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British Rail Class 87 facts for kids

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British Rail Class 87
No.87028 Lord President in InterCity livery at Crewe station in 1988.
Power type Electric
Builder BREL Crewe Works
Build date 1973–1975
Total production 36
Configuration Bo-Bo
UIC classification Bo'Bo'
Wheel diameter 3 ft 9+1⁄4 in (1.149 m)
Locomotive weight 83.30 long tons (84.64 t)
Electric system(s) 25 kV AC
Current collection method Pantograph
Traction motors 1,250 hp (930 kW) GEC G412AZ, 4 off
Top speed 110 mph (180 km/h)
Power output 5,000 bhp (3,730 kW)
Tractive effort 58,000 lbf (258 kN)
Train heating Electric Train Heating
Train brakes Air
Career British Rail,
Virgin Trains, GBRf, Cotswold Rail,
Bulgarian State Railways
Number 87001–87035, 87101
Axle load class Route availability 6

The British Rail Class 87 is a type of electric locomotive built from 1973-75 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL). 36 of these locomotives were built to work passenger services over the West Coast Main Line (WCML). They were the flagships of British Rail's electric locomotive fleet until the late 1980s, when the Class 90s started to come onstream. The privatisation of British Rail saw all but one of the fleet transferred to Virgin Trains; they continued their duties until the advent of the new Pendolino trains, when they were transferred to other operators or withdrawn. The last Class 87 in UK mainline use was withdrawn from service on 31 December 2007. Most have now been sold for reuse in Bulgaria.


Images for kids

  • 87101 BIN 1988

    The unique Class 87/1, No. 87101 Stephenson, in blue livery at Birmingham International station in 1988

  • 90007 at Crewe - 6079279784

    The Class 90 s were a modernised derivative of the Class 87s, built in the late-1980s. They were originally designated as the Class 87/2

  • 17.06.83 Glasgow Central 87006 (5867744742)

    87006 "City of Glasgow" at Glasgow Central in 1983

  • Hugh llewelyn 87 003 (7850841062)

    87003 Patriot at Manchester Piccadilly in InterCity livery in 1992

  • 87018 at Crewe

    87018 Lord Nelson in 2001 in Virgin Trains' red and black livery.

  • Class 87 87022 at Ruse Works, Bulgaria

    87022 working in Bulgaria

  • 87001 Stevenson National Railway Museum

    87001 on static display at the National Railway Museum

  • 20160911-ACLG-87002 (cropped)

    87002 working a GBRf charter through Wigan North Western

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