British Rail Class 89

The British Rail Class 89 was a prototype design for an electric locomotive. Only one was built, in 1986, by British Rail Engineering Limited's Crewe Works. It was used on test-trains on both the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines. It was fitted with advanced power control systems and developed more than 6,000 bhp (4,500 kW). It was given the nickname Aardvark, although rail enthusiasts used to call it The Badger owing to its slanted front ends.

British Rail Class 89
89001 in GNER livery at Doncaster Works in July 2003
Type and origin Power type Electric Designer Brush Traction Builder British Rail Engineering Limited Crewe Works Serial number 875[1] Build date 1986[2] Total produced 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co'Co' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge Wheel diameter 1.080 m (3 ft 6 ^1⁄2 in)[3] Minimum curve 80 m (4 chains)[3] Wheelbase 49 ft 6 ^1⁄2 in (15.100 m)[3]  • Bogie 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)[3] Pivot centres 35 ft 9 ^1⁄4 in (10.903 m)[3] Wheel spacing (Asymmetrical) 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) (bogie outer axles) 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) (bogie inner axles)[4] Length 64 ft 11 in (19.79 m)[3] Width 2.731 m (8 ft 11 ^1⁄2 in)[3] Height: ​  • Pantograph 3.975 m (13 ft 0 ^1⁄2 in)[3]  • Body height 3.810 m (12 ft 6 in)[4] Axle load 17 long tons 7 cwt (17.6 t)[4] Loco weight 105 tonnes (103 long tons; 116 short tons)[3] Electric system/s 25 kV AC catenary Current pickup(s) Brecknell Willis high speed pantograph[3] Traction motors 6 × Brush Traction TM 2201A[3][4]  • Continuous 808 Amps per motor[4] MU working TDM[5] Train heating Electric Train Heating 510kVA at 893V AC, index: 95[3][4] Loco brake Air & Rheostatic[6] Train brakes Air[3] Safety systems AWS[7] Couplers Buckeye[6]
Performance figures Maximum speed 125 mph (201 km/h) (design) 110 mph (180 km/h) (in service)[3] Power output: ​  • Continuous 5,850 hp (4,360 kW)[3] Tractive effort 46,100 lb (20,900 kg) (maximum)[3] Brakeforce 50 tf (490 kN)[4] (Rheostatic)
Career Operators InterCity GNER Class 89 Numbers 89001 Nicknames Aardvark The Badger Axle load class Route availability 6[3] Locale WCML ECML Delivered 2 October 1986[8] First run 9 February 1987[8] Last run July 1992 (BR) 2001 (GNER) Withdrawn July 1992 (BR) 2001 (GNER) Preserved 89001 Current owner AC Locomotive Group Disposition Preserved

Design

89001 in original InterCity livery at Eaton Crossing

The Class 89 locomotive was designed by Brush Traction, Loughborough to meet a specification issued by British Rail. BR subsequently changed the requirements of this specification, but not before Brush had committed to building the prototype locomotive.

The locomotive had six DC traction motors. The main armature current for all the motors was fed from a common thyristor drive, with each motor having an independent field current controller. The field current controllers comprised a two quadrant chopper inside a thyristor bridge. The bipolar transistor based choppers provided a fast fine control of motor torque for electric braking and slip control, while the thyristor bridge was used to invert the field current polarity.

History

The locomotive was built at British Rail Engineering Limited's Crewe Works in 1986,[2] emerging and being initially delivered to Derby Litchurch Lane Works on 2 October 1986.[5][8] The Class 89 was then transferred by road to Brush Traction at Loughborough for static testing and commissioning.[5] It was initially delivered in the old-style InterCity Executive livery, with no British Rail double arrows, but these were added later when British Rail bought the locomotive from Brush.

