British Rail Class 70 (electric)

This article is about the 1940s electric locomotive. For the diesel locomotive produced by GE Transportation from 2007, see British Rail Class 70 (diesel).

Southern Railway Class CC Electrics
British Rail Class 70
20002 at the Eastleigh Works Open Day in August 1964
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
Builder
Build date1941, 1945, 1948
Total produced3
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo′Co′
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Loco weight
  • 20001/2: 99.70 long tons (101 t; 112 short tons)
  • 20003: 104.70 long tons (106 t; 117 short tons)
Electric system/s660–750 V DC Third rail (mainline)
Catenary (sidings)
Current pickup(s)Contact shoe (mainline), Pantograph (sidings)
Traction motorsEnglish Electric 245, 6 off
Train brakesVacuum, Air, Electro-Pneumatic
Performance figures
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Power output1,470 hp (1,100 kW)
Tractive effort
  • 20001/2: 40,000 lbf (178 kN)
  • 20003: 45,000 lbf (200 kN)
Career
Operators
Class
  • SR: CC
  • BR: 70
Power classBR: 7P5F
Numbers
  • SR: CC1, CC2
  • BR: 20001–20003
Withdrawn1968
DispositionAll scrapped in 1969

The British Rail Class 70 was a class of three third rail Co-Co electric locomotives. The initial two were built by the Southern Railway (SR) at Ashford Works in 1940–41 and 1945 and were numbered CC1 and CC2[1] - the Southern Railway latterly preferring French practice for locomotive numbers which also gave an indication of the wheel arrangement. Electrical equipment was designed by Alfred Raworth[1] and the body and bogies by Oliver Bulleid. CC2 was modified slightly from the original design by C. M. Cock who had succeeded Raworth as electrical engineer. The third was built by British Railways in 1948 and numbered 20003.

  1. ^ a b Marsden & Fenn 2001, p. 19