Spondon No2

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	English Electric 4wE built 1939, number 1130 "Spondon No 2" Above: English Electric 4wE 1130 "Spondon No2" outside the museum building, 24 June 2004 The use of electric traction on industrial railways in the British Isles was rare, but Foxfield is fortunate to have a typical example of a small electric locomotive powered from overhead lines as well as batteries. This small electric locomotive was built in 1939 by the English Electric Co Ltd of Preston, and was equipped with a pantograph on the roof for current collection from overhead wires. It also had a set of batteries to enable it to work from stored power away from the wires if necessary. It was supplied to work at the Spondon Power Station at Borrowash, near Derby, where it was "No2" of three similar locos. When the Central Electricity Generating Board sold the power station to Courtaulds Acetate Ltd the electric locomotives became redundant, as Courtaulds had their own diesels. "Spondon No2" was bought privately for preservation and was delivered by road to Foxfield on 28 February 1983. As an experiment, "Spondon No2" has moved under its own power at Foxfield using power supplied by a petrol generator. However, a new set of batteries are required before it could be returned to service, which would represent a major investment. When delivered "Spondon No2" carries a yellow CEGB livery with chequered black squares on the ends. Electric locomotives move very quietly and this feature was to make it more noticable to anyone near the track. It has since been restored to a maroon livery and is presently on display in the yard at Caverswall Road station. Above: English Electric 4wE 1130 "Spondon No2" at Spondon Power Station [late HB Holland collection] Sister locomotive "Spondon No1", built earlier by English Electric as works number 905 of 1935, is also preserved, initially at the West Yorkshire Transport Museum but now located at the Coventry Railway Centre and kept in working order. An earlier English Electric locomotive of very similar appearance, but powered by batteries only, EE788 was part of the Foxfield collection for several years after it was retired from work at the EE works in Stafford. This locomotive has since moved on to the Ribble Steam Railway, in Preston, the town where it was built, but it's former runner wagon at Stafford, EE Flat No1, remains at Foxfield.

This small electric locomotive was built in 1939 by the English Electric Co Ltd of Preston, and was equipped with a pantograph on the roof for current collection from overhead wires. It also had a set of batteries to enable it to work from stored power away from the wires if necessary. It was supplied to work at the Spondon Power Station at Borrowash, near Derby, where it was "No2" of three similar locos. When the Central Electricity Generating Board sold the power station to Courtaulds Acetate Ltd the electric locomotives became redundant, as Courtaulds had their own diesels. "Spondon No2" was bought privately for preservation and was delivered by road to Foxfield on 28 February 1983. As an experiment, "Spondon No2" has moved under its own power at Foxfield using power supplied by a petrol generator. However, a new set of batteries are required before it could be returned to service, which would represent a major investment. When delivered "Spondon No2" carries a yellow CEGB livery with chequered black squares on the ends. Electric locomotives move very quietly and this feature was to make it more noticable to anyone near the track. It has since been restored to a maroon livery and is presently on display in the yard at Caverswall Road station.

Above: English Electric 4wE 1130 "Spondon No2" at Spondon Power Station [late HB Holland collection]

Sister locomotive "Spondon No1", built earlier by English Electric as works number 905 of 1935, is also preserved, initially at the West Yorkshire Transport Museum but now located at the Coventry Railway Centre and kept in working order.

An earlier English Electric locomotive of very similar appearance, but powered by batteries only, EE788 was part of the Foxfield collection for several years after it was retired from work at the EE works in Stafford. This locomotive has since moved on to the Ribble Steam Railway, in Preston, the town where it was built, but it's former runner wagon at Stafford, EE Flat No1, remains at Foxfield.

English Electric 4wE built 1939, number 1130 "Spondon No 2"