British Rail Class 77

British Rail Class 77
Preserved locomotive, no. 27000 in original black livery.
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder BR Gorton Works [en] Build date 1953–1954 Total produced 7
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Co-Co Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 2 in (1.270 m) Length 59 ft 0 in (17.98 m) Loco weight 102.5 long tons (104.1 t) Electric system/s 1500 V DC Current pickup(s) Pantograph, x 2 Traction motors 6 x Metropolitan Vickers 415 hp (309 kW)[1] Train heating Steam generator Loco brake Air and electrical regenerative Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 90 mph (145 km/h) Power output 2,490 hp (1,857 kW) Tractive effort 45,000 lbf (200 kN) Brakeforce 85 long tons-force (847 kN)
Career Operators British Railways (1954-1968) Nederlandse Spoorwegen (1968-1986) Numbers 27000–27006 Retired 1968 (UK) 1986 (Netherlands) Disposition Three preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 77,^[2] also known as Class EM2, is a class of 1.5 kV DC, Co-Co electric locomotive. They were built by Metropolitan Vickers in 1953–1954 for use over the Woodhead Line [en] between Manchester and Sheffield.

These were the bigger and more powerful version of the Class 76 (EM1) to haul passenger trains. Once the Woodhead Line lost passenger trains, all of the Class 77s were sold to Nederlandse Spoorwegen. They would serve in the Netherlands for 15 more years until being retired. Three are now preserved. One stayed in the Netherlands, while the other two has since returned to the UK.

1. ↑ Gillham 1988, p. 108.
2. ↑ Percival, David, ed. (1985). Railway World Annual 1986. Ian Allan Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 9780711015067 – via Internet Archive.