British Rail Class 91

The British Rail Class 91 is a class of 140 mph, 6,300 hp electric locomotives ordered specifically for the East Coast Main Line modernisation and electrification programme of the late 1980s. Built to replace the previous British Rail Class 43 (also called the InterCity 125) and British Rail Class 55, the Class 91s were given the auxiliary name of InterCity 225 to indicate their status as a new version of the 125 and their envisaged top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). The other end of the InterCity 225 train set is formed of a Driving Van Trailer, built with a similar bodyshell to the Class 91 locomotives.

British Rail Class 91
British Rail Class 91, 91130 at York railway station
91130 at York railway station
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderBREL
Build date1988–1991
Total produced31
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • WhyteBo-Bo
 • UICBo'Bo'
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length63 ft 8 in (19.41 m)
Loco weight84 tonnes (83 long tons; 93 short tons)
Electric system/s25 kV AC
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed
  • Design:
  • 140 mph (225 km/h)[1]
  • Service:
  • 125 mph (201 km/h)[1]
  • No. 2 cab leading:
  • 110 mph (177 km/h)
  • As light locomotive:
  • 75 mph (121 km/h)[note 1]
Brakeforce45 long tons-force (450 kN)
Career
OperatorsBritish Rail
GNER
National Express East Coast
Virgin Trains East Coast
London North Eastern Railway
Numbers91001–91031; later 91101–91122, 91124-91132
Disposition
  • In service: 12
  • Stored: 6
  • Scrapped: 12
  • Preserved: 1

Notes
  1. Imposed to ensure that the locomotive can be adequately braked by the friction brakes alone in the event that the rheostatic brake fails.[1]

References
  1. Fawcett, M. (April 2008). Vehicle Diagram Book - Class 91 Locomotive (1 ed.). London: HSBC Rail UK. EV/DB0910. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.


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