Ex-Southern Rail Class 70 Electric Locomotive

Discover more about this wartime Class that played a key role in influencing the design of subsequent booster-based electric locomotives.

Co-Co Configuration

The Class 70 Electric Locomotive is a Co-Co configuration 1470hp engine built in a very small production run during and immediately after the Second World War. The first two members of this class were built by Bulleid for Southern Railways. When British Rail was formed in 1948 approval was given for the building of a third member of the class (20003).

20001/2/3

Just three Class 70 locos were produced in all; two by Southern Railways at Ashford works in 1941, at a time when similar projects were being put on hold to enable focus on the war effort. A subsequent unit was produced by British Rail at Brighton works in 1948, at which point the locomotives were renumbered 20001/2/3.

Withdrawal

These locos played a key role in future development, helping shape the design of booster-based electric locomotives. All three Class 70s were withdrawn from service at the end of the 1960s. Sadly, none were preserved.