The many ups and downs of BR's Class 90 locomotive

Class 90s have experienced a chequered career, alternating from zero to hero and back again several times, as David Clough explains.

In this article:

• Designed for both passenger and freight, Class 90s offered flexibility across the rail network.
• Early technical issues were resolved, enhancing their reliability and operational performance over time.
• Advanced features like automated control systems improved safety, efficiency, and driving experience.

Plans for the type of traction required for inter-city electric services were fluid during the first half of the 1980s.

One reason was that the Advanced Passenger Train (APT) in prototype form was under development, with entry to traffic always just round the corner. At the start of the decade, APT was regarded as the train for all routes, as and when electrification was extended.

The division of BR into business units (called sectors) in 1982 created the InterCity Sector, which had to be profitable and whose director had different priorities to his predecessor, the Chief Passenger Manager.

There was, however, one constant in all the financial appraisals for new electric locomotives - the baseline was always Class 87.

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