Description

From the late 1950’s onwards, a nationwide programme of modernisation saw an increasing number of mainline passenger lines converted to electric operations. The Class 85s – originally designed for the purposes of evaluating electric locomotive operational requirements – were built at Doncaster Works between 1961 and 1964, for use on the newly electrified West Coast Main Line. Originally named under the BR classification as type AL5 (with running numbers E3056 – E3095), the locomotives were re-coded as Class 85 in 1968, following the introduction of the TOPS numbering system. For many years, this early design of a 25hV locomotive was a common sight on the West Coast Main Line, as well as other electrified services from London Euston. Defining experimental features included, in new ex-works units, a rheostatic braking system (subsequently removed) and steel double-skin driving cabs.

In 1989, the BR Railfreight distributor authorised for 10 Class 85 locomotives to be converted for freight-only usage, due to the delayed arrival of the Class 90s. This entailed the reduction of the maximum speed to 8-mph, the removal or isolation of heating equipment and the renaming of the vehicles to CLass85/1. The first locomotive to be converted to the new sub-class was 85006 (previously E3061, now 85101), coincidentally the only example of Class 85 to survive into preservation.

The Class gradually fell out of use from the mid-1980s onwards, being reduced to powering secondary passenger flows and freight trains. All the locomotives of the class had been withdrawn by 1991.

This locomotive is DCC Ready and requires a 21 pin Decoder to convert to Digital running.