E5001 to Bournemouth Depot Open Day, 12th & 13th September 1992

Some more poor quality VHS video, this time of the National Railway Museums preserved Class 71 locomotive, E5001, on its first main line passenger runs in preservation. These were on the 12th & 13th September 1992 from Waterloo to Bournemouth station where E5001 was removed. The locomotive hauled 73132 and the two blue 4-TC sets, 410 & 417, both days. Once removed the 73/1 took the train on in to Bournemouth Depot for the open day using its diesel for the section from Branksome station to the depot yard.
On the 12th September the return train was terminated short of London Waterloo due to the infamous "Battle of Waterloo" riot on the concourse. Everyone was dumped off the train at Clapham Junction.
On 13th September, 33114 is seen with two 4-VEP units [3430 & 3518] departing Bournemouth with the shuttle to the depot, as well as some original livery 442 EMU action. E5001 made it in to Waterloo that everning.
A lot of people remark upon the unusual sound this locomotive makes, which is similar to a vacuum cleaner. This sound is from the control system which includes a motor-generator set incorporating a large flywheel to store energy. The control system motor-generator then opposes the line voltage to provide low speed control and as accelleration occurs gradually reduces this electrical opposition until it is at the same voltage as the line voltage . At that point the control system can supply extra current from the motor-generator to the motors to boost them - hence one of the nicknames for these locomotives being "boosters". The large flywheel made the system very smooth in operation and allowed the locomotive to cross gaps in the Southern Region third rail supply system that were longer than the distance between the collector shoes at either end of the locomotive. There are plenty of articles on the internet that explain exactly how this system works if you really want to know. The small pantograph seen on the roof was for use in trolley wire equipped freight yards on the South Eastern Division of the Southern Region to reduce the risk of electrocution for ground staff during shunting operations.

[@NealR2000]

For us enthusiasts who lived elsewhere, we were used to more or less the same loco types. However, the Southern Region was full of strange looking locos that looked like they came from Mars.

[@mekydro]

I enjoyed watching that; I travelled on the Sunday working to the Open Day

[@nickrockall2845]

I was there that day

[@Isochest]

Love the Class 71!

[@bennickss]

I don’t particularly like the southern region, but I think they should bring 5001 back into service. The WCML has E3137/86259, this would suit the southern region nicely

[@Isochest]

Agreed. The Third rail electrics like E5001 need bringing out on the network

[@bennickss]

@@Isochest isn’t 5001 the only third rail electric loco left?

[@Isochest]

@@bennickss Class 73s and some 92s

[@professorjamesmoriarty5191]

@@Isochest dont forget met no12 used to make regular runs on the southern back in the 80's, it still can I believe.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Enthusiasts walking between the 3th rail (not live however I think as the area was fenced off) and asbestos cladding falling from the station canopy, those were the days! 😁
But no joke, nice 4TC action here.

[@MarkHerriott1968]

Just found this video, wonderful memories of a historic trip plus a short clip of the late John Farrow (with beard) HRT MD and embarrassingly me giving a voice over about the ED (sorry!)