British Rail Class 81
The British Rail Class 81 was an AC electric locomotive that operated on the West Coast Main Line on the London Midland Region of British Rail. Only one was preserved.
| British Railways AL1 British Rail Class 81 | |
| |
| A row of Class 81 locomotives waiting to be scrapped | |
| Power type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | Associated Electrical Industries at Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company |
| Build date | 1959–1964 |
| Total production | 25 |
| Configuration | Bo-Bo |
| UIC classification | Bo'Bo' |
| Gauge | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track gauge/data' not found. |
| Wheel diameter | 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) |
| Length | 56 ft 6 in (17.22 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 8+1⁄2 in (2.65 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 4+1⁄4 in (3.77 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 79.60 long tons (80.9 t) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC |
| Current collection method | Stone-Faiverley ‘V’-type pantograph, 2 off (later 1 off) |
| Traction motors | 847 hp (632 kW) AEI 189 quill drive, 4 off |
| Top speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Power output | 3,200 hp (2,390 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 50,000 lbf (222 kN) |
| Train heating | Electric Train Heating |
| Locomotive brakes | Air, Rheostatic |
| Train brakes | Vacuum; Dual from 1972–1973 |
| Career | British Rail |
| Number | E3001–E3023, E3096, E3097; later 81001–81022 |
| Axle load class | Route availability 6 |
| Retired | 1968 (2), 1971 (1), 1983–1991 |
| Disposition | One preserved, remainder scrapped |
