The early electric classes initially shared the express passenger work with the new AL6s and the English Electric built AL3 was one of the less successful types. No.E3026 departing south from Birmingham New Street in around 1967. It was stored at Bury from late 1968 until June 1972 when it went to Doncaster Works for refurbishment and became No.83003 in January 1973. It had a short life after that and was withdrawn in 1975 following a serious accident at Watford. David J Hayes says A splendid going away viewpoint. The service is taking the then newly electrified Stour Valley main line route from Brum, which I believe was energized to Wolverhampton High Level in the March of that same year. Following electrification, the Stour became the principal main line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, thus demoting the former GWR main line axis between these two locations to that of a passenger byway. The ex-GWR route between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton Low level eventually lost its remaining passenger service (a peak-hour shuttle) in March 1972.