Class_80

The first of the 25kV ac overhead electric classes was an unusual locomotive, being originally built as a gas-turbine by Metropolitan-Vickers in 1952. As a gasturbine, No. 18100 the locomotive was operated on the WR until being made redundant in 1958.
After electrification of the London Midland Region main line was authorised and traction orders placed, it became apparent that there would be a long wait before any operational hardware would be available. Following much deliberation it was agreed to contract Metropolitan-Vickers to rebuild the former gas-turbine No. 18100 into a 25kV ac electric, enabling training and overhead equipment testing to take place at an early date. At the time of the conversion decision, No. 18100 was dumped at Dukinfield near Manchester, from where it was hauled to the MV works at Stockton-on-Tees. The rebuilding work was major and consisted of the removal of the former gasturbine unit, auxiliary combustion equipment, dc power equipment, fuel tanks and control equipment. In their place ac power, control, transformer and rectifier units were installed. The cabs were also heavily rebuilt to remove the previously fitted GWR style right-hand driving layout. The roof also had to be modified to accommodate the pantograph. Another structural modification worthy of note was the trimming of the buffers to bring the loco within the required gauge in terms of width. To provide traction power for the new electric locomotive, four of the original six traction motors were retained, as were some of the auxiliary machines such as traction motor blowers, vacuum brake exhauster, air compressor and cooling equipment. During the rebuilding work a very small staff room was incorporated at No. 1 end, which was intended as a training classroom.
The pioneer LM ac electric loco, finished in main line black livery off-set by a silver body band, was released from Metropolitan Vickers in Autumn 1958, still carrying its gas-turbine number 18100. After initial testing in the Styal area the machine was renumbered to E1000 and put to work on the Manchester- Crewe line between Mauldeth Road and Wilmslow. After a short period as No. E1000 the locomotive was renumbered to E2001.
After some 12 months of being the only 25kV ac electric loco in service, the production classes started to enter traffic, spelling the end for No. E2001, and after mid-1961 the loco saw little use. During the autumn of 1961 No. E2001 was sent north to Scotland where it was used on the Glasgow electrified area for equipment testing, but by Christmas it was returned to the London Midland Region, being stored at various locations such as Crewe, Goostrey and finally Rugby. For a period in 1964 No. E2001 did see some further use, when deployed as a training loco at Rugby, but after only a few months the machine was again stood down. By early 1968 it was deleted from stock, but lay for an extended period in sidings at Market Harborough and Rugby before being sold to J. Cashmore Ltd of Tipton for scrap in 1972.

	Recognition and Equipment information
	CLASS 80