The death of the class 81 Electrics.wmv

Some of the saddest railway photographs I ever took put together as a slide show. In November 1991 I found the majority of the Class 81 A.C electric fleet at Coopers metals in Sheffield for scrapping and managed to get about 80 shots before they went to the torch

[@pinza55007]

a moving slide show with emotional music, well thought out and put together. We have lost so many decent classes of train over the years many went this way. Great channel, I have subbed. Best wishes, John.

[@soundseeker63]

Whats more sad is how unappreciated they were while still in service. I mean they revolutionised train travel in the UK, but you'd never know it now, as precious little footage of them exists.

[@ronh5a471]

soundseeker63 Everyone seems to want to drool over steam engines as a whole, although many spent their lives foaming over the more prestigious steamers while in service. However, it's a shame that many saw the original AL's as simple locomotives, it's hard not to love that hum!

[@TheSudrianTerrier653]

Then you have things like the class 89, an obscure block of cheese

[@colinhenry3551]

So sad to these scrapped,and none preserved even as a static display, As a young lad ,managed to spot almost all of the AL Electrics late 1960s into the 70s as we lived in Stafford and live just up the road from the WCML and Birmingham line ,took them for granted really ,as they were so common,

[@kevsmiththai]

Hi Colin Well.. apart from 81 002 which, that last time I heard ,was preserved by the A.C traction group at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. Obviously static, No OHL, but in company with 83 012, 86 006, 89 001, 84 001 and 82 008. You can find my footage of it arriving with other Electrics here, Hauled by DRS Class 20s kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGGzhnRrqLiAetUsi=VkZSC3p6fe-XAqvV Well worth a visit to Derbyshire I would think? Time it was out on the WCML ?

[@74HC138]

81002 is still in existence, and the latest news is that it is almost complete and the owners intend to get it into running order.

[@stuartrathbone5403]

I lived in the WCML, too, near Nuneaton. Remember my first day spotting (packed off by my mum with a flask of soup) sitting opposite the defunct Bulkington station, the village where I lived watching the 'lecies come under the bridge. I saw them all in my time between 71 & 74/5, 81 to 87 bar the two 85's (I think) that were in Doncaster works, the only works I never visited. 😃

[@alanlowndes]

Happy memories on Stockport station ....and passing those stabled at Longsight depot whilst I was on those fabulous class 304 EMU traveling to Manchester Piccadilly as a train enthusiast in the mid eighties.A great time. A distinct sound from the class 81 and 82.Lovely to remember but sad to see the end.

[@musicindetail7529]

When I see photos like this, I feel that part of me died with them. Such wonderful memories of times gone by, never to be repeated. The music is entirely appropriate too.

[@oddities-whatnot]

I think thats it in a way. A time thats gone we cant ever get back. We think of our own lives in comparison, it is sad.

[@musicindetail7529]

That's it, exactly. Looking back, I took a lot for granted. If only I could have realised back then that soon, all the earliest AC electrics would be gone. They represented a time in my life when things were simpler and happier. We can never go back, and that makes me extremely sad. @@oddities-whatnot

[@desdemona77]

Thanks for taking the pics Kevin...went 2 Coopers myself for the 81's..Very sad..Cheers Warren

[@alanlowndes]

Very sad to see.Although glad images like these have been preserved for others to see.Great memories of these locos around Stockport.A very noisy class .I loved them.Thanks for sharing.Thank you for posting these pics.Kind regards....

[@TheDaf95xf]

Very sad if that’s progress 😢 Living in Manchester I was fortunate enough to see these magnificent machines 👍🏻

[@bez81022]

Thanks for sharing the pictures,many memories there and many miles travelled behind them also on the WCML. Thanks again .

[@CZ350tuner]

The sad fact is that electric locomotives cannot be run on any of the heritage railways, unlike steam & diesel locos, thus nobody wants to rescue any of them.

[@studioprinceguidon206]

There is also a problem here that electrification is very costly and expensive. And do not forget about the maintenance of the contact network and electric locomotives.

