British Rail Class 87
The British Rail Class 87 is a type of electric locomotive built in 1973–75 by British Rail Engineering Limited. Thirty-six of these locomotives were built to work passenger services over the West Coast Main Line. They were the flagships of British Rail's electric locomotive fleet until the late 1980s, when the Class 90s started to come on stream. 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their duties until the advent of the new Class 390 Pendolinos, when they were transferred to other operators or withdrawn between 2002 and 2006. There is only one Class 87 still in use in Britain, 87002, which was initially preserved by the AC Locomotive Group and is now owned by Locomotive Services Limited. It was previously in use with Serco Caledonian Sleeper and is intended for use on charter services. A large proportion of the fleet have now been exported to Bulgaria.
History
A requirement for more electric locomotives came about after the electrification of the WCML was extended from Weaver Junction north of to, and Glasgow. Initially, three Class 86 locomotives were used as test-beds to trial equipment that would be used in the new locomotives; effectively, these locomotives were Class 87s in everything but appearance.The external design of the Class 87 was clearly derived from that of the Class 86; the only major visual difference was that the 87 had two front cab windows, instead of the three of the 86 and also lacked a headcode indicator box; by 1973, visual recognition of train reporting numbers by signallers was no longer necessary.
The power and speed of the Class 87 was also increased over that of the 86: power output was increased from 3,600 to 5,000 hp to deal with the more demanding gradients on the northern half of the WCML, such as Shap Fell and Beattock Summit; the top speed was raised from 100 to. The 87s were also fitted with multiple working equipment, which enabled locomotives to work with other members of the class, and some Class 86s, while controlled by one driver.
In the 1980s, the multiple working system was replaced with a new system based on time-division multiplexing allowing 87s to work with other classes of locomotive including most 86s, 90s and 91s and, most importantly, Driving Van Trailers.
87101
Whilst the first 35 locomotives were identical, the 36th and last member of the class, which was going to carry the number 87036 before entering traffic but was allocated 87101 instead, had major equipment differences from the rest of the class. While the 87/0s were fitted with a traditional tap changer transformer and rectifiers, 87101 had a new thyristor power control system, and spent over a year on test before entering service in 1976. The locomotive, named Stephenson after transfer of the name from 87001, worked the same services as the standard locomotives for many years, until British Rail was sectorised in the 1980s.This locomotive was, in effect, the prototype for the later build of locomotives designated Class 90.
As a freight loco, the locomotive was transferred to EWS and, after it suffered a major failure, it was withdrawn in 1999. It was sold to Alsthom for spare parts to be recovered, before being scrapped at Barrow Hill in January 2002. It was the first Class 87 to be withdrawn and scrapped. Some thyristor equipment has been preserved by The AC Locomotive Group.
