MAIN 4 DETAIL DIFFERENCES

1 Headlights

((box out BR’S plus standard pic 5. Credit)) high-intensity headlights did little to change the ‘73’s’ face. However, several have received new light units in very different styles: GBRF and RVEL’S Class 73/9s have horizontal light clusters with a central high-level headlight. Network Rail’s has a pair of raised single lights. Its headcode panel has been plated over and a central headlight mounted here too. 73133 was fitted with light clusters when turned into a route learner locomotive in 1997.

3 Body sides

Throughout the service life of the Class 73 there has been a wide variety of body sides with differing window and grille arrangements. The majority sport either one or two side windows, although 73952 has been fitted with four while in Network Rail yellow. These body side detail differences can be easily seen if you look at Dapol and Hornby’s Class 73 ‘OO’ gauge models.

2 Headcode panel

The Class 73s were built with a two digit route indicator panel between the two cab windows, just like the Southern’s EMU fleet. EWS started to remove the redundant indicator panels on some of its ‘73s’ and it’s become a feature of various ‘73’ rebuild programmes: both versions of ‘73/9’ have had theirs glazed to improve visibility but the Caledonian Sleeper locomotives’, 73966-971, windows are fitted with a small wiper.

4 Engine

The ‘JAS’ and ‘JBS’ were built with the same English Electric 4SRKT Mk II engine fitted to the ‘Thumper’ units. RVELS Class 73/9 rebuilds are fitted with Cummins QSK19 750hp engines (the same engine that’s fitted to the ‘Voyager’ units) whereas GBRF’S Brush-built Class 73/9s have MTU 1,600hp V8 engines.