AC Electric Locomotives in Colour

They were the mainstay of the West Coast Main Line for many years, they being the AC electric locomotives of British Rail of course. During my school years in the early 1980s, i visited Stechford railway station many times to train spot and thrilled as Class 86 and Class 87 hauled expresses screamed through.

Those days have passed of course, though examples of those locomotive classes can still be seen on the national network, but usually hauling a special train such as an excursion. This excellent book by Gavin Morrison covers these locomotives, as well as the earlier classes which were being withdrawn as i started to take a railway interest and the ones which followed (which are easier to see still on the network).

Great photography throughout covering the range of liveries they wore in BR service and into the early years of privatisation, i must admit i like the locomotives most when in their BR blue, with the steel BR symbol on the sides. That takes me back. A more elegant livery for a more civilised age.