British Rail service
The great majority of the Class 87s' workload came on express passenger services from London Euston to the North West and Glasgow. They did, however, see some use on freight, especially on heavy services that required two locomotives. In the late 1970s, British Rail named its entire Class 87 fleet, many receiving names previously carried by the "Britannia" steam locomotives. The rest were named after towns, cities or counties along the WCML. In the 1980s, British Rail locomotives were allocated to separate sectors and the 87/0s were transferred to InterCity, whilst 87101 went to work for Railfreight Distribution.Post-Privatisation service
Virgin Trains
As part of the privatisation of British Rail, all 35 87/0s passed to rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook and were leased to InterCity West Coast operator Virgin Trains in 1997. The locomotives continued to work the same services as before, the only outward indication of the change of ownership being the repainting of the locomotives in the red Virgin Trains livery. However, the Virgin policy of introducing a new fleet of trains inevitably meant that the writing was on the wall for the 87s. As Pendolino deliveries began to come on stream from 2002 onward, 87005 City of London was the first locomotive taken out of service. Although withdrawals were slower than expected, due to the unreliability of the Pendolinos, the final day in service was set for 10 June 2005, by which time many locomotives had been withdrawn and others transferred to other operators. On this day, four locomotives hauled special trains to Wolverhampton, Northampton and Manchester. However, this turned out not to be the final workings for Virgin, as further problems with the new trains meant sporadic appearances by Class 87s hired from other operators. The final working, between London and Birmingham, eventually occurred on 22 December 2006; 87002 performing the honours.English Welsh & Scottish Railway
inherited the unique 87101 from Railfreight Distribution. The locomotive was used infrequently on freight and charter trains, but suffered a major failure in 1999 and was withdrawn due to its non-standard nature. It was eventually sold to Alstom for spare parts and finally scrapped at Barrow Hill by Harry Needle Railroad Company in 2002.Cotswold Rail
In April 2005, Cotswold Rail acquired three locomotives, all of which had been out of service for a number of months. The fleet later grew to eight and were intended to work charter trains, for spot-hire contracts and a new possible intermodal traffic flow. They were based at Oxley depot in Wolverhampton. However the fleet saw very little use; only two ever worked a train, both having been repainted into Cotswold Rail livery and in July 2006 the locomotives went off-lease.Direct Rail Services
In November 2004, Direct Rail Services acquired four locomotives. They were used on Anglo-Scottish intermodal services, but never on a regular basis. In June 2005, the four locomotives were stored. The main reason for their lack of use was the need for a diesel to shunt the train in non-electrified sidings.First GBRf
In November 2004, First GBRf acquired two locomotives which had recently been retired from Virgin passenger service. They were used as standby locomotives to rescue failed Class 325 units working GB Railfreight parcels trains. The fleet increased to four at one point, but finally consisted of two locomotives, 87022 Cock O' The North and 87028 Lord President, which were both withdrawn at the end of 2007. What was to have been their final working, a charter train on 29 December 2007.Bulgaria export
In 2006, Singapore trading company Romic-Ace International PTE Ltd approached Porterbrook to discuss the potential export of the Class 87 locomotives to a customer in eastern Europe. Nos 87012 and 87019 were purchased and sold to BRC, an open access operator in Bulgaria by Romic-Ace after preparation for export by Electric Traction Services Limited. The transfer did not take place until after Bulgaria's accession to the European Union the following year to minimise customs formalities.Following successful trials and homologation by the state railways, a further 25 locomotives were purchased from Porterbrook by Romic-Ace and sold to the Bulgarian Railway Company in seven batches with the refurbishment being carried out by ETS at Long Marston. The locomotives were then moved to Crewe for 25 kV testing and sign off. The project involved the supply of the locomotives, spares, drawings, overhaul documents and the provision of driver/staff training, which was provided by ETS in the UK and Bulgaria on behalf of Romic-Ace.
The locomotive batches were scheduled to be exported in stages over the period 2008–2009. The first batch, locos 87007, 87008 and 87026, were prepared by Electric Traction Services Limited, and left the UK in June 2008 after testing and sign off by Romic-Ace and BRC at Crewe. The locomotives were delivered by rail via the Channel Tunnel. Subsequent batches of locomotives have been delivered by road to Hull, then ferry and barge to the port of Ruse in Bulgaria. Seventeen locomotives are in service with Bulgarian Railway Company. A downturn in traffic in Bulgaria meant that the export deal was terminated in 2009, leaving 11 locos "in limbo". Those in worst condition were sent for scrapping in 2010 and 2011.
This left four – 87009, 87017, 87023 and 87025 – owned by Europhoenix, which started to prepare 87017 and 87023 for possible use in the UK, but the only interest was from Bulgaria in the form of open access freight operator Bulmarket. 87017 and 87023 and 87009 and 87025 were exported by ship from Immingham in October 2012.
Accidents
- On 16 February 1980, at Bushey, a broken welded rail caused a train hauled by 87007 to derail at 96 mph, injuring 19 passengers.