The locomotive's first powered working was on 9 February 1987 and its first lone run was on 20 February 1987.[8] In April 1987 89001 visited the Old Dalby Test Track for evaluation.[9] The locomotive was initially allocated to Crewe Electric depot for trials along the West Coast Main Line.[3] Following successful testing 89001 was transferred to Hornsey and later to Bounds Green, for passenger services on the East Coast Main Line.[3] In May 1988 the locomotive returned to Old Dalby for braking trials.[9] During the early summer of 1988 the International Traffic and Transport Exhibition (IVA88) was held in Hamburg, Germany. British Rail was asked to participate and sent a representative train of rolling stock to the exhibition. On 22 May 89001 along with a Class 90, Class 91[6] and a two-car Class 150/2 unit left for Hamburg, returning on 17 June 1988.

After being used as a test bed, the locomotive was used on passenger trains from London King's Cross to Leeds. As the development of the ECML Electrification continued, the engine was painted into the new style InterCity Swallow livery and named Avocet, in recognition of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB),[6] by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on 16 January 1989 at King's Cross station.[10] After the ceremony the locomotive hauled a special train conveying the RSPB president Magnus Magnusson, along with other VIPs, to Sandy.[11] Passenger use continued on the ECML until 5 March 1989, a week before the Class 91s entered service on the diagrams.

All hope and opportunity ended, however, when 89001 suffered a serious failure and was withdrawn from traffic in July 1992.[3] At the time of its failure it was still owned by British Rail and Brush had no contractual obligation with regard to it. Additionally, having received no orders from BR in return for their design investment, there was little incentive for Brush to construct spare parts for it. BR had written off the locomotive financially as part of the ECML development; thus it was seen as surplus and of nil value as an asset. As such, the locomotive was sidelined.

It was saved for preservation at the Midland Railway Centre by a group of Brush Traction employees.[12] During this period of ownership the locomotive appeared at every major British Rail depot open day, in a slowly deteriorating Intercity Swallow livery.

Legacy

It was hoped that the Class 89 design would be used for electric locomotives for the Channel Tunnel and some investigation was undertaken. It was also hoped the Class 89 would be a viable Class 86 replacement; however an upgraded version of the Class 87 was ordered instead, as the Class 90.

Ultimately only technology and ideas from 89001's internal design were used in the Class 9 Eurotunnel locomotives, and some similarity in electronics lives on today in the Class 92 locomotive design. Brush did eventually win the contracts to build Channel Tunnel locomotives, and similarities between these and 89001 enabled suitable spares to be constructed.

GNER ownership

In 1996 the InterCity East Coast franchise was won by the Great North Eastern Railway (GNER). Suffering from a motive power shortage, it purchased 89001 and repaired it for use on London to Leeds and Bradford services, investing £100 000 in an overhaul.[13] It was also repainted in the GNER blue and orange livery.[14] The locomotive returned to service in March 1997.[15] However in 2001 the locomotive again suffered a major failure and was withdrawn from traffic. Its future was again in doubt, and it was laid up for a period at Doncaster Works.

In December 2004 the locomotive was moved into the care of the AC Locomotive Group at Barrow Hill Engine Shed for secure storage. With the overhaul of the British Rail Class 91 fleet complete, along with the availability of Class 373 trains for lease, 89001 was seen as a one-off asset with little economic value.

Preservation

89001 at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in September 2011

In October 2006 GNER put 89001 up for sale, with a six-week deadline for bids. The AC Locomotive Group launched an appeal and fundraising effort to save the locomotive, which was ultimately successful, and purchased it in December 2006.[16] The locomotive is mostly complete, although a number of major components required expensive overhaul before the loco could run on the main line again. A thorough survey was undertaken to establish exactly what was required and costs drawn up. Cosmetic work in 2007 saw the loco return to its original InterCity Executive colour scheme. Electrical restoration work has focused on repairing and/or refurbishing the items that led to the locomotive being withdrawn from service, namely the traction motors and their associated field converter electronics. The locomotive was lifted by Harry Needle Railroad Company at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in December 2010 and three traction motors were removed, including the one known to be faulty. In February 2011 these were being examined at Bowers to allow repair cost estimates to be made. Two of the field converters were removed, one being faulty, and again repair estimates were sought. Initially it was intended, as funds became available, to allow one power group (i.e. one bogie) to become fully operational.

