LMS Route: Trent Valley Line

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Nuneaton Station: lnwrns3286

English Electric Class AL3 E3030 is seen at the head of the four coach down express train at Nuneaton station on 26th March 1964. A shunter connects the cables and pipes between the locomotive and the first coach whilst English Electric Type 4 Diesel D304, the original locomotive, moves past on the right. This was one of fifteen locomotives, of what was to become British Rail Class 83, built between 1960 and 1962. There were in total five prototype classes (81-85) built and evaluated to eventually lead to the development of the Class 86 locomotive. The class were used to haul trains on the then newly electrified West Coast Main Line, from Birmingham, to Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool and later Preston. By 1965, electrification had spread south to London Euston. Electrification finally reached Glasgow in the early 1970s, allowing this class to operate the full length of the West Coast Main Line. Built by the Vulcan Foundry in October 1960, E3030 was renumbered as 83007 in January 1973 which it retained until July 1983 when it was withdrawn to be scrapped by V Berry of Leicester.

Photograph by Cedric A. Clayson, © John Clayson.

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