Electro-Diesels & Hybrids
Electro-Diesels & Hybrids Back in the 1950s, the Southern Region of former private companies had begun British Railways inherited 3rd rail experiments in non-steam traction, but electrification on its main lines – itself a with little significant growth. Most legacy of a decision made back in the published plans of what they expected to 1930s – despite the overhead contact do in the late 1940s, but the poor state of system having already been used the country’s economy, and the railways successfully on the LB&SCR out of London. run-down, wartime condition really In retrospect, it seems that the main demanded more than piecemeal proposals. reason behind the use of 750V d.c. and 3rd That major step-change in thinking and rail between London and the South Coast, investment began after 1956. That was the was the First World War and the 1929 watershed year, when the “Modernisation Wall Street Crash! & Re-Equipment Programme” began, and The originally successful overhead after the decision was taken to implement electrification used a.c. technology, but the electrification at 25kV a.c. This forced the equipment was supplied from Germany, restriction of d.c., with conductor rails, to and the intervention of hostilities and its the Southern Region, and scrap the limited aftermath put paid to any further overhead 1500V d.c. overhead scheme already begun. systems being undertaken. Following the The Southern Region of BR was effectively Wall Street Crash in 1929, and the split between steam and diesel traction economic crises of that period and into the after 1956 for long distance main line and 1930s, the Government sought to ease the express services, and electric multiple unit horrendous unemployment levels, in part rolling stock for short haul and suburban at least, by removing rail passenger duty.
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