Nothing like hearing the rhythmic whine of a class 87's fans! Wish they were still in everyday service here. I remember seeing them charging though Lea Hall back in the early 2000s. I didn't really take much notice of modern traction then, being only a boy, but now I would love to see classic British electric locomotives working in the Midlands again. At least we still have the occasional class 86 working light engine.
Control in the DVT is by a sliding T-bar like in a class 90/91. The 87s TDM computer translates the position of the T-bar into an equivalent electrical load on the ammeters and maintains its equivalent amp load on the locos motors by operating the locos tap changer up/down automatically to match the drivers selected "throttle" or load position on the T-bar. The DVT has all the dials and gauges so the driver can view the status of the loco working at the back of the train.
Really the last proper class of loco for hauling coaching stock as the class 90s came with RCH cables as standard for working with DVTs. How i miss arriving at a terminus station and waking past the loco which had just brought you in.
railfan gig there was something really cool about that......perhaps after seeing the loco at the front while on the train travelling round bends its a fulfilling moment getting to stand beside it at the end of the line......and as a 7 year old, any occasion where you got off temporarily to watch them swap between diesel and electric.....well it was living life to the fullest!
Excellent. thanks for uploading. brings a tear to my eye i used to travel on these all the time in my teens. when i was a child i ran along the canal in wigan in the 80s with my arm over my head making the noise pretending to be one running off in front of my grandad and him laughing. as we walked the dog and watched the trains at springs branch. now i go there in my 30s stand on the same bridge and nothing is there. no industry no trains no jobs
Allways reminds me of going to piccadilly to get the football special to London Eustion and the sounds of the fans echoing under the roof....great memories
They are all still parked at MoD Long Marsden if not scrapped. I think GBRf may still have the two in service which DRS originally resurrected as 'thunderbird' (rescue) locos for the Class 325 operation. A number have been exported to Romania too but IIRC around 10 examples have now met their maker. Plus of course there is the BR Blue one preserved at the NRM.
Nice video. Nice to see 87 007 the very same loco I travelled to London from Liverpool in the cab. I was 14 at the time and remember the journey as if it happed yesterday.
The Pendo's and the Voyagers are like slower Japanese Bullet Trains with lightweight bodies and 'Aircraft' type seats to fit more people in them. Only 1st class gets the tables. The more people they can fit in the more cost effective to rail operators. The lighter the train the more fuel efficient for the diesel Voyagers. I did travel from Euston to Crewe hauled by a Class 87 in 1986 and boy could they move! Then you got a diesel loco from Crewe to Hollyhead. Now the Voyagers go all the way.
Great camera work, love watching it. Its a shame no major model manufacturer does the 87....the last effort by Hornby/Lima ain't exactly up to modern standards.
If I still had a model railway my preference would be for the vintage pre China models as everything seems to be made in China these days and I don't want to keep sending money to China as they created the COVID virus & have no environmental protection or human / animal rights. There's also less to go wrong on the classic models.
This type of stock should have been kept on the WCML services. Nothing wrong with it. Locos and coaches had years of life left in them. Far more comfortable than those toilet smelling, no room to swing a cat on, uncomfortable tilting monstrosities.
EM176 couldn’t agree more. The Mk3 coaches were beautifully built and had superb ride quality and sound proofing. They were also incredibly safe. A shame to see them being replaced by cheaply made plasticky stock when they’ve still got so much service left in them.
The premature demise of these locos and the Mark 3A stock was a travesty in my opinion. What an absolute waste! Only problem was that the Mark 2E / 2F stock and Class 86s these operated alongside were becoming a bit long in the tooth: Even the reworked 110 MPH sub-class 86/1 and the select few Class 86/2s which existed.
There are a few pictures and some vids on youtube of the 87's in their new Bulgarian livery. They are still working tirelessly and are another load of money the taxpayer got stung for and some other country benefits from!!!
Great vid, thanks. Good to see the 87 pushing a train with DVT at the front. I was wondering about how the driver notches up & down in this mode - I assume that the loco ammeters are reproduced in the DVT so the driver can notch up & down remotely?
@SilsdenCougar same can be said for the Class 86, never been a fan of the 87, didnt particularly like their 2 window front ends compared to the 86, however like the 86, there was plenty of life left in them at the time of withdrawl
gawd knows why we didnt keep these beasty machines instead of shipping off to bulgaria, there one of th strongest locos builtin u.k surprised the freight companies didnt pick a few up for use
thats your opinion i totally disagree, pendolinos are faster but the line wasnt upgraded whilst 87s where in service, i used to bash 87s so im gona hate them
Nothing like hearing the rhythmic whine of a class 87's fans! Wish they were still in everyday service here. I remember seeing them charging though Lea Hall back in the early 2000s. I didn't really take much notice of modern traction then, being only a boy, but now I would love to see classic British electric locomotives working in the Midlands again. At least we still have the occasional class 86 working light engine.
I have to say, Ive always been impressed with your videos. They are really good in showing British Rail locomotives in good working order. 5*
Control in the DVT is by a sliding T-bar like in a class 90/91. The 87s TDM computer translates the position of the T-bar into an equivalent electrical load on the ammeters and maintains its equivalent amp load on the locos motors by operating the locos tap changer up/down automatically to match the drivers selected "throttle" or load position on the T-bar.
The DVT has all the dials and gauges so the driver can view the status of the loco working at the back of the train.
