Electro Diesel

The Southern Region Electro Diesel is a versatile loco, with a 1600hp electric engine, powered by retractable shoes to pick up power off the third rail, and a 600hp diesel engine, to enable the loco to work over non electrified sections of track.
Of the 49 locos built, at total of 39 are still in use, on heritage lines and with main line companies.
The first 6 were built to the narrower Hastings Line gauge, and classified as JA. Much sought after by the haulage fans, these locos were somewhat scarce on passenger trains, and apart from the occasional appearance on the Waterloo – Weymouth Quay Boat Trains, only generally tended to come out at night, powering the early morning newspaper trains out of London Waterloo and Victoria.
Under the TOPS renumbering scheme, these became Class 73, with this particular example becoming 73003.
Blunsdon. Swindon and Cricklade Railway. Sun14Jul19.