After many months of waiting, 2 September finally saw testing of the first field converter overhauled at Fletcher Moorland Ltd, Stoke. There will be several iterations of testing so that there is a full understanding of any remaining defects and ensure that all aged or failed components are changed. The overhauled converter was completely dismantled with each power component being checked and replaced where required. A number of components were found to be performing outside of their specification and have been changed. The three control PCBs, which run the height of the converter, totalled the best part of £1 million. The largest of the three accounts for two thirds of that. All electrolytic capacitors have been changed, both on the control PCBs and in the power circuit. These deteriorate with age.

On 30 April 2020 the locomotive was moved from Barrow Hill Engine Shed to Toton TMD to be repainted.[17] On the 15th July 2020 it was announced that 89001 had been outshopped in Intercity Executive Livery.[18]

Models

Class 89 89001 is being made as a kit and as a ready-to-run model in OO gauge by Silver Fox Models.[19]

Other uses of Class 89

Since 1989 the Class 89 series has also been used for preserved diesel and electric locomotives (excluding shunters) registered to run on the main line.[20] The numbers are allocated in the following way:

• Third digit: 1-5 representing Types 1-5 (see here for details). Electric locomotives have also been allocated numbers in the 89xxx series, in the appropriate series for their power rating.
• Fourth and fifth digits: The last two digits of the locomotive's original number. If this results in a duplication of an existing number, then the number is increased by 1.

So, as an example, the Type 4 locomotive number D1062 was allocated 89462.

List, as at 6 June 2006:

89100 20050 National Railway Museum, York 89101 20001 Midland Railway - Butterley 89110 20110 South Devon Railway 89127 20227 Midland Railway - Butterley 89166 20166 Bodmin & Wenford Railway 89188 20188 Swanage Railway 89200 31018 National Railway Museum, York 89204 26004 Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway 89210 27056/27112 Severn Valley Railway 89212 L12 London Underground 89223 25173 West Somerset Railway 89233 25283/25904 Dean Forest Railway 89247 27001 Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway 89254 24054 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89259 25309/25909 Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway 89261 24061 North Yorkshire Moors Railway 89262 25262/25901 South Devon Railway 89280 31154 North Norfolk Railway 89317 D7017 West Somerset Railway 89376 D7076 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89400 E27000 Midland Railway - Butterley 89401 47401 Midland Railway - Butterley 89402 50002 South Devon Railway 89404 44004 Midland Railway - Butterley 89405 47105 Great Central Railway 89407 50007 Midland Railway - Butterley 89408 50008 LNWR Crewe 89412 40012 Midland Railway - Butterley 89413 D1013 Severn Valley Railway 89415 50015 East Lancashire Railway, Bury

89416 D1015 Kidderminster 89417 50017 Tyseley Locomotive Works 89420 45108 LNWR Crewe 89421 D821 Severn Valley Railway 89421 50021 Tyseley Locomotive Works 89423 45125 D123 Great Central Railway 89424 D1023 National Railway Museum, York 89426 50026 Privately Owned, Eastleigh 89427 50027 Mid Hants Railway - Watercress Line 89431 50031 Severn Valley Railway 89432 D832 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89435 40135 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89440 45133 Midland Railway - Butterley 89441 D1041 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89442 47192 Churnet Valley Railway 89443 50042 Bodmin & Wenford Railway 89444 50044 Severn Valley Railway 89445 40145 MAIN LINE VEHICLE (Since reverted to 40145) 89449 50049 Severn Valley Railway 89453 45041 Midland Railway - Butterley 89460 45060 Barrow Hill Engine Shed 89462 D1062 Severn Valley Railway 89466 47449 Llangollen Railway 89472 46035 LNWR Crewe 89500 55022 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89509 55009 Barrow Hill Engine Shed 89515 55015 Barrow Hill Engine Shed 89516 55016 East Lancashire Railway, Bury 89519 55019 Barrow Hill Engine Shed 89520 55002 National Railway Museum, York 89523 DP1 National Railway Museum Shildon

