Obsolete systems Railway electrification in Great Britain

1 obsolete systems

1.1 6,600 v, 25 hz ac, overhead
1.2 6,250 v 50 hz ac, overhead
1.3 3,500 v dc, overhead
1.4 1,500 v dc, overhead (historic)
1.5 1,200 v dc, third rail (side-contact)
1.6 650 v dc, overhead
1.7 600 v dc, third rail
1.8 525 v dc, third rail
1.9 500 v dc, overhead
1.10 500 v dc, third rail
1.11 440 v dc, third rail

obsolete systems

great britain has used different electrification systems in past. many of these date part of 20th century, when traction electricity in experimental stage. section describes each system, in order of decreasing voltage.

6,600 v lb&scr elevated electric train on south london line, 1909


6,600 v, 25 hz ac, overhead

lancaster heysham via morecambe: used trial of electrification; opened between 13 april , 14 september 1908, , operated until 1953
elevated electric london suburban lines of london, brighton , south coast railway: first large-scale suburban electrification scheme; starting south london line , extended other commuter lines around south of london, operational 1 december 1909. following grouping lbscr southern railway in 1922, of 6,600 v lines converted 650 v dc third rail system september 1929.

6,250 v 50 hz ac, overhead

during initial electrification of parts of network 25 kv 50 hz ac overhead, initial solution limited clearance problems in suburban areas (due numerous tunnels , bridges) in london , glasgow use lower voltage of 6.25 kv. later technological improvements in insulation allowed these areas converted 25 kv. last sections of 6.25 kv converted during 1980s.

london, tilbury , southend lines

the 6.25 kv section fenchurch street beyond barking, changeovers there on both upminster , tilbury lines. section between chalkwell , shoeburyness @ 6.25 kv. remainder @ 25 kv. sections electrified @ 6.25 kv converted 25 kv during 1980s.

great eastern lines

the line liverpool street southend victoria electrified @ 1,500 v dc overhead during 1940s-50s. during 1960s, whole of line converted 6.25 kv ac overhead, while main line east of shenfield progressively electrified @ 25 kv, changeover east of shenfield. during 1980s, line again converted, time 25 kv.

the cambridge line , branches liverpool street electrified in 1960s, 6.25 kv out changeover @ cheshunt, , 25 kv beyond. chingford , enfield lines @ 6.25 kv throughout. route again converted 25 kv in 1980s.

as part of electrification onwards cambridge , norwich in 1980s, electric locomotives transferred these routes west coast route. these locomotives not have been able operate @ 6.25 kv.

glasgow suburban network

on north clyde, central section between parkhead , before dalmuir (clydebank loop) , westerton (anniesland loop) @ 6.25 kv, outer sections @ 25 kv. bridgeton , springburn branches @ 6.25 kv throughout. sections electrified @ 6.25 kv converted 25 kv during 1980s.

on south clyde, route glasgow central around cathcart loop @ 6.25 kv, changeovers 25 kv @ kings park , muirend on motherwell , neilston routes. these lines progressively converted 25 kv in 1970s-80s.

3,500 v dc, overhead

bury holcombe brook

this electrified lancashire , yorkshire railway in 1913 part of trial system export. system converted third rail in 1918 (see below).

1,500 v dc, overhead (historic)

after world war i, uk government set committee investigate various systems of railway electrification; in 1921, recommended 1,500 v dc overhead should future national standard. several schemes implemented in wake, great depression , world war ii meant little work done. technological advances after 1945 meant 25 kv ac system adopted instead west coast main line , glasgow suburban electrification (as set out in br 1955 modernisation plan). however, @ same time, large amounts of money had been (and still being) spent converting several lines 1,500 v dc.

manchester, south junction , altrincham railway

a joint lms , lner scheme, opened on 11 may 1931. success of scheme influenced lner s later electrification schemes. line converted 25 kv ac in 1971, stretch between altrincham , trafford bar (plus stretch between trafford bar , cornbrook viaduct) later incorporated manchester metrolink , converted again (this time 750 v dc).

