Locomotive Class
Class 90
Class: Class 90
Type: Electric - 25 kV AC
Designer: British Rail
Weight: 84.5 tons
Purpose: Passenger & Freight
Information: The West Coast Mainline was converted to overhead electric power in stages during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. After experimentation with early AC electric classes, BR settled on producing a large fleet of Class 86 and 87’s to meet motive power demands. With motive power requirements being fulfilled by the mid 1970’s, further production of locomotives ceased until the arrival of Class 90’s in 1987
Details: Although the earlier classes of AC electrics were in many cases experimental, by the mid 1960’s BR had settled on the design of the AL6, later Class 86 and 100 were produced. In the early 1970’s completion of electrification beyond Glasgow necessitated further motive power. In response 36 up-dated versions, classified Class 87 were built. Along with the original prototype classes, over 200 locomotives were sufficient to meet operational requirements for the fore-seeable future.
By the mid 1980’s it was apparent that the early prototype classes were not up to the job. Their AC rectifiers were a common source of problems and subject to fire damage causing withdrawal of many class members. This led to the need for new locomotives by the late 1980’s. Between 1987 and 1990, 50 locomotives were produced at BR’s Crewe Locomotive Works. The locomotives were among the last mixed traffic designs built in Britain. With a top speed of 110-MPH for passenger service operations the class was also equipped from new with the ability to work push-pull services comprising of a locomotive at one end and a Driving Van Trailer (DVT) at the other end, eliminating the need to run around the train in terminus stations.
As built the Class 90’s received Inter-City Swallow livery primarily white and grey with a red, and yellow cab ends. By the early 1990’s several were converted to freight only operation and repainted Rail Freight or Parcel Sector liveries as appropriate. After 1996 the entire class was split amongst several Private operators, each using their own unique colour schemes.
As of 2010 most are still in operation, although several are now stored for future use or have been scrapped due to damage.
John Faulkner
Class 90 Releases (24)
Class 90 Images (24)
Caledonian Sleeper Train Pack (Class 90) 90024
Caledonian Sleeper Train Pack (Class 90) 90019
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90001
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90037
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90033
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90018
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90131
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90020
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90037
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90039
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90041
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90046
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Frachtverbindungen 90029
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Fretconnection 90130
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Raedwold Of East Anglia 90003
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Vice Admiral Lord Nelson 90005
Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Vrachtverbinding 90128
Class 90 Electric Locomotive 90135
Class 90 Electric Locomotive 90024
Class 90 Electric Locomotive - British Transport Police 90012
Class 90 Electric Locomotive - Mission : Impossible 90002
Class 90 Electric Locomotive - Sir Michael Heron 90020
Class 90 Electric Locomotive - The International Brigade Spain 1936-1939 90015
First/EWS Class 90 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 90021
