Britain was lagging behind our continental neighbours where electrification of the mainline long-distance rail routes utilising overhead wires was concerned, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the ‘Electric Scots’ rail service, writes Ian Thomas.
On the continent, they changed from steam traction to electric traction in most countries, albeit with some dieselisation on more secondary routes, whereas Britain opted for mainline diesels – diesel electric for all regions of British Railways and diesel hydraulic on the Western Region.
There were a number of localised and regional routes, such as the Southern third rail 750-volt DC dating back to 1915 and the suburban electric services in cities such as Newcastle and Liverpool, but no long distance mainline overhead systems as yet. However, with the emergence of British Railways in January 1948, things were about to change although somewhat slowly and erratically.
Plans went ahead to electrify the Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield Victoria section of the former Great Central route through to London Marylebone taking the first overhead electric lines (OHL) over the Pennines via Woodhead and Penistone. This opened in 1954 using a 1500-volt DC system with the infamous Class 76 and 77 electrics. Interestingly, these electrics were fitted with steam-heating boilers because the coaching stock was steam heat only and electric train heating was a thing of the future. The line closed in 1981, albeit freight-only by then.
Eyes then turned toward wiring the West Coast Mainline (WCML) in phases starting in 1959. This utilised a different voltage from Woodhead and 25KV AC and was to become the standard set up for all future mainline electrification schemes. Manchester to Crewe went live in 1960 and Liverpool to Crewe in 1962. Then the push to reach London Euston. Work took place and services began November 12th 1965, with a full electric service from April 1966.
The Coventry – Birmingham New Street – Wolverhampton service started March 6th, 1967. This left Weaver Junction to Glasgow central the only part of the WCML not energised, with diesels in command. The go ahead was given by the labour government in 1970 and work got underway with completion in early 1974.
Locomotives built for the west coast route were Class 81-85s and then the more powerful Class 86 design in 1966 with the Birmingham loop wired. However, an even more powerful and versatile design was manufactured for express work between London Euston and Glasgow Central, this being the Class 87 electric with 5,000 horsepower output, ideal for conquering Shap and Beattock summits and fitted with air brakes only (as opposed to vacuum brakes), they also worked overnight freight services into the bargain.
The full service with the ‘Electric Scots’ commenced on Monday, May 6th, 1974, 50 years ago, giving Britain its first Anglo-Scottish all-electric railway from Euston to Glasgow – 400 miles in length.
Gloucestershire benefitted from this with the introduction of the first ever through train serving both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The 08.15 Bristol Temple Meads to Glasgow/Edinburgh (1S61) and 13.35/25 Glasgow -Edinburgh to Bristol (1V95) started the same day using a full rake of air-braked Mark 2 coaches, the first train to use such stock on a cross-country service. The previous year (1973) saw an overnight sleeping car/ passenger train service introduced from Bristol to Scotland and vice versa, 1S19 going north and 1V56 coming south. More of this type of coaching stock came along on other cross-country services as the 1970s wore on, with Mark 2 air-conditioned stock from 1977. So, to commemorate the event I have provided some pictures of the different classes from Class 76 to Class 87. Since then, the East Coast mainline is an all-electric line along with East Anglia in and out of London Liverpool Street, and more recently, the GWR route from London Paddington to Cardiff and almost to Bristol.
The music scene was interesting in 1974 as ABBA stormed up the charts with Waterloo (after winning the Eurovision Song Contest) and went on to achieve worldwide fame. ABBA and Queen were arguably the greatest acts of the 1970s, an achievement not seen since The Beatles and Rolling Stones did in the 1960s.
Pictures by Ian Thomas
