Introduced in February 1962, this fleet of 49 dual powered 'electro diesels' was designed by and for the Southern Region of British Railways. Within one shell it is a locomotive combining straight dc and its own self-contained diesel-electric powerplant. The first six built were SR prototypes, the remainder being built to a revised design by English Electric. Twelve locos were rebuilt in early 1988 to the 732xx series for exclusive use on the Gatwick Express service between Waterloo and Gatwick Airport. The first loco E6027 was withdrawn before receiving its TOPS number in July 1972 with a further 4 being withdrawn in the 1990s.
BUILT:
E6001-E6006 1962 by British Railways Eastleigh Works.
E6007-E6049 1965-67 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works.
ENGINE: 750V dc or Diesel/Electric EE6K 600hp.
NUMBER SERIES: 73001-73006, Between 73101-73142, 73201-73212.
PREVIOUS NUMBERS: Between E6001-E6049.
TRANSMISSION: .
MAX SPEED: 80mph (73001-73006), 90mph.
TRACTIVE EFFORT:
42,000lb (electric), 34,000lb (diesel) - E6001-E6006
40,000lb (electric), 36,000lb (diesel)
WEIGHT: 76.5 tons.
WHEEL ARRANGEMENT: Bo-Bo.
QTY BUILT : 49
FLEET STRENGTH: 44 (14 November 1998).
Data taken from the PC TOPS Locomotive Database System by Milburn Associates
NUMBER NAME DATE NAMED 73003 Sir Herbert Walker 31/03/1993 73004 The Bluebell Railway 19/09/1987 73005 Mid Hants Watercress Line 31/08/1988 73101 Brighton Evening Argus 01/12/1980 73101 The Royal Alex' 02/05/1992 73102 Airtour Suisse 30/04/1985 73105 Quadrant 04/11/1987 73107 Redhill 1844-1994 16/04/1994 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversity 08/09/1990 73109 Force 'O' Weymouth 03/06/1994 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversity 04/06/1994 73112 University of Kent at Canterbury 03/04/1990 73113 County of West Sussex 04/07/1986 73114 Stewarts Lane Traction Maintenance Depot 14/11/1994 73116 Selhurst 09/09/1986 73117 University of Surrey 03/07/1987 73118 The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway / / 73118 Mary Rose 30/04/1985 73118 Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 08/05/1987 73119 Kentish Mecury 23/08/1986 73121 Croydon 1883-1983 30/09/1983 73122 County of East Sussex 31/07/1985 73123 Gatwick Express 30/04/1984 73124 London Chamber of Commerce 01/06/1987 73125 Stewarts Lane 1860-1985 30/09/1985 73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway 23/05/1991 73127 Woking Homes 1885-1985 31/10/1985 73128 O V S Bulleid CBE 21/09/1991 73129 City of Winchester 01/12/1982 73130 City of Portsmouth 02/07/1988 73131 County of Surrey 31/05/1988 73133 The Bluebell Railway 01/09/1990 73134 Woking Homes 1885-1985 31/10/1985 73136 Kent Youth Music 03/05/1992 73137 Royal Observer Corps 31/10/1985 73138 Post Haste - 150 Years of Travelling Post Offices 16/05/1988 73142 Broadlands 30/09/1980 73201 Broadlands 17/02/1988 73202 Royal Observer Corps 18/02/1988 73204 Stewarts Lane 1860-1985 14/02/1988 73205 London Chamber of Commerce 16/02/1988 73206 Gatwick Express 15/02/1988 73207 County of East Sussex 14/12/1988 73208 Croydon 1883-1983 18/02/1988 73210 Selhurst 18/02/1988 73211 County of West Sussex 16/02/1988 73212 Airtour Suisse 16/02/1988 73213 University of Kent at Canterbury 04/07/1996
Unless stated otherwise Photographs in this section are © copyright of Milburn Associates. Permission to use these images in railway society newsletters, etc., can be obtained by e-mailing the Thin Controller.
![[73140]](/library/diesel/locos/73140.jpg)
[JPEG Image of 73140 size 28K]
Class 73 73140 in British Railways Standard Blue Livery.
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Last revised: 14 November 1998