class-73-electro-diesel

The BR Class 73 electro-diesel was a series of Bo-Bo dual-mode locomotives built between 1962 and 1967 that could operate either as pure electric locomotives drawing power from the Southern Region's 750 V DC third-rail system, or as diesel-electric locomotives using an English Electric 6K diesel engine when running off the electrified network — see the main BR Class 73 entry for full details. The electro-diesel concept was the Southern Region's elegant solution to operating locomotives over routes that were partly electrified and partly not, eliminating the need to change locomotives at the end of the third rail. Four examples are preserved: 73002, 73101, 73114, and 73210.