- 1999 Winsford rail accident: On 23 June 1999, an express hauled by 87027 collided with an empty Class 142 Pacer railbus which had passed a signal at danger in Cheshire. 31 people were injured.
Fleet Details
| Key: | Preserved | Scrapped | Exported |
| TOPS Number | Export Number | Date into traffic | Status | Notes | Name |
| 87001 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2005 | Preserved at the National Railway Museum, York | Stephenson |
| 87001 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2005 | Preserved at the National Railway Museum, York | Royal Scot |
| 87001 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2005 | Preserved at the National Railway Museum, York | Royal Scot |
| 87001 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2005 | Preserved at the National Railway Museum, York | Stephenson |
| 87001 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2005 | Preserved at the National Railway Museum, York | Royal Scot |
| 87002 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2008 | Owned by Locomotive Services Limited. Purchased by LSL in November 2019 post Serco Caledonian Sleeper duties. It was previously owned by Electric Traction Limited. Last Class 87 withdrawn by Virgin Trains. | Royal Sovereign |
| 87002 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2008 | Owned by Locomotive Services Limited. Purchased by LSL in November 2019 post Serco Caledonian Sleeper duties. It was previously owned by Electric Traction Limited. Last Class 87 withdrawn by Virgin Trains. | The AC Locomotive Group |
| 87002 | – | June 1973 | Preserved 2008 | Owned by Locomotive Services Limited. Purchased by LSL in November 2019 post Serco Caledonian Sleeper duties. It was previously owned by Electric Traction Limited. Last Class 87 withdrawn by Virgin Trains. | Royal Sovereign |
| 87003 | 87003-0 | July 1973 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Patriot |
| 87004 | 87004-8 | July 1973 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Britannia |
| 87005 | – | August 1973 | Scrapped 2005 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent First Class 87 withdrawn by Virgin Trains. | City of London |
| 87006 | 87006-3 | November 1973 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | City of Glasgow |
| 87006 | 87006-3 | November 1973 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Glasgow Garden Festival |
| 87006 | 87006-3 | November 1973 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | City of Glasgow |
| 87006 | 87006-3 | November 1973 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | George Reynolds |
| 87007 | 87007-1 | October 1973 | Exported 2008 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | City of Manchester |
| 87008 | 87008-9 | November 1973 | Exported 2008 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | City of Liverpool |
| 87008 | 87008-9 | November 1973 | Exported 2008 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Royal Scot |
| 87008 | 87008-9 | November 1973 | Exported 2008 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | City of Liverpool |
| 87009 | – | November 1973 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | City of Birmingham |
| 87010 | 87010-5 | December 1973 | Exported | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | King Arthur |
| 87010 | 87010-5 | December 1973 | Exported | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Driver Tommy Farr |
| 87011 | – | January 1974 | Scrapped 2011 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | The Black Prince |
| 87011 | – | January 1974 | Scrapped 2011 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | City of Wolverhampton |
| 87012 | 87012-1 | January 1974 | Exported 2007 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Coeur de Lion |
| 87012 | 87012-1 | January 1974 | Exported 2007 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | The Royal Bank of Scotland |
| 87012 | 87012-1 | January 1974 | Exported 2007 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Coeur de Lion |
| 87012 | 87012-1 | January 1974 | Exported 2007 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | The Olympian |
| 87013 | 87013-6 | February 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | John o' Gaunt |
| 87014 | 87014-7 | January 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Knight of the Thistle |
| 87015 | – | February 1974 | Scrapped 2005 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent | Howard of Effingham |
| 87016 | – | March 1974 | Scrapped 2004 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent First class 87/0 to be scrapped. | Sir Francis Drake |
| 87016 | – | March 1974 | Scrapped 2004 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent First class 87/0 to be scrapped. | Willesden Intercity Depot |
