I passed out to drive the class 85 as a young driver at Stonebridge Park I worked a down express from Euston to Rugby with my instructor and also the footplate inspector Mr Harry Owen in 1972 on arrival at rugby i then had to drive a loose coupled freight back to Willesden

So many lovely memories of scenes l thought, at the time would always be around. Now look at the s..t we have instead😢

The sound of a roarer powering away on a rainy night at Crewe.... how very atmospheric! Ditto for the 86s and 87s of course, but the scream of the 85s choke cooling fans were especially loud and piercing. This must be toward the end of their careers with everything being in Intercity livery. I never got to ride behind these but I can imagine it must have been a treat leaving New St or Lime St behind one of these with the windows down and the sound of those blower fans echoing around inside the tunnels, the gradually ascending moan of the traction motors as the driver notches up... ahh lovely, so evocative!

@highvoltageswitcher6256

Жыл бұрын

What was the purpose of the choke? I thought the fans were for cooling the traction motors. A choke can mean an in-line inductor. They (chokes) are usually used to either create a more constant DC current or for the creation of high voltages in conjunction with a switch.

@EM-yk1dw

Жыл бұрын

@@highvoltageswitcher6256 They are used in DC circuits to reduce ripple in low and medium range voltages. You are correct the fans were for keeping the traction motors and various other pieces of equipment cool.

The 85s were the most successful of the first generation ac electrics . Some of them were in service on freight trains until the early 90s. I remember back in the day doing over nights at Carlisle seeing 85s on speed link trains passing through the station.

Reminds me wonderfully of my almost weekly trips down south during the football season.

Dont forget The Salmon for Shields Rd depot Glasgow. Also the 81,2,3,4, 86 and 87s all better than the boring Pendos that replaced them on the West Coast. Thanks for posting. 👍😎😎.

@stephensmith799

Жыл бұрын

I really did prefer travelling at 100mph in BR Mk 2D coaches with an uninterrupted view out of my seat than in the claustrophobic Pendolinos.

Nice quality footage that captures the evocative sound of these locos. It's easy to see why they got their nick name! As with some of the other AC electric classes you could often hear the loco approaching before you could see it. The only currently surviving locos you can still say that about are the class 91 and 92.

@Lucky-om6jm

10 ай бұрын

You could hear the vibrations in the rails first actually

I remember clocking 103 mph out of a Class 81 as she climbed Beattock with Load 17 ! Also 85 101 (formerly 85 006) did a railtour to Walton-on-Naze which I did. Happy days.

Just discovered these great quality films. I really liked those early AC locos, nice to see them again.

Lovely film, beautiful roarers!

I loved 85s wish they'd kept them.

Terrific video. I have many memories of all the A.C’s, right back to their introductory liveries. Thoroughly enjoyed watching this.

These bring back fond childhood memories ,along with all the other early AL classes, we lived close to the WCML near Stafford ,we couldn't afford to go far trainspotting in those days ,so must of filled all those classes in my combined volume .great times .

Fantastic memories for me. Thanks for posting. Your channel looks very interesting and so I have subbed.😊👍👍👍

Wow, that brings back a few memories 🙂👍

At a time when the 87’s & 86’s were the loco of choice on the Euston-Glasgow/Edinburgh services; to get an 85 diagrammed in their place was a rare treat.

Nice one just found this. My favourite

I love all classes of 1960s electric locomotive's from class 81 to class 87's plus the 1980s built class 89 & class 90 & the 1993 built class 93 i remember the class 85's well just before they was withdrawn as I started train spotting about 1983 with my brother so the class 86's/87s started dominating the Manchester to Euston trains after the class 81/85's was withdrawn from service! i wish i could go back to those majical day's as they was the best for loco spotting at Manchester piccadilly & Stockport I could just put myself on the platform watching them pass by sadly only one class 85 got saved & preserved 85101/85006 I would love to see it running again maybe one day but I can't see it happening! but the sound of class 81 to 87 at power is awesome good video I enjoyed watching it 🥰😍🤩

Marvellous!

Awsome😊

That whine as they start up and pull away...do miss that sound...

Great stuff,, remember all these buggers around Crewe. Many many Too bloody many Years ago 😂😁👍👍👍

@spongebobgrumpypants6862

Жыл бұрын

Me too, I was a spotter from the mid 70's to early 80's and spent many hours at my local station Leyland just south of Preston. The 85's often worked on expresses on Sundays and regularly worked through with freights and parcels trains, and would often be seen on summer Saturdays hauling excursions. Happy days.....................

Very nice

Only ever saw 1 class 81 working as a small child; Manchester Piccadilly probably ECS from Longsight depot...

👍

These should still be going.

@AndreiTupolev

Жыл бұрын

They did have a worrying habit of catching fire in their later years though

@pn112upfast

Жыл бұрын

@@AndreiTupolev yes was it traction motors?

Electrical locomotive???

@The73Silver

Жыл бұрын

Yes, they are early electrics

Didn’t some get sold to Romanian Railways?

@vicsams4431

9 ай бұрын

Some Class 87s went to Bulgaria. Some Class 86s went to Hungary.