1.2C500 V DC.2C overhead .28historic.29 Railway electrification in Great Britain

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.