British Rail Class 86

Common card · No. 230509

The British Rail Class 86 is a type of electric locomotives built during the mid-1960s. Developed as a standard electric locomotive from earlier prototype models, one hundred were built during 1965–66 to haul trains on the then newly-electrified West Coast Main Line (WCML) from London Euston to Birmingham, Crewe, Liverpool, Manchester, and later Preston and Glasgow. Introduction of the class enabled the replacement of many steam locomotives, which were finally withdrawn by British Rail (BR) in 1968. Under the earlier BR classification system, the type was given the designation AL6 and locomotives were numbered E3101–E3200. In 1968, this was changed to Class 86 when BR introduced the TOPS classification system. The class was built to haul passenger and freight trains alike on the WCML; however, some members of the class also saw use on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, after the remainder of the line north of Colchester was electrified in the...

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