Class 89 Co-Co Electric Locomotive.
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Class 89 Co-Co Electric Locomotive.
Designed by Brush Traction at Loughborough and built by BREL during 1986 at Crewe Works. The design was intended for use on the East Coast Main Line which was in the process of being electrified. In the event BR changed the specification and the Class 91 became the preferred traction, although the Class 89 was used frequently. Brush had hoped that it may be used to replace the Class 86s, but the Class 90 came about instead. A further hope was Channel Tunnel traction but this was not to be, although Brush did go on to supply locomotives to Eurotunnel.
The Class 89 therefore was a unique loco and the picture below is at Alexandra Palace and shows 89 001 on the way to a test run, taken on 13th August 1988. This is the original livery - 89 001 was subsequently repainted into Intercity Swallow livery and named "Avocet" at Sandy by Maggie Thatcher.
After withdrawal following a serious failure it was preserved by staff at Brush Works but in 1996 GNER required a spare locomotive for East Coast services and funded the repair. Returning to traffic in 1997, now painted in GNER Blue, it continued in service before failing again in 2001. Now preserved again I wonder if we will ever see this 125mph loco return to service?
While scanning my waste disposal train I came across another picture of the Class 89. Now in the GNER Blue livery, Class 89 Electric Locomotive number 89 001 at Arlessey speeds north at 125mph with 1P08 1430 London Kings Cross to Leeds.
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