Gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
|---|
| Wheel diameter | 3 ft 4 in (1,016 mm) |
|---|
| Length | 16.36 m (53 ft 8 in) |
|---|
| Loco weight | 73/0: 76.3 long tons (77.5 t; 85.5 short tons);
73/1: 76.8 long tons (78.0 t; 86.0 short tons) |
|---|
| Electric system/s | 660–750 V DC Third rail |
|---|
| Current pickup | Contact shoe |
|---|
| Prime mover | English Electric 4SRKT Mk II;
2 × Cummins QSK19 (73951-2);
MTU 8V 4000 R43L (73961-971) |
|---|
| Traction motors | 73/0: EE 542A,
73/1: EE 546/1B |
|---|
| MU working | 73/9: AAR system,
(59, 66, 67, 68008-015, 69, 70 and 73/9) |
|---|
| Train heating | Electric Train Heating |
|---|
| Train brakes | Vacuum, Air and Electropneumatic |
|---|
|
| Performance figures |
|---|
| Maximum speed | 73/0: 80 mph (129 km/h);
73/1: 90 mph (145 km/h) |
|---|
| Power output | Electric (continuous): 1,420 hp (1,059 kW);
Electric (one-hour): 1,600 hp (1,193 kW);
Engine: 600 hp (447 kW);
73/9: 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) |
|---|
| Tractive effort | 73/0 (electric): 42,000 lbf (186.8 kN);
73/0 (diesel): 34,100 lbf (151.7 kN);
73/1 (electric): 40,000 lbf (177.9 kN);
73/1 (diesel): 36,000 lbf (160.1 kN) |
|---|
|
| Career |
|---|
| Operators | |
|---|
| Numbers | E6001–E6049,
later 73001–73006, 73101–73142 |
|---|
| Axle load class | Route availability 6 |
|---|
| Withdrawn | 1972 (1), 1982 (1), 1991–present |
|---|
| Disposition | 6 preserved, 27 still in service,
6 stored, 10 scrapped |
|---|
|
The British Rail Class 73 is a class of electro-diesel locomotives. This type is unusual in that it can operate on the Southern Region's 650/750 V DC third rail power supply, or an onboard diesel engine to allow it to be used on non-electrified routes. This makes it very versatile, although the diesel engine produces less power than is available from the third-rail power supply, so the locomotives are rarely used outside of the former Southern Region of British Rail. It is one of the first bi-mode locomotives ever built. Following the withdrawal and scrapping of the more powerful Class 74 bi-mode locomotives in 1977, the Class 73 was unique on the British railway network until the introduction of the Class 88 bi-mode locomotives in 2017. Ten locomotives have been scrapped.