British Rail Class 91
Virgin Trains Class 91 Locomotive at King's Cross
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Electric |
| Builder | BREL Crewe Works |
| Build date | 1988–1991 |
| Total produced | 31 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| UIC class | Bo'Bo' |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Length | 19.400 m (63 ft 7.8 in) |
| Loco weight | 81.5 tonnes (80.2 long tons; 89.8 short tons) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC Catenary |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Traction motors | GEC G426 (1.175 MW or 1,576 hp peak/1.135 MW or 1,522 hp continuous) |
| Loco brake | Primary, rheostatic (140–30 mph or 225–48 km/h); secondary friction (pneumatic single-cardan shaft-mounted disc and tread brakes; 30–0 mph or 48–0 km/h) |
| Train brakes | Air (axle-mounted triple-disc brakes; 140–0 mph or 225–0 km/h) |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed |
Design: 225 km/h (140 mph) Service: 125 mph (201 km/h) Blunt-end first: 110 mph (177 km/h) Lok (Overspeed): 240 km/h (149 mph) |
| Power output | 4,830 kW (6,480 hp) |
| Tractive effort |
max 190 kN (43,000 lbf) continuous 107 kN (24,000 lbf) @ 153 km/h (95 mph) |
| Loco brakeforce |
Dynamic braking: 83 kN (19,000 lbf) max @100 to 200 km/h (62 to 124 mph) 50 kN (11,000 lbf) max @200 to 240 km/h (120 to 150 mph) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | Virgin Trains East Coast |
| Numbers | 91001–91031 later 91101–91122, 91124–91132 |
| Axle load class | Route availability 7 |
The British Rail Class 91 is a class of 225 km/h (140 mph), 4,830 kW (6,480 hp) electric locomotives ordered as a component of the East Coast Main Line modernisation and electrification programme of the late 1980s. The Class 91s were given the auxiliary name of InterCity 225 to indicate their envisaged top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph), and were also referred to as Electras by British Rail during their development, and throughout the electrification of the East Coast Main Line. The other end of the InterCity 225 train set is formed of a Mark 4 Driving Van Trailer, built with a similar body shell to the Class 91 locomotives. The locomotive body shells are of all-steel construction. Unusually, the motors are body mounted and drive bogie mounted gearboxes via cardan shafts. This reduces the unsprung mass and hence track wear at high speeds. The locomotive also features an underslung transformer so that the body is relatively empty compared to contemporary electric locomotives. Much of the engineering specification for the locomotive was derived from the research and operational experience of the APT-P.
In 1985, ASEA, Brush and GEC Transportation Projects tendered for the design and construction of the Class 91s. GEC subsequently won the bid and the fleet was built by sub-contractors BREL in Crewe between 1988 and 1991.
The Class 91s began passenger service on 3 March 1989 when 91001 worked 1P26 17.36 London Kings Cross to Peterborough train. This train was formed of InterCity 125 Mark 3 coaches and a Class 43 power car converted for use as a DVT as the Mark 4 coaches were not yet ready. The Class 91s then began service on King's Cross to Leeds trains on 11 March 1989 when 91008 with a rake of Intercity 125 Mark 3 coaches and power car 43068 worked the 1D32 06:50 Kings Cross to Leeds service. The set then worked 1A12, the 10:00 Leeds to London Kings Cross service.
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