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The Class 81, or AL1, was the first type of ac locomotive to be delivered to British Railways in 1959. Although designed by British Thomson-Houston (BTH), they had amalgamated with Metropolitan-Vickers to form AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) and were built under this name, but were sub-contracted to Birmingham Railway and Carriage Works of Smethwick.

The first twenty-three, E3001-E3023 were known as Type A and geared for passenger service. The remaining two, E3096/E3097, were Type B and were to be geared for freight working. They were also to have carried the numbers E3301 and E3302. In the event, they were delivered in 1964 with passenger gearing as E3096/E3097. However, I seem to think that I have seen a picture of locomotive E3301. I might be mistaken, but I'll have to try and locate it.

Withdrawals started in 1989 with the last to go in 1991.

My model of E3001 is the DC Kits resin bodied kit. I have built in original condition, but with the small yellow warning panel, a scheme that I thought looked best on the ac electrics. The moulded grilles were removed and A1 Models etched brass replacements used instead. Sommerfeldt pantographs of the Stone-Faiveley type have been fitted, but are non-operational. Full interior cab detail is fitted. Power is by a Black Beetle motor bogie, with 4ft wheels, mounted in the kits chassis. The model has pick ups on all wheels. The numbers and crest are etched nickel silver from Fox Transfers. This is one of my pre-DCC models, but I do intend to retro-fit working lights at some stage.

E3301 under construction

Another DC Kits resin body of  an AL1 came up and I have built this as a version without the yellow panel. Construction is the same as for E3001. This is one of my post-DCC models and does feature working lights. I have numbered it at the Type B loco E3301 in the hope I can confirm it carried this number, even for a short time. The decoder used is a TCS MC6. With all these function wires and full re-mapping (TCS decoders are very good), I have full working lights, including the cabs as well as the ability to turn off the rear markers when hauling a train.

At some stage I may fit the Viessmann Arcing Unit to one of the pantographs.

Trix first produced a Class 81. Later, Hornby-Dublo made a version and Tri-ang- Hornby produced the familiar Class 81 E3001 in Electric Blue and Corporate Blue. DC Kits made an etched brass and  white metal version that was a little crude, but replaced it with this resin bodied kit in both the original version, as I have modelled, and the later air braked version with single pantograph and roof mounted air tanks. MTK also produced a white metal kit and I believe L&J Models produced a resin bodied version.