87002
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Intercity Swallow Class 87 87002 at Edinburgh Waverley
The Class 87 was introduced to the West Coast Main Line in the early 1970s, to coincide with the extension of electrification from Weaver Junction to Glasgow Central. The Class 87 followed in the footsteps of the Class 86, making improvements to both performance and top speed. The Class 87 was designed with the challenging gradients of Shap and Beattock in mind, as well as the newly raised top speed of 110 miles per hour.
Introduction of the Pendolino fleet by Virgin Trains meant that by the end of 2006 the Class 87s were surplus to requirement on the West Coast Main Line. Of the original 36 locomotives built only 12 were scrapped, with many of the remainder seeing use on the Bulgarian railway network having been exported to work freight trains In the country.
87002 is now the only operational class 87 in the UK, and one of only three locomotives not exported or scrapped. Having been initially preserved by the AC locomotive group 87002 has seen work with GB Railfreight hauling the Caledonian Sleeper and GBRf Charter trains alongside Class 86 86401. Nowadays it is currently owned by Locomotive Services Limited, it still regularly works charter trains now under their Intercity brand.
(1) 87002 at London Kings Cross. (2) Electric Blue 86259 at Newark Northgate. (3) 87002 at London Euston. (4) Virgin Trains 87035 preserved at Crewe Heritage Centre. (5) Caledonian Sleeper 86401 at London Euston.
Additional information on the Class 86 and previous AL1-AL6 Locomotives.
AC locomotive group Class 86 history
AC locomotive group Class 87 history
Motion History: Electric Revolution - The First Generaiton Electrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgRvS1sUtkk&t
Motion History: Class 86 - The Electric Backbone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlo_offdvTs
LSL Intercity charters
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