class-71-southern

The BR Class 71 was a series of 24 Bo-Bo electric locomotives built by British Railways Doncaster Works between 1958 and 1960 for the Southern Region's third-rail 750 V DC electrified network, designed as powerful electric locomotives for hauling the SR's heaviest trains — the Continental boat expresses to Dover and Folkestone, the heavy Bournemouth express services, and the freight trains on the SR's electrified routes — where the electric multiple unit approach used for suburban and semi-fast passenger working was impractical for locomotive-hauled express and freight traffic.

The Class 71 used the SR's standard 750 V DC third-rail system, collecting current through shoe gear on the bogies, and drove Crompton Parkinson traction motors that gave the locomotive a continuous rating of 2,550 bhp — considerably more than any contemporary diesel locomotive in the SR's fleet — for sustained high-speed working with heavy trains on the electrified main lines. The class worked the Bournemouth expresses, the Golden Arrow and Night Ferry Continental services, and SR freight duties, giving the Southern Region a capable electric locomotive for its most demanding non-EMU workings.

One example, E5001, is preserved and represents the SR third-rail electric locomotive tradition.