Ewhurst Green - Southern Electric 'Booster' Locomotives

Nicknamed 'Hornbys', the first 'Booster' electric locomotive CC1 entered service in 1941 and was initially joined by CC2 (in 1945) thence the visually different CC3 (numbered 20003) in 1948.

The term 'booster' came from the motor-generator sets within each, where current from the conductor rail powered each 'booster' set's motor driving the attached flywheel and generator in order to provide output to the traction motors.

The output from the 'booster' sets could then be combined with that obtained directly from the conductor rail to feed the traction motors - hence 'boosting' the power of the locomotive.

The 'boosters' provided continuous power to the traction motors whilst passing over gaps in the conductor rail; reducing the 'snatching' of couplings across these gaps. In Southern Railway days the number of 'floaters' (short sections of conductor rail at crossovers and junctions) were noticeably fewer than today.

This 'booster' arrangement was subsequently used in the BR Southern Region's HA (class 71 under TOPS) electric locomotives (albeit using a single 'booster' set and without the flywheel but still sufficient to provide a one-hour 'booster' rating of 4000hp).

The Southern 'booster' locomotives were allocated class 70 under TOPS although none every carried a TOPS number. Away from the conductor rail, the rotating 'boosters' were not there to provide power for meaningful train movements.

A number of yards were equipped with 750v overhead wires to enable shunting by electric locomotives; the lightweight overhead wires being cheaper and safer to install in sidings - much testing taking place at Balcombe.

In 1962 the Southern introduced the type 'JA' electro-diesel whose diesel-engine provided the flexibility of operating away from the conductor rail (albeit on reduced power).

With the grateful assistance (and much patience) of friends Luke (SR grey & SR malachite versions) and Rod (BR blue version) the running session incorporating all five versions of EFE's new models of CC1 (20001) and CC2 (20003).

Rod and Luke also brought along further contemporary models to enable their booster locomotives to each operate with appropriately liveried coaching rolling stock for the locomotive's time-periods (including the passing electric units - with yellow warning panels from 1963-on and full yellow ends from 1967-on).

Recommended reading: Southern Way Special Issue No.11 The 'Booster' Locos CC1 /CC2 /20003 by Simon Lilley & John Wenyon (first published 16th April 2015).
ISBN 978-909328-35-8

Viewer can also learn more about Ewhurst Green model railway at www.EwhurstGreen.com