British Rail Class 77 Electric Locomotive

Take a trip on the Class 77, an EM2 locomotive designed for service on the Woodhead Line, but which rapidly became obsolete.

Electric Mixed Traffic Engine

The British Rail Class 77 Electric Locomotive, like the Class 76 before it, was an Electric Mixed-Traffic engine built for service on the Woodhead Line between Sheffield and Manchester.

Co-Co Configuration

Constructed as part of a production run of seven class EM2, Co-Co configuration units by Metropolitan Vickers in 1953–54, the Class 77 engines went on to have a comparatively short service life.

Withdrawal

British Rail’s decision to change to the 25kV AC power system meant that the Woodhead Line’s existing 1.5 kV DC system became obsolete. The locomotives were withdrawn in 1968 and sold to the Dutch rail operator. Passenger service on the Woodhead Line was subsequently operated by Class 76 engines.