Class 89
Brush co-co 5850HP 25kV AC electric locomotive
| The Class 89 is a prototype design for an
electric locomotive. Only one unit was built, No. 89001, which was
officially named
Avocet by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on 16 January 1989 at
Sandy, Bedfordshire - the home of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(whose logo is an Avocet). It was built in 1986, by BREL at Crewe Works and was
used on test-trains on both the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line.
It was fitted with advanced power control systems and develops over 6,000 bhp
(4,500 kW).
Once it was fitted with the Time
Division Multiplex (TDM) control system, the locomotive was used for a few years
alongside the Class 91's on the KX-Leeds services. Much later, after several abortive attempts to resurrect the loco, it was finally re-furbished for Sea Containers and put back into service on GNER trains in 1996 between KX and Leeds on its familiar stamping ground. It was also re-painted into the GNER blue for the role but lost its name in the process. In 2000 the loco was withdrawn following serious traction motor defects and s now in the care of The AC Locomotive Group, at Barrow Hill. |
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Passing Alexander Palace 1988 |
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Loading onto the train ferry en route to Hamburg for IVA88 exhibition in May 1988 |
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On the Old Dalby Test Track 1988 |
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In Tourcoing, France 1988 |
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Bounds Green 1988 |
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In Tourcoing, France 1988 |
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Hornsey 1989 |
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In Hamburg at IVA88 exhibition 1988 |
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Hornsey 1989 |
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In Hamburg at IVA88 exhibition 1988 |
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Dover Western Docks 1988 |
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Barrow Hill 2008 |