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Standing on the scrap line outside the locomotive testing station at Rugby on 10th July 10 1972 is Electric locomotive No E2001. Originally ordered by the Great Western Railway, but not delivered until British Railways days, No 18100 was a prototype Gas turbine-electric locomotive built by Metropolitan-Vickers, it was later converted by British Railways to the form seen above and allocated the number E1000 (and later E2001) following its conversion from gas turbine propulsion. The locomotive was used to prepare the ground for the 25 kV AC electrification being installed on the West Coast Main Line, including the testing of overhead line equipment and staff training. The conversion began in January 1958 when the locomotive was moved from storage at Dukinfield Works to the Bowesfield Works at Stockton-on-Tees. The work involved the removal of the gas turbine unit, main generator, fuel tank, air filters, the centre traction motor from each bogie and all of the ancillary equipment used for the gas turbine unit. Once the locomotive had been stripped, the new electrical equipment was installed which included the transformer, the Stone-Faiveley Pantograph (for which a section of the roof had to be lowered), a Brown Boveri air blast circuit breaker and the Hackbridge-Hewittic mercury arc rectifier units. The cabs of the locomotive were converted from Western Region right-hand drive to the standard British Rail left-hand drive arrangement. The rebuilt locomotive was completed and ready for trials in October 1958. It retained its original BR black livery, with a silver stripe around the middle of the body and silver numbers. I'd heard it was in Rugby testing station and was delighted to see it outside, ready for removal for scrap. Once the production locomotives (Class 81 onwards) were in service, E2001 was no longer required. It was put into store at the end of 1961, and lasted for over ten years at various locations including being involved in wind velocity tests. It was officially withdrawn in April 1968 and scrapped in November 1972 at J Cashmore of Great Bridge. John Evans
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