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British Rail Class 87

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
British Rail Class 87
No.87028 Lord President in InterCity livery at Crewe station in 1988.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderBREL Crewe Works
Build date1973–1975
Total produced36
Specifications
Configuration:
 • WhyteBo-Bo
 • UICBo'Bo'
Wheel diameter3 ft 9+14 in (1.149 m)
Loco weight83.30 long tons (84.64 t)
Electric system/s25 kV AC
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motors1,250 hp (930 kW) GEC G412AZ, 4 off
Train heatingElectric Train Heating
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Top speed110 mph (180 km/h)
Power output5,000 bhp (3,730 kW)
Tractive effort58,000 lbf (258 kN)
Career
Railroad(s)British Rail,
Virgin Trains, GBRf, Cotswold Rail,
Bulgarian State Railways
Number87001–87035, 87101
Axle load classRoute availability 6


The British Rail Class 87 is a type of electric locomotive built from 1973 to 1975 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continued their duties until the advent of the new Pendolino trains, when they were transferred to other operators or withdrawn. The last Class 87 in UK mainline use was withdrawn from service on 31 December 2007.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.