British Rail Class 85 Electric Locomotive

Explore more about this Bo-Bo configuration locomotive built in the early 1960s.

Bo-Bo Configuration

The British Rail Class 85 Electric Locomotive was a Bo-Bo configuration locomotive built in a production run of 40 units by British Railways Doncaster Works between 1961 and 1964.

West Coast Main Line

Designed as part of the comprehensive prototyping and evaluation project for the West Coast Main Line, 25 units were built for express passenger service with a top speed of 100mph. 15 further locomotives had a freight-only classification with a speed restriction of 80mph.

AC Locomotive Group

Class 85 was retired over a decade between 1981 and 1992. Just one example of this class, 85101, has been preserved by the AC Locomotive Group at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in Derbyshire.