Really the last proper class of loco for hauling coaching stock as the class 90s came with RCH cables as standard for working with DVTs. How i miss arriving at a terminus station and waking past the loco which had just brought you in.
railfan gig there was something really cool about that......perhaps after seeing the loco at the front while on the train travelling round bends its a fulfilling moment getting to stand beside it at the end of the line......and as a 7 year old, any occasion where you got off temporarily to watch them swap between diesel and electric.....well it was living life to the fullest!
Excellent. thanks for uploading. brings a tear to my eye i used to travel on these all the time in my teens. when i was a child i ran along the canal in wigan in the 80s with my arm over my head making the noise pretending to be one running off in front of my grandad and him laughing. as we walked the dog and watched the trains at springs branch. now i go there in my 30s stand on the same bridge and nothing is there. no industry no trains no jobs
Allways reminds me of going to piccadilly to get the football special to London Eustion and the sounds of the fans echoing under the roof....great memories
Amazing footage since it was 1992
These type 87's made any railway journey into an occasion.
Must have been a bit heavy on the juice though!
Couldn't agree more! Even the west coast mix of mk2 and mk3 coaches were kind of aesthetically pleasing.
Class 87s and heavy metal from me \m/ awesome locomotive my friend there not many around these days!!
They are all still parked at MoD Long Marsden if not scrapped. I think GBRf may still have the two in service which DRS originally resurrected as 'thunderbird' (rescue) locos for the Class 325 operation. A number have been exported to Romania too but IIRC around 10 examples have now met their maker. Plus of course there is the BR Blue one preserved at the NRM.
Great video! The Class 87 locomotives are now sold to Bulgaria.
5*
Nice video. Nice to see 87 007 the very same loco I travelled to London from Liverpool in the cab. I was 14 at the time and remember the journey as if it happed yesterday.
The Pendo's and the Voyagers are like slower Japanese Bullet Trains with lightweight bodies and 'Aircraft' type seats to fit more people in them. Only 1st class gets the tables. The more people they can fit in the more cost effective to rail operators. The lighter the train the more fuel efficient for the diesel Voyagers. I did travel from Euston to Crewe hauled by a Class 87 in 1986 and boy could they move! Then you got a diesel loco from Crewe to Hollyhead. Now the Voyagers go all the way.
A very refreshing sight to see a complete absence of red coats strutting around as if they own the bloody place!
no, they started withdrawing the 86s in 2002 with the delivery of the first pendolinos. that last 87s were withdrawn in late 2005
Great camera work, love watching it. Its a shame no major model manufacturer does the 87....the last effort by Hornby/Lima ain't exactly up to modern standards.
My dad drove them, no longer! :'(
If I still had a model railway my preference would be for the vintage pre China models as everything seems to be made in China these days and I don't want to keep sending money to China as they created the COVID virus & have no environmental protection or human / animal rights. There's also less to go wrong on the classic models.
Well, What can I say......This is when we had a proper railway!
87028 on the mark 2 air-cons at Crewe, presumably a Liverpool or Manchester service?
This type of stock should have been kept on the WCML services. Nothing wrong with it. Locos and coaches had years of life left in them. Far more comfortable than those toilet smelling, no room to swing a cat on, uncomfortable tilting monstrosities.
EM176 couldn’t agree more. The Mk3 coaches were beautifully built and had superb ride quality and sound proofing. They were also incredibly safe. A shame to see them being replaced by cheaply made plasticky stock when they’ve still got so much service left in them.
Why do some of these '87s have the arrow rather than Intercity logos on them?
With 5000 hp under the bonnet and a top speed of over 110 mph... Lovely Jubbly...
The premature demise of these locos and the Mark 3A stock was a travesty in my opinion. What an absolute waste! Only problem was that the Mark 2E / 2F stock and Class 86s these operated alongside were becoming a bit long in the tooth: Even the reworked 110 MPH sub-class 86/1 and the select few Class 86/2s which existed.
There are a few pictures and some vids on youtube of the 87's in their new Bulgarian livery. They are still working tirelessly and are another load of money the taxpayer got stung for and some other country benefits from!!!
Still the nicest sounding loco ever made. Shame we dont hear it much anymore :-(
Great vid tho!!!
Great videos again :D Keep'em coming!
Best locos ever...!!!!
Great vid, thanks. Good to see the 87 pushing a train with DVT at the front. I was wondering about how the driver notches up & down in this mode - I assume that the loco ammeters are reproduced in the DVT so the driver can notch up & down remotely?
Enjoyed my many trips with 87s on the Birmingham Susto routes. Now they operante in Varna Bulgária.
i think we should bring back the class 87s so i can have my fun again
We need this for tsw5
The sound when there shut down remind me of an air raid siren
They accelerate so much quicker than HST
Thanks alot for the explanation.
@SilsdenCougar
same can be said for the Class 86, never been a fan of the 87, didnt particularly like their 2 window front ends compared to the 86, however like the 86, there was plenty of life left in them at the time of withdrawl
gawd knows why we didnt keep these beasty machines instead of shipping off to bulgaria, there one of th strongest locos builtin u.k surprised the freight companies didnt pick a few up for use
@boomheadshot75 GBRF and DRS dabbled with 87 operation aroune 2004/5 on some of their trains, but they were dropped for some reason
thats your opinion i totally disagree, pendolinos are faster but the line wasnt upgraded whilst 87s where in service, i used to bash 87s so im gona hate them
@PiperUK and less comfortable with tiny windows
The 87s were killed my pendos. RIP!
their MK2E
Best locos ever...!!!!