em1 (class 76), 1,500 v dc electric locomotives on woodhead route in 1954



manchester – sheffield – wath

known woodhead route, lner chose hilly (and busy) main line first mainline electrification, work beginning in 1936. due depression , world war ii, not completed until 1950s. after completion, government chose standardise on 25 kv ac instead, leaving woodhead route , few other 1,500 v dc lines isolated , non-standard. passenger locomotives sold in 1969 , saw further service in netherlands. in subsequent rationalisation, br closed of route east of hadfield in 1981 in favour of more southerly hope valley line, serves more local communities. section of line between manchester, glossop , hadfield remained open part of manchester suburban network, , operated class 506 emu s, until converted 25 kv ac in december 1984.

shenfield metro

the lner decided electrify liverpool street shenfield section of great eastern main line (geml), known shenfield metro. civil engineering works began during 1930s, world war ii intervened. work completed in 1949 , extended chelmsford , southend victoria in 1956, using class 306 (am6) emus. converted on 4–6 november 1960, in wake of br 1955 modernisation plan, new standard of 25 kv ac (initially sections @ 6.25 kv). rest of geml subsequently electrified.

shildon newport

this line ran shildon (county durham) newport (near middlesbrough). route on 1825 stockton-to-darlington line, via simpasture junction (the former clarence railway) through carlton, carlton junction carlton south junction, bowesfield west junction bowesfield junction, through thornaby , ending @ erimus yard (newport east). in wake of electrification of tyneside ner, coal-carrying line electrified between 1 july 1915 , 1 january 1916 planned precursor electrifying ner s busy york newcastle main line (part of east coast main line). lner removed electrification system in 1935 (between 7 january , 8 july); decline in coal market making economically unfeasible undertake significant renewals required continue electric operation. locomotives stored other electrified routes.

1,200 v dc, third rail (side-contact)

a class 504 (1,200 v dc) train @ manchester victoria station, weeks before closure conversion metrolink light-rail system



manchester victoria - bury

in 1916, line between manchester victoria , bury electrified using 1,200 v dc third rail (side contact). line between bury , holcombe brook had been electrified using 3,500 v dc overhead in 1913 converted system in 1918. abandoned in 1991, when line converted 750 v dc system , became part of manchester metrolink.

650 v dc, overhead

swansea , mumbles railway

600 v dc, third rail

tyneside electrics

this electrified in 1904, in response extensive competition new electric trams. concept success north eastern railway (ner), noted pioneer in electrification, passenger numbers returned pre-tram levels. stock reached life expectancy in 1937, network remodelled london , north eastern railway (lner) reflect changing industrial , residential makeup of area. electrified @ same time dockside branch, pair of class es1 (formerly ner no.1 , 2) locomotives introduced in 1905. these british thomson-houston locomotives operated both third rail , overhead line. british railways removed electrification between 1963 , 1967, citing changing industrial , population makeup of area reduced need electric traction. of tyneside network later re-electrified (using 1500 v dc overhead) tyne , wear metro.

525 v dc, third rail

ner no. 1 (locomotion museum, shildon)



liverpool overhead railway

the liverpool overhead railway 1 of earliest electric railways in great britain. first section, between alexandra dock , herculaneum dock, opened in 1893. line connected lancashire , yorkshire railway s north mersey branch. never nationalised, , closed on 30 december 1956 due extensive corrosion throughout iron infrastructure (which deemed uneconomical replace).

500 v dc, overhead

grimsby , immingham railway

500 v dc, third rail

city , south london railway

the city , south london railway electrification unusual (compared later schemes) in used three-wire dc system. meant although offset centre third rail electrified @ +500 volts in northbound tunnel, electrified @ -500 volts in southbound tunnel. motors on locomotives , incandescent electric lamps in carriages worked, regardless of polarity of supply. three-wire system adopted because initial system fed directly dynamos in surface power plant @ stockwell end of line. important minimise voltage drop as possible, bearing in mind rather steep gradient on approach king william street station.

440 v dc, third rail

post office railway

underground railway under london operated post office. operated between 1927 , closure in 2003.