Electrification of the rail network in the UK has taken place gradually over time and today forms a key part of the government’s drive to lower transport emissions. In 1960 The Engineer took a look at the first British railway electrification on the Manchester-Crewe line, which was seen as an important step in creating a new electric rail infrastructure in the UK.
’In the course of the press inspection of the line, the ability of the type A locomotive to reach their nominal maximum of 100 mph was demonstrated,’ reported The Engineer.
’[The] locomotive, one of those supplied by The English Electric Company, covered some five miles with a five-coach train at a minimum of 97 mph and reached 102.3 mph while still accelerating between Goostrey and Chelford.’
The previous decade had seen a preference for 25kV 50 Hz in place of 1,500 V DC and later became the standard for all mainline electrification outside the south of England.
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