Future of the Class 89

[Rob F]

I guess this is the right place to wheel out an artist’s impression from 1985, taken from the Modern
Railways BR Electrification special of 1986.

I think this is marginally better than what we ended up with.

 

[hexagon789]

I think this is marginally better than what we ended up with.

Personally I prefer the 'Flying Badger' to the double-HST design

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I love this loco - Co Co iirc

 

[hexagon789]

I love this loco - Co Co iirc

Yes Co-Co, so much more surefooted than 91s and 90s and rated at 4,286kW (5,745hp) continous.

BR planned a dual-voltage AC/third rail DC 125mph Co-Co electric of 8,000hp(!) as early as 1966 with an eye on what the French were up to at the time. That of course never came to fruition but looked not dissimilar to the 89.

In a similar vein, an increase to 110mph on the WCML was being discussed in 1969, but that didn't occur until 1984.

 

[XAM2175]

I guess this is the right place to wheel out an artist’s impression from 1985

Never seen that before, so thanks! I do rather like it - reminds me quite a bit of the Br 103:

(DB 103 235 at Köln Hbf)

Plus the "Hawker Siddeley Brush Electrical Machines Ltd" caption is excellent value

Yes Co-Co, so much more surefooted than 91s and 90s and rated at 4,286kW (5,745hp) continous...

It could be said that the concept finally made it into production as the Class 92 with 6,760 hp on 25 kV, but with a rather different purpose in mind!

 

[hexagon789]

It could be said that the concept finally made it into production as the Class 92 with 6,760 hp on 25 kV, but with a rather different purpose in mind!

I guess so, though the 92s were rather "iffy" for many years after introduction. The power is good for a UK electric though, a driver on the Caledonian Sleeper referred to them as having 'EMU-like acceleration'.

 

[43096]

It could be said that the concept finally made it into production as the Class 92 with 6,760 hp on 25 kV, but with a rather different purpose in mind!

Almost nothing in common, though, except built by the same company and same wheel arrangement. Otherwise they are totally different.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Almost nothing in common, though, except built by the same company and same wheel arrangement. Otherwise they are totally different.

I recall reading somewhere that under the skin the EuroTunnel shuttle locos owe more to the Badger than the 92s do. This despite having a very different wheel arrangement (Bo-Bo-Bo rather than Co-Co) and only one cab.

 

[Spirit555]

89001 has been re-united with it's Avocet nameplates at Toton.

Mark

 

[randyrippley]

89001 has been re-united with it's Avocet nameplates at Toton.

Mark

It should have been named "Bill the Badger"

 

[221101 Voyager]

It should have been named "Bill the Badger"

Avocet sounds much nicer, plus it's a fixture of this loco as seen in it's earlier days. Either way I can't wait to see it in real life for the 1st time the photos of it look superb!

 

[Malcmal]

According to the caption on this photo the loco returned to Barrow Hill around a week ago:

Class 89, 89001

Preserved British Rail Class 89 25kV AC Co-Co electric locomotive 89001 being towed back to its home at the nearby Barrow Hill Railway Centre after being outshopped with a well deserved fresh coat of 1980s British Rail Inter City swallow livery at Toton TMD (Traction and Maintenance Depot) near...

flic.kr

Also a nice closeup here:


89001 Toton 22/09/20. by 37260 - 10 million+ views, many thanks, on Flickr

 

[VEP3417]

looks nice! i see eastleigh paint shop is doing quite a few mk3 coaches in intercity livery recently, wonder if theyre to go with this or something else

 

[43096]

looks nice! i see eastleigh paint shop is doing quite a few mk3 coaches in intercity livery recently, wonder if theyre to go with this or something else

They are LSL vehicles to go with 86101/87002/90001/90002.

 

[DarloRich]

warning paint wibble: that looks really good. Fantastic. A really skillful job done really well

A LONG time since i traveled behind this locomotive.

 

[alexl92]

Does anyone know what the plan for the operational Badger will be? In this livery I can see it being an attractive proposition for LSL...

 

[nlogax]

For the longest time this has been my favourite loco under the wires. And that's its best look by FAR. Excellent stuff.

 

[Whistler40145]

I wonder if LSL would consider purchasing 89001 and overhauling it for mainline running?

 

[Grid56005]

 

[Whistler40145]

View attachment 84208

Positive news

 

[Cowley]

Positive news

Definitely.
I think any discussion about who’s going to use it and where etc is probably a bit of a waste of time at the moment. Clearly their main thoughts are focused on getting this complicated one-off machine working properly and reliably before they move onto the next stage.
Who knows what’s being discussed behind the scenes but whatever their plans for it are we’ll have to wait for that announcement.
I just wish them all the luck with the testing to be honest and I hope it goes well.

 

[Malcmal]

I'm waiting for an angry ornithologist to complain that the loco is named Avocet but the bird depicted is a swallow

And it really is almost 20 years since the pantograph was "touching live copper"!! Where do the years go?

 

[HSTEd]

The badger rides again

 

[Ashley Hill]

89001 has been re-united with it's Avocet nameplates at Toton.

Mark

Perhaps it could have visited Exmouth (The Avocet Line) for it.

I think the phrase is "I'll get my coat!"

 

[Pete_uk]

Is there any costs in using the intercity name and livery?

 

[DB]

I wonder if LSL would consider purchasing 89001 and overhauling it for mainline running?

Shouldn't think it's for sale...

 

[43 302]

AC loco group should be collecting some Mk3s from Long Marston in the next week or so, for use with 89001.

 

[DB]

AC loco group should be collecting some Mk3s from Long Marston in the next week or so, for use with 89001.

With a DVT? It would be compatible.

 

[43 302]

With a DVT? It would be compatible.

Not sure unfortunately. I would think so though.

 

[43096]

With a DVT? It would be compatible.

Electric Traction already own one (82107 from memory).