rolling stock : class 90

Overall Fleet History

A development of the Class 87s, and incorporating the Thyristor control as pioneered on 87101, the Class 90 locomotives were built at BREL Crewe, originally to be designated as Class 87/2. However, the difference between the 87/0 subclass and this new type of loco meant a separate designation altogether. Designed to be used on both high speed passenger, and slower speed freight work, the first locomotive entered traffic in 1988, but the last locomotive was not accepted until as late as 1990 because of the higher priority Class 91 construction. Originally built solely for use on the West Coast Main Line, the Class 90s soon became a truly nationwide class and in 2005 became the first class of electric loco to visit all three parts of the UK; England, Scotland and Wales when 90039 visited Llandudno Junction.

Passenger work was limited so the fleet was split between the passenger and freight sectors in 1991 and was given two different classifications that reflected this; locos numbered 90025 upwards had their ETH isolated, restricted to 75mph and a number of other general modifications carried out. They were renumbered in the 901xx number series. As there was always envisaged to be a need for additional 'short term hire' locos, 4 locos (90021-90024) were maintained for 110mph running as part of the Railfreight Distribution fleet and were often found on passenger work on the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines. 5 locos were designated parcels/mail train locos and allocated to Rail Express Systems.

Class 90/0 (90001-90015)

built : 1987-1990 / weight : 84.5t / max speed : 110mph / air only /
ETS operational / TDM fitted

History

From introduction the first 15 locos were dedicated to passenger work, supplementing the Class 87s and replacing a number of Class 86s. These locos have led a pretty uneventful life; coming under the INTERCITY banner, being transferred to Porterbrook Leasing ownership and then coming under the operation of the Virgin Rail Group at privatisation. Working the London-Birmingham/Wolverhampton/Preston/Glasgow services was commonplace for all 15 locomotives during their time on the West Coast and they were allocated to the common IWCA pool with the 110mph capable Class 87s. Replacement by 'Pendolino' EMU's saw the subclass finally eliminated by mid 2004 with final loco, appropriately 90015, working the Glasgow-London and return 'Royal Scot' on 27 August 2004.

Current Duties

Following displacement from the West Coast Main Line, the 15 passenger locos were transferred to the Greater Anglia franchise for the London-Norwich 'Intercity' services - operating under the banner of 'one'. 90003 was used on the launch train from London to Norwich in April 2004. Since then, the locos have been progressively entering service, replacing the elderly Class 86s. Reliability has been, and still is, something of an issue with the fleet and with no major overhauls carried out on the fleet for at least 5 years, along with the allegedly questionable policies of the maintenance company for the previous operator, these high mileage locos are proving to be troublesome and unreliable at times.

Class 90/0 (90016-90040)

built : 1987-1990 / weight : 84.5t / max speed : 110mph / air only /
ETS operational / TDM fitted

History

Originally a mix of locos with ETS operational and isolated, the freight fleet transferred to EWS following the acquisition of Railfreight Distribution and Rail Express Systems. ScotRail chose EWS to operate its nightly sleeper services - taking over from Virgin West Coast - which increased the need for ETS fitted Class 90s and this saw 90125-90129 have their supply systems being reinstated and once again being passed for 110mph. Shortly after, common sense prevailed and the remaining 10 locos in the fleet had the ETS reactivated to create an interchangeable fleet capable of both passenger and freight work. Regular hire work to both Anglia Railways, GNER and Virgin West Coast saw the EWS fleet remain at full strength of 25 locos until the loss of mail train traffic in 2003 which saw the first of the barely 10 year old locos retired to storage. Since that date, the number of locos has fluctuated with the securing of additional contracts for their use.

Current Duties

Daily freight, passenger and charter train work occupies the operational members of the EWS fleet with 6 locos on hire to First Scotrail for the Scotland-London-Scotland 'sleeper' services, 2 locos on long term hire to 'one' Anglia to supplement its Class 90s and 2 locos also on hire to Virgin West Coast for its Mark 3 Pendolino Standby sets which have seen almost daily use since introduction in mid-2005. As the postal traffic was removed from the railways and locomotive hauled passenger work has declined, so has the need for these 110mph high speed capable machines and consequently, a number have been placed into secure storage at Crewe IEMD. Lower profile freight work for the locos is also becoming more common with locos seen on MGR services on the ECML and engineering feeder trains on the West Coast Main Line.

Class 90/0 (90041-90050)

built : 1987-1990 / weight : 84.5t / max speed : 110mph / air only /
ETS operational / TDM fitted

History

Freightliners 10 locos were the last to be converted to full ETS operation. Initially two locomotives (90142/146) that had their ETS reinstated for hire contracts to GNER and Virgin Trains, but in mid-2002 - following restructuring of their train plans and loco requirements - Freightliner agreed with Anglia Railways to provide locos for it to operate trains with, initially for a testing period and then extended to trains in public service. This increased requirement saw the fleet start to make the transition back to being ETS fitted which was completed in 2004 with the return to service of fire damaged 90047 from Crewe Works. The FL/Anglia hire contract ended in late 2002 as they were unable to supply the full fleet of 10 locos to Anglia Railways allowing complete elimination of the elderly Class 86 fleet. Since then, the ETS capability has been retained but rarely used.

Current Duties

Following a period of uncertainty over the locos future with FL, the fleet has seen full utilisation on intermodal trains, being used to allow the retirement of a number of older and less powerful Class 86s. Usually found operating trains over the WCML and Great Eastern Main Line as far as Ipswich, this fleet of locos rarely sees passenger use nowadays.