British Rail Class 73 Electric Locomotive

Find out more about this flexible locomotive Class able to run either on third rail power or on its own internal diesel engine.

Bo-Bo Configuration

The British Rail Class 73 Electric Locomotive is a Bo-Bo configuration electro-diesel engine, able to operate on either the third rail system or via an on-board diesel power unit.

49 Locomotives

In all 49 locomotives were produced in the 1960s: six at British Rail Eastleigh Works in 1962 and a further 43 at English Electrics’ Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows between 1965 and 1967.

Preservation

In 2004 the Class 73 Locomotive Preservation Company began to preserve Class 73 locomotive number 73136 at Stewarts Lane Depot. This locomotive has since been refitted to enable it to run on today’s rail network.

Since then other members of this class have entered preservation.