| 87017 | – | March 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria. | Iron Duke |
| 87018 | – | May 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent | Lord Nelson |
| 87019 | 87019-6 | March 1974 | Exported 2007 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Sir Winston Churchill |
| 87019 | 87019-6 | March 1974 | Exported 2007 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | ACoRP Association of Community Rail Partnerships |
| 87020 | 87020-4 | March 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | North Briton |
| 87021 | – | April 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent | Robert the Bruce |
| 87022 | 87022-0 | April 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Cock o' the North |
| 87022 | 87022-0 | April 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Lew Adams The Black Prince |
| 87022 | 87022-0 | April 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Cock o' the North |
| 87023 | – | April 1974 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | Highland Chieftain |
| 87023 | – | April 1974 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | Velocity |
| 87023 | – | April 1974 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | Polmadie |
| 87023 | – | April 1974 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | Velocity |
| 87024 | – | April 1974 | Scrapped 2005 | Scrapped at JT Landscapes, MoD Caerwent | Lord of the Isles |
| 87025 | – | April 1974 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | Borderer |
| 87025 | – | April 1974 | Exported 2012 | Exported to Bulmarket, Bulgaria | County of Cheshire |
| 87026 | 87026-1 | May 1974 | Exported 2008 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Redgauntlet |
| 87026 | 87026-1 | May 1974 | Exported 2008 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Sir Richard Arkwright |
| 87027 | – | May 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Used as a source of spare parts for the export program. Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | Wolf of Badenoch |
| 87028 | 87028-7 | May 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Lord President |
| 87029 | 87029-5 | June 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Earl Marischal |
| 87030 | – | June 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | Black Douglas |
| 87031 | – | July 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | Hal o' the Wynd |
| 87031 | – | July 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | Keith Harper |
| 87032 | – | July 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | Kenilworth |
| 87032 | – | July 1974 | Scrapped 2010 | Scrapped at EMR Kingsbury | Richard Fearn |
| 87033 | 87033-7 | August 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | Thane of Fife |
| 87034 | 87034-5 | September 1974 | Exported 2009 | Exported to Bulgarian Railway Company, Bulgaria. | William Shakespeare |
| 87035 | – | October 1974 | Preserved 2005 | Preserved at Crewe Heritage Centre | Robert Burns |
| 87101 | – | January 1977 | Scrapped 2002 | Originally allocated number 87036. Entered revenue-earning service 08/1976. Scrapped at HNRC Barrow Hill, some equipment preserved by The AC Loco Group. | Stephenson |
Preservation
Three Class 87 electric locomotives are currently preserved in Britain.- 87001 Stephenson/Royal Scot was donated to the National Railway Museum in November 2005.
- 87002 Royal Sovereign is owned by Locomotive Services Limited. It was preserved by the AC Locomotive Group and was returned to main line running condition. When the new contract for the Caledonian Sleeper was won by the Serco in 2014, 87002 was hired to work empty coaching stock movements in and out of London Euston. It was painted into Caledonian blue for the new contract in February 2015. From March 2015 until October 2019, 87002 shunted the empty sleeper coaching stock into London Euston, alongside 86101, as part of the Serco Caledonian Sleeper contract. Upon the end of the Caledonian Sleeper contract, 87002 was sold to Locomotive Services Ltd. for use on mainline charter services.
- 87035 Robert Burns was the first locomotive to be preserved. It is based at Crewe Heritage Centre and was handed over for preservation by owners Porterbrook at Crewe Works Open Day on 10 September 2005.
| Numbers | Name | Livery | Location | Status |
| 87001 | Stephenson / Royal Scot | British Rail Blue | National Railway Museum | Static display |
| 87002 | Royal Sovereign | Inter-City Swallow | Crewe Diesel TMD | Operational |
| 87035 | Robert Burns | British Rail Blue | Crewe Heritage Centre | Static display |
In addition, the two banks of thyristors and transformer from 87101 were preserved by the AC Locomotive Group.