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AGM at Middleton Railway 30th June 2007
The EM2 Locomotive Society, registered in the UK as an Educational Charity, was formed in 1983 with the aim of repatriating a Netherlands Railways (NS) Class 1500 / Ex BR Class EM2 electric locomotive. These locomotives, built at Gorton Works Manchester, in 1953 / 54 were to work the recently electrified railway between Manchester & Sheffield through the newly constructed Woodhead Tunnel Regrettably the ambitious plans to extend the network failed to become reality, so they always operated in isolation.
During discussions in Holland and the locomotives connections with Manchester, the NS generously agreed to donate one locomotive for preservation in the city in which they were built. Funding for the transportation costs was secured by the society and the locomotive 1505 Ariadne, is now preserved in the Power Hall at the Greater Manchester Museum of Science & Industry in the striking and attractive grey & yellow livery of the Dutch Railways. When she was donated, it was agreed that she would always remain in this livery.
Thoughts then turned to the prospect of obtaining a second locomotive, but this one was to be paid for and returned to her former British Railways livery! The locomotive chosen for this new project was NS number 1502,
formerly BR number 27000 Electra. She was selected as the first of the class and because of the significant role she played in British Railways early electrification schemes. 'Electra' is Britain's first electric express passenger locomotive. Others were built for abortive schemes previously bet Electra' did the job for which she was built. At the cutting edge of
technology on Britain's first all electric main line she even became the object of a Triang model in 1961.
In 1985 the society arranged for the two locomotives due to return to have their original names restored, and so bedecked they worked out their remaining year of service in Holland. Thus 'Electra' & 'Ariadne' became celebrities for their final 12 months in service.
The society organised a Farewell Railtour in June 1986 using the last 4 operational EM2's in Holland, The two locomotives made their return after the society arranged for the Ex LNER Train Ferry 'Cambridge Ferry' to collect them from Zeebrugge (Belgium) and ship them into Harwich Town ferry terminal, the 'Cambridge Ferry' was the boat that shipped the class to Holland back in 1969. Not long after this BR Ferry Route closed and the old LNER boat was withdrawn and scrapped.
In 1989 the Netherlands Railways celebrated their 150th anniversary and the society was invited to participate - with 'Electra' of course! She had been restored to BR lined green livery by a small band of society volunteers in the UK. She travelled back to Holland in May 1989 and after a short visit to the locomotive workshops at Tilburg, she was deemed to be in excellent working order and was soon back operation both excursion and sheduled trains in Holland with many NS drivers rediscovering their skills on the their beloved '1500s'!
Having completed 3100 miles in active service, hauling trains throughout Holland at speeds of up to 86mph, she again crossed the Channel in late September 1989 and after a two year period of undercover storage at BR Ilford, she one more returned to public display at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley.
In 1996 she was repainted into BR electric blue livery for the last openday at Tinsley (Sheffield). A livery carried by some of her sisters but not Electra' herself. She stayed in this livery until 2004 when she was repainted into BR lined black to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the new Woodhead Tunnel in 1954. She attended the Railfest 200
event at the National Railway Museum at York as a guest locomotive in 2004 - a great honour for the society and the dedicated team who look after her.
It is hoped the eventually she will once again operate under her own power, we have some interesting plans ahead but these of course rely on money and hard work, if you can help in any way, either by making a purchase from this site, making a donation of better still joining us, Membership details, Online shopping and making donations can be found by clicking on the link below:
http://www.perfecthosting.co.uk/~ssl-27000electra/commerce.cgi
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