AC Electrics

This book begins with a look at the British Rail (BR) Class 86 electric locomotives, which were introduced in the 1960s and worked the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The next section highlights the BR Class 87s, which were based upon the 86s and designed to deal with the more demanding gradients of the northern half of the WCML. Following this comes the Class 90s, which were built for mixed-traffic duties and introduced during the final years of BR. Lastly, the Driving Van Trailers (more commonly known as DVTs), a purpose-built control car that allows the driver to operate a locomotive in push-pull formation, are covered. AUTHOR: Mark V. Pike has a lifelong interest in UK railways that started at the age of about six when his father used to take him to watch trains at Poole station in Dorset, just after steam had been abolished in the late 1960s. He later joined the railway at the age of 19 as a permanent way trackman at Bournemouth and was later an electric track maintenance worker at Dorchester for over 20 years. Now semi-retired, he is still an avid railway photographer, with various images appearing regularly in mainstream railway magazines and books. 200 illustrations