References

1. Marsden 1991, p. 206
2. 89001 - AC Locomotive Group. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
3. Marsden & Fenn 2001, p. 111
4. Vehicle Diagram Book No. 110 for Electric Locomotives (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. Derby: British Railways Board. December 1986. 89-0a.
5. "The Brush Class 89 AC electric Co-Co locomotive". traintesting.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
6. Marsden & Fenn 2001, p. 112
7. "Driving Cabs". Dawlish Trains. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
8. Morrison 2013, p. 57
9. "The Brush Class 89 Co-Co AC electric locomotive". old-dalby.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
10. "Prime Minister names 89001 Avocet". The Railway Magazine. No. 1055. March 1989. p. 143.
11. "Prime Minister names Class 89". Rail Magazine. No. 90. EMAP National Publications. 12 February – 8 March 1989. p. 9. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
12. "Class 89 Avocet Preserved". The Railway Magazine. No. 1100. December 1992. p. 4.
13. "Class 89 is bought by Sea Containers for East Coast". Rail. No. 289. 9 October 1996. p. 10.
14. "Class 89 goes into GNER blue". The Railway Magazine. No. 1152. April 1997. p. 10.
15. Pigott, Nick, ed. (May 1997). "89001 Arrives Back on the ECML". Traction & Stock News. Railway Magazine. Vol. 143 no. 1153. London: IPC Magazines. p. 61. ISSN 0033-8923.
16. "The Badger is saved: ACLG appeal a success". Rail Express. No. 128. January 2007. p. 27.
17. 89001 moved to Toton - AC Locomotive Group. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
18. "89001 new livery revealed - The AC Locomotive Group". www.aclocogroup.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
19. "Class 89 Co-Co British Rail Crewe". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
20. "Preserved Main Line Diesels to Become TOPS Class 89s". The Railway Magazine. No. 1116. April 1989. p. 64.

Sources

• Marsden, Colin J. (1991). The Complete BR Diesel & Electric Locomotive Directory. Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 9780860934868. OCLC 59814977.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Marsden, Colin J.; Fenn, Graham B. (2001). British Rail Main Line Electric Locomotives (2nd ed.). Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 9780860935599. OCLC 48532553.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Morrison, Gavin (2013). AC Electric Locomotives in Colour. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711035058. OCLC 812686430.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

• Derrick, Kevin (2014). Looking back at AC Electric Locomotives. Strathwood. ISBN 9781905276516. OCLC 931820979.
• Marsden, Colin J. (2007). The AC Electrics. OPC. ISBN 9780860936145. OCLC 148304137.
• "Brush designed Class 89 makes its impressive debut". Rail Enthusiast. No. 63. EMAP National Publications. December 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
• Clough, David (September 1988). "Waiting in the wings". RAIL. No. 84. EMAP National Publications. pp. 29–31. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
• "Class 89 on target for completion next month". RAIL. No. 297. EMAP Apex Publications. 29 January – 11 February 1997. p. 11. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
• "Class 89 almost ready to run again on main line trains". RAIL. No. 298. EMAP Apex Publications. 12–25 February 1997. p. 11. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
• "Class 89 leaves Brush Works for second career with Great North Eastern Railway". RAIL. No. 300. EMAP National Publications. 12–25 March 1997. p. 6. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
• Dunn, Pip (9–22 April 1997). "Out on its own". RAIL. No. 302. EMAP Apex Publications. pp. 50–53. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
• "Unique Brush-design Co-Co electric back in action". RAIL. No. 321. EMAP Apex Publications. 31 December 1998 – 13 January 1998. p. 51. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.

External links

• AC Locomotive Group
• Information and pictures of the locomotive in UK and Germany
  • Trials at Old Dalby of a special train for Hamburg IVA88 exhibition
  • More photos of the trip to Germany and back
  • The Class 89 on trial at the Old Dalby test track
  • The Class 89 on test