British Rail Class 83

British Railways AL3
British Rail Class 83
83014 at Wolverhampton on 27 May 1978.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderEnglish Electric at Vulcan Foundry
Order number
  • CCH 0916 (EE)
  • 6794 (VF, E3024-8)
  • 6795 (VF, E3029-33)
  • 6796 (VF, E3034-5, E3303-4, E3100)[1]
Build date1960–1962
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo′Bo′
 • CommonwealthBo-Bo
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter4 ft 0 in (1.219 m)[2]
Minimum curve4 chains (80 m)[3]
Wheelbase40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)[2]
Length52 ft 6 in (16.00 m)[2]
Width8 ft 8+58 in (2.657 m)[2]
Height:
 • Pantograph13 ft 0+58 in (3.978 m)[2]
 • Body height12 ft 4+14 in (3.766 m)[2]
Adhesive weight19 long tons (19.3 t; 21.3 short tons)
Loco weight76.40 long tons (77.6 t; 85.6 short tons)
Electric system/s25 kV AC Catenary
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motors
Train heatingElectric Train Heating index: 66[3]
Loco brake
Train brakesVacuum, Dual from 1972–1973
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Power output2,950 hp (2,200 kW) (continuous)
Tractive effort38,000 lbf (169 kN) (max)
Brakeforce38 tons[3]
Career
OperatorsBritish Rail
ClassAL3; later 83
Number in class15
NumbersE3024–E3035, E3098-E3100; later 83001–83015
Axle load classRoute availability 6
LocaleWest Coast Main Line
Retired1975 (1), 1978 (1), 1983 (10), 1989 (3)
Preserved1
Scrapped1975, 1978, 1984, and 1993
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 83 electric locomotives were built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference WebbDuncan49 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 46
  3. ^ a b c "Technical Details". The AC Locomotive Group. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. ^ Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 41
  5. ^ Webb & Duncan 1979, p. 40