Pages

Class 87 (BR/GEC Traction 5,000hp AC Electric)

The Class 87 was built for the extension of the electrification of the West Coast Main Line into Scotland and was Britain's first 5, 000hp locomotive [1]. The Class 87 was a development of the then standard AC electric locomotive, the Class 86. It shared the same body shell though had redesigned bogies with Flexicoil suspension to reduce track wear [2] and frame mounted traction motors. The Class 87s were cleared to travel at up to 110 mp/h (177 kp/h).
87 035 in the process of being repainted into Virgin livery


Information
Number built: 36
Built: 1973-75
Builder: BREL Crewe / GEC Traction
Engine: 4 GEC G412AZ traction motors
Power: 5, 000 hp (3, 728 kW)
Wheel arrangement: Bo-Bo

Thirty five Class 87/0s were built with a 36th locomotive built as the solo Class 87/1, this locomotive tested a thyristor control system. The later Class 90 was a development of the 87 and indeed was at one stage to have been the Class 87/2.

One one is now still in operation on the main line and two have been preserved. Quite a few have been exported to the continent and continue to operate in Bulgaria [3].
Preserved 87 001 in original BR blue at NRM York

Inside the cab

Front view of 87 035

Another view of 87 001

87 035 in BR Intercity livery at Crewe Heritage Centre

[1] Chris Heaps, BR Diary 1968-1977 (Ian Allan, 1988), p. 70
[2] Brian Haresnape, Electric Locomotives (Ian Allan, 1983), p. 69
[3] Colin J. Marsden, Traction Recognition (Ian Allan, 2008), p. 88