Recognition and Equipment information
CLASS 90




By the mid-1980s BR were seeking new generation electric locos for WCML services, and Government authorisation was sought for a fleet of 50 thyristor controlled state-of-the-art locos in 1984. Permission for the build was granted, with construction awarded to BREL Crewe Works, the main equipment sub-contractor was GEC Traction. The locomotives were to be classified 87/2.
The fleet were a change from previous 25kV ac designs in having steeply raked back ends, and for the first time on a production loco type, were fitted with Time Division Multiplex (TDM) control equipment.
Construction at BREL Crewe commenced in late 1986, with the first loco shown off to the public at a July 1987 open-day, numbered 90001, it was not finished until September 1987. During the course of the build the classification was changed from Class 87/2, to 90 as the new design showed virtually no physical or technical resemblance to the earlier design. After completion at Crewe, the first loco was transferred to the Railway Technical Centre Derby, for a ‘type test’ programme.
Delivery of the 50 loco was a drawn out affair, with the final example not being handed over to the BRB until the end of 1990. The Class 90s were designed for mixed traffic (passenger and freight) work. The batch allocated to InterCity were first off the production line, and once tests had been completed and sufficient stock fitted with TDM introduced, together with Driving Van Trailers (DVTs), the locos commenced operation on Euston-Birmingham, North-West and Anglo-Scottish duties, working in push pull mode.
Subsequent Class 90s were constructed for the then Railfreight Distribution (RfD) business for use on high-speed long-distance block freight services. By 1992 the allocation of the class was again amended with a handful dedicated to operating mail and postal services under the Rail express systems (Res) banner.
After the splitting of the railway into businesses prior to privatisation, most of the Class 90s funded by Railfreight were reclassified Class 90/1, to identify the isolation of their ETS equipment, renumbering was made in the 901xx series, this left InterCity Class 90s No. 90001-015 allocated to Willesden for passenger work, with the remainder, Nos. 90016 -025/126-150) being shedded at Crewe for freight working. In the immediate pre-privatisation period in the mid-1990s, the freight locos were again split, with Nos. 90016-90039 going to Railfreight and 90140-150 to Freightliner. Under the big sell off, the Railfreight locos became the property of EWS and the Freightliner locos the management owned Freightliner Co. Some further renumbering was then carried out to return the EWS locos to the 900xx series. In 2001 this has been further amended with 110mph EWS locos with increased brake force classified as 90/2.
During 1990, when the ECML was fully electrified, the Class 90s started to appear on some main line duties from King’s Cross, mainly deputising for non-available Class 91s. From the commencement of the winter timetable in 1991 the class were rostered for ECML services, and from the commencement of the Summer 1992 timetable, the Res owned locos started to operate van workings over the full length of the ECML.
Now in 2001, Class 90s are still seen on the ECML, usually operating on a hire basis to GNER from EWS or Freightliner, due to a serious shortfall in their own locos.
The Freightliner owned locos have a wide operating range, throughout the WCML and into Essex on block container traffic.
A major feature of the Class 90s from new was the installation of drop-head buck-eye couplers with retractable side buffers - a feature essential for high-speed passenger push-pull operation. Although all locos were built with this feature, those now operated by EWS and Freightliner have the equipment removed and many operated by Freightliner have the ETS equipment isolated.
The livery applied to the first 25 Class 90s, when built, was full InterCity, with the next eleven emerging in Main Line livery, the final 14 were painted in RfD colours. Following the introduction of the Res red livery, the five locomotives operated by this business were repainted into the house colours. Today the standard livery for passenger locos is Virgin red, EWS locos are either in RfD triple grey, EWS maroon or Res red, while Freightliner locos retain grey with Freightliner branding. One odd machine of the fleet is No. 90025, owned by EWS this loco is painted in GNER livery for hire purposes.


In as built Intercity Swallow livery, No. 90004 is viewed at Euston from the grille side. The front end shows TDM jumpers stowed in the as built position below the horn grille. On the right is one of the Main Line liveried locos, No. 90035, showing the frontal livery differences of the two coloursCJM.


The 15 passenger dedicated Class 90/0s operated by Virgin Trains and allocated to Willesden are all painted in Virgin house colours of red and grey, as shown here on No. 90002 from its four grille body side. This loco has its TDM jumpers stowed in the revised buffer beam position. CJM.


Both the above locos, operated by EWS are classified as Class 90/0 and show the two grille side of the bodywork. No. 90019 on the left shows the Rail express systems livery, the buffer beam shows that the Pullman rubbing plate, buck-eye coupler and retractable buffers are still fitted allowing full 110mph propelling of passenger stock. The loco illustrated on the right, No. 90031 is painted in EWS livery and is one of the batch modified with fixed position oval buffers. a conventional coupling and no Pullman rubbing plate. Both: CJM.


In September 1992 as part of FreightConnection three of the Railfreight Class 90s Nos. 90130/128/129 were painted in French, Belgium and German liveries. The trio are seen with Railfreight Distribution-liveried No. 90022 on display at Manchester Trafford Park in October 1993. CJM.


The batch of Class 90s operated by Freightliner are classified Class 90/1, these have standard oval buffers, no Pullman rubbing plate and isolated electric train supply. None are repainted into Freightliner's distinctive green livery but all carry the red triangle branding on the side and the company name. Two of the Freightliner fleet have operational ETS for hire contract work with Virgin Trains and GNER and these for maintenance purposes are Class 90/0s. No. 90150 is seen passing Edinburgh Waverley. CJM.


Nine EWS-owned Class 90/0s are reclassified at 90/2s and maintained with a high brake force for passenger service hire contracts, as well as high speed 110mph Royal Mail operations. The locos do not have buck-eye couplers or Pullman rubbing plates. One loco No. 90224 is painted in unbranded GNER livery as part of an on-going hire deal for EWS to provide at least one Class 90 to the East Coast operator each day. No. 90224 is seen at Crewe. CJM.