British Rail Class 84

The British Rail Class 84 was a 25 kV AC electric locomotive that operated on the West Coast Main Line of the London Midland Region. In 1961, 10 British Rail Class 84 was produced. 
The ten strong class was one of five prototype classes of electric locomotives built in the early stages of WCML electrification. Built between 1960 and 1961, the type was not a success, as they were beset by technical problems, and after several lengthy periods of storage, and unsuccessful attempts at resolving these problems, British Rail decided to withdraw the entire fleet between 1977 and 1980. 
== History ==
As part of the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line, which included electrification, 100 locomotives of five types were acquired from different manufacturers. Ten Class AL4 locomotives numbered E3036 - E3045 were built in 1960 by the North British Locomotive Company in Springburn, Glasgow, to a design by GEC.
Locomotive E3040 worked the inaugural AC electric-hauled train from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe on 12 September 1960.
== Power supply ==
The locomotives always worked on power provided by overhead catenary energised at 25,000 V AC. However, the main transformer, normally operated with the four windings in series, could be operated at 6250V AC with the transformer windings in parallel. This voltage was initially to be used where limited clearances gave concern over use of the higher voltage. Since the clearances were found to be adequate, the lower voltage connections were locked out of use.
== Rebuild ==
Problems with the mercury-arc rectifiers plagued this class and in 1962 E3036 was returned to GEC, the builder of the electrical equipment, in an attempt to find a solution.
Within a year, all ten were out of service for repair. The problems persisted and in 1967 they were once more placed into storage, using the former steam shed at Bury, along with Class AL3. During this time E3043 went to Rugby Testing Centre for trials.
== Reprieve ==
The persistent problems could have been the end of the ten locomotives of Class 84, but the extension of the West Coast Main Line electrification to Glasgow meant that more electric locomotives would be needed. It was therefore decided that the stored Class AL3 and AL4 locomotives would be repaired, which was conducted at Doncaster, and returned to service, with a lower number of Class 87 being built.
== Second rebuild and renumbering ==
Between 1971 and 1972, all ten locomotives were rebuilt with silicon rectifiers and dual brakes, and were reclassified under TOPS as Class 84, being renumbered 84001 - 84010.
== Withdrawal ==
The second rebuild failed to overcome some of the more persistent problems and British Rail decided in 1976 to withdraw them from service. The first to be withdrawn was 84007 in 1977, the last 84003 and 84010 in 1980.
== After withdrawal ==
84003 and 84009 passed to the Research Division: 84009 was rebuilt as a load bank tester and 84003 was used as a donor loco. They were given departmental numbers ADB968021 and ADB968022 respectively, although the latter was never applied. In 1995 84009 was broken-up following withdrawal from its load bank duties; one cab of this locomotive was saved together with a quantity of spares.
84002 and 84010 were purchased by GEC for experiments, but scrapped soon afterwards.
84001 was moved to the National Railway Museum in York on long-term loan. The original intention was to eventually swap it for a more representative Class 86, but in 1994 the locomotive was officially claimed for the National Collection. In the intervening years, the 84 had become important to the Museum as the sole-surviving post-steam, main line (i.e. not a small shunting locomotive) example of a North British Locomotive Company product. 84001 remained at the NRM until 2000 when it was loaned to the AC Locomotive Group for an initial period of three years, later extended by five years, in exchange for much-needed cosmetic restoration work being undertaken. It continues to carry BR blue livery, as expensive cosmetic modifications would be required to return to "as built" condition in electric blue livery.
== Preservation ==
One locomotive (84001) has been preserved by the National Railway Museum and is on loan to the Scottish Railway Museum, Bo'ness.
== Fleet details ==
Key:	Preserved	Scrapped
Numbers 	Numbers	Numbers 	Date Introduced	Withdrawn 	Disposal
Pre-TOPS	TOPS 	NBL Works No.	Date Introduced	Withdrawn 	Disposal
E3036 	84001 	27793 	March 1960 	22 January 1979 	Preserved by the National Railway Museum.
On loan to the Scottish Railway Museum at Bo'ness.
E3037 	84002 	27794 	May 1960 	September 1980 	Scrapped at Texas Metals
E3038 	84003 	27795 	June 1960 	November 1980 	To Research Department
Scrapped at Vic Berry, Leicester
E3039 	84004 	27796 	July 1960 	12 November 1977	Scrapped at Birds, Long Marston
E3040 	84005 	27797 	August 1960 	20 April 1977 	Scrapped at Birds, Long Marston
E3041 	84006 	27798 	October 1960 	January 1978 	Scrapped by J Cashmore at Crewe Yard
E3042 	84007 	27799 	October 1960 	April 1977 	Scrapped by J Cashmore at Crewe Yard
E3043 	84008 	27800 	December 1960 	October 1979 	Scrapped at Crewe Works
E3044 	84009 	27801 	December 1960 	3 August 1978 	To Research Department
Scrapped at Gwent Demolition, Margam
E3045 	84010 	27802 	March 1961 	November 1980 	Scrapped at Texas Metals
== Gallery ==
File:Medium NRM CT 936534.jpg
File:8757767791 c9c22be4af b.jpg
File:20030728 14.jpg
File:19870830-BritishRail ADB968021.jpg
Category:Unfinished articles
Category:Electric locomotives
Category:British Rail locomotives
Category:United Kingdom
Category:B-B locomotives
Category:Built in 1960
Category:North British locomotives
Category:National Railway Museum
Category:British Rail diesel locomotives
Category:Sole survivor
Category:Locomotives