Invention and Engineering

British Rail Class 73

The British Rail Class 73 is a class of electro-diesel locomotives. This type is unusual in that it can operate on the Southern Region's 650/750 V DC third rail power supply, or an onboard diesel engine to allow it to be used on non-electrified routes. This makes it very versatile, although the diesel engine produces less power than is available from the third-rail power supply, so the locomotives are rarely used outside of the former Southern Region of British Rail. It is one of the first bi-mode locomotives ever built. Following the withdrawal and scrapping of the more powerful Class 74 bi-mode locomotives in 1977, the Class 73 was unique on the British railway network until the introduction of the Class 88 bi-mode locomotives in 2017. Ten locomotives have been scrapped.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Blackpool
• ▸Benois Madonna
• ▸Baldwin RS-12

Uncatalogued shelf

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