[@justinobrien3593]

Such a pitty only one got preserved as I loved these locos in the mid 1980s when I used to go round longsight tmd with my dad and brother i was about 12 years old, i wish we still had them in service as they didnt last that long in service neither did any of the ac locos I think the class 86s 86s had an extra 2 decades of life than the 81/82/83/84/85 had sad to say I loved the roar of these beats at power

[@train4905]

Exellent 😢

[@Damocles178]

Yeah you never realize just how much you miss a class till it's gone; at least one class 81 is preserved. I used to take some of the old DMU Thumpers for granted but now I miss them and wish they were still in service. :)

[@InverhavonRailways]

The last batch of Thumpers were mostly sold to heritage lines for a nominal sum and many are still running in preservation.

[@MartinRayton-gx5ts]

It's sad but thank you for the video

[@monkey123161]

Such moving pictures, or was it the Vaughn Williams music,perhaps both

[@glpilpi6209]

They were used extensively when the East Coast branch from LS station to Ipswich and Harwich was electrified in the early1980s

[@ewloe01]

Sad to see! Seems like yesterday they would be roaring on the west coast main line!

[@user-hk1yc5gp1j]

ممتاذ جدا ورائع تحطيم الذكريات التى اصبحت ليس لها وجود ❤❤❤😢 ‏‪0:55‬‏

[@daystatesniper01]

I mourned their demise just as many mourned their steam forbears their demise .........progress...................

[@ac81017]

Would it be possible to buy prints/copies of all your shots with 81017??

[@kevsmiththai]

If they are any help I can e-mail you the Jpegs rather than prints. I'll have to go through them and work out which ones are 017 though KEV

[@kristinajendesen7111]

I must admit, growing up right next to the WCML in the 1960s these bored me to tears. I wanted to see steam engines like my big brother did at the old New Street and Lickey Incline. I was lucky enough to see the odd Western, Warship & Hymek in their proper colour scheme when visiting relatives in Reading. Also lucky enough to have seen a Blue Pullman as it flashed by in the country nearby. Saw one steam engine in service at the new Coventry station in about 1964 and an Up & Dn Bournemouth Belle on their way to Bournemouth West by Meyrick Park while visiting my gran in Winton, Bournemouth. Little did I know that 22 years later I would be working out of Bournemouth West depot (station long gone sadly), as a BR guard. I may well have worked with some of the crews on those Belles, we had a lot of steam boys left, firemen & guards.

[@studioprinceguidon206]

Pity, that electrification of heritage railway - is a very expensive.

[@kevsmiththai]

I Know. Like many people in those days I only shot stills but if camcorders had existed like they do these days think of the things that could have been filmed! I would have blitzed the end of the Peaks on the MML and videod the 'Leicester gap' before all the signalboxes went

[@JackTheOfficeWorker]

I love the Class 81s

[@siddywiddyb]

Hard to watch...Sorry! :-(

[@matthewlamb3948]

Rip its a crime

[@ac81017]

That would be fantastic :-) William

[@cjtait4415]

:(

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

Like so many things in life, why were there not several of every type put aside and preserved for future cosmetic viewing, as well as at least one maintained in full running working order. Our railway history just obliterated to suit the mood music of the day, quite a ludicrous mentality to be honest.

[@kevsmiththai]

One has survived, preserved by the A.C traction group. 81 002 is restored cosmetically at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. The problem with making them operational is you need the overhead wires!

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

@@kevsmiththai I was told that just a suitable supply to the traction control circuit could be supplied from a suitability disguised brake coach with an installed generator providing sufficient power for realistic operation, albeit with pantograph not operating from O.L.E. As near as realism as one could get. Why has this not been done already is quite suprising.

[@adammoss5284]

@@BegudMaximan-zp2tc conventional diesel loco one end and the 81 being a DVT the other rigged with it's blowers running would be very atmospheric. There is much scope for a little creativity. Most would forgive the lack of OHLE. Happy New Year and all the best.

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

@@adammoss5284 Agreed! But the purists may not be satisfied entirely, but at least powered by a consealed generator coach would operate to purpose to the enjoyment of most enthusiasts 🙂👍

[@jimihendrix991]

@@BegudMaximan-zp2tc ...one could, theoretically, install a complete overhead wire system albeit without any electrical supply... (like some model railways)