HELJAN CLASS 86/0

Stalwarts of passenger and freight haulage along Britain’s Western-most artery for more than half a century, the Class 86s was British Rail’s answer to replace steam locomotives along the newly-electrified West Coast Main Line. From 1965 to 1966, 100 members of the sixth design of AC locomotive were introduced, numbered initially E3101-E3200. Construction was split between English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, or British Rail’s Doncaster Works.

Not without teething troubles, causing track degradation because of axle-hung traction motors, rather than frame-mounted motors as per earlier AC locomotive