British Rail Class 82

British Railways AL2
British Rail Class 82

Preserved locomotive, no. 82008 on display at Crewe Works open day on 11 September 2005. This locomotive has been restored to InterCity Executive livery.

Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Metropolitan-Vickers and Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd. Build date 1960–1962 Total produced 10

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Bo-Bo  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) Wheelbase 40 ft 9 in (12.42 m) Length 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m) Width 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) Height: ​  • Pantograph 13 ft 0 9⁄16 in (3.977 m) Loco weight 79.70 long tons (81.0 t; 89.3 short tons) Electric system(s) 6.25 kV AC / 25 kV AC (as built) 25 kV AC Catenary (modified) Current source 2 × Stone-Faiveley ‘V’-type pantograph (as built) 1 × Stone-Faiveley ‘V’-type pantograph (modified) E3055: 2 × AEI cross-arm pantograph Traction motors 4 × 847 hp (632 kW) Metropolitan-Vickers 189Z Transmission Quill drive Train heating Electric Train Heating Loco brake Davies and Metcalfe Air braking system Train brakes Vacuum, Dual from 1971–1972

Performance figures Maximum speed 100 mph (161 km/h) Power output 3,300 hp (2,460 kW) Tractive effort 50,000 lbf (222,000 N) Brakeforce 63 long tons-force (628 kN)

Career Operators British Rail Numbers E3046–E3055; later 82001–82008 Axle load class Route availability 6 Retired 1969 (1), 1971 (1), 1983 (6), 1987 (2) Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 82 electric locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company between 1960 and 1962, as part of the West Coast Main Line electrification.

Ten locomotives were designed by the Metropolitan-Vickers division of AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) and built by Beyer, Peacock and Company at their works in Gorton, Manchester. They were originally classified as AL2 under the pre-TOPS classification scheme and were originally numbered E3046 - E3055.

During manufacture it was realised that the locomotives would be heavier than anticipated, and some redesign was required to meet the British Transport Commission specification. The design modifications included replacing heavy parts with lighter aluminium body and fibreglass roof parts, replacing heavy electrical equipment with lighter versions.

On introduction, the AL2 locomotives were allocated to Longsight depot.

The locomotives always worked on power provided by overhead catenary energized at 25,000 V AC. However, the main transformer, normally operated with the four windings in series, could be operated at 6250 V AC with the transformer windings in parallel. This voltage was initially to be used where limited clearances gave concern over use of the higher voltage.

The last locomotive built, E3055, was destroyed by fire at Maw Green in 1966. The first locomotive built, E3046, was also destroyed by fire, while north of Bletchley on 7 January 1971.

E3049 was the first to be refurbished with a silicon rectifier, replacing the mercury-arc rectifier, being done in 1972. The rest of the class followed suit over the following years.