BR class 74
The Class 74 of British Rail was a series of electro-diesel locomotive in the UK . The ten machines, originally designated as the HB series, were built in 1967/68 through the conversion of HA series electric locomotives .
Like the HA series (Class 71), the Class 74 was operated with direct voltage from a side busbar . For use on relations, included the non-electrified sections which received an additional locomotives diesel engine of the type Paxman 6YJXL with a power 485 kW. Other changes concerned the braking system, the clutches , the bogies and the macrophones . The long sides were changed to cool the diesel engine and the pantograph halfway along the length of the vehicle was removed. The paintwork was blue with yellow faces during the entire period of use. First the HB locomotives were given the company numbers E6101 to E6110, then in the 1970s the series designation Class 74 and the numbers 74001 to 74010.
The locomotives could run in multiple traction with each other, but also with the series 73 and 33 . Due to the lack of reliability of the diesel engines and the electrical control system, the machines were only in use for almost ten years. With the exception of the 74006, which had retired in 1976 after a fire, all locomotives were shut down in 1977 and scrapped by 1981.
See also
Web links
- Class 74 at semgonline.com