BR Classes 81 - 87, 90, DVT
The West Coast 25kV electric locomotive classes. The first stretch of the WCML to be electrified was Crewe to Manchester, completed on 12th September 1960. This was followed by Crewe to Liverpool, completed on 1st January 1962. Electrification was then extended southwards to London. The first electric trains from London ran on 12th November 1965, but full public service did not start until 18th April the following year. Electrification of the Birmingham line was completed on 6th March 1967. In March 1970 the government gave approval to electrification of the northern section between Weaver Junction (where the route to Liverpool diverges) and Glasgow, and this was completed on 6th May 1974.
A pair of class 87s at Rugby on 8th April 1980. 87004 'Britannia' leads 87008 'City of Liverpool'.
class 87rugby8700487008