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Forty of these 25kV AC Electric locomotives were built at BR Doncaster Works, for use on the West Coast Main Line, with the first appearing in 1962.
The class operated in Scotland between 1972 and 1991.

• Class 85 E3072 was based at Shields depot from early 1972 to begin staff training on electric locomotives ready for electrification of the Crewe - Glasgow section of the WCML.
• In 1973 two other Class 85s E3080 & E3082 were reallocated to Shields as were five others in early 1974.
• Driver training runs took place between Glasgow and Greenock.
• After completion of the WCML electrification in May 1974 all 40 members of the class were based at Crewe Electric depot.

• Class 85s were mixed traffic locos, often seen on freight and parcels trains, but not normally used on London bound express trains.
• By mid 1975 the full class had been renumbered into the 85001-85040 series.

• After the line to Ayr was electrified, at least 2 locos, 85022 & 85025 are recorded working the Morning 08:45 Ayr to London service from Ayr to Glasgow Central .

• Introduction of Class 90 locomotives saw the Class 85s fleet run down 1989-1991.
• From 1989 some locos were renumbered in to the 85101-85114 series and dedicated to freight work.
• In July 1991 with the end of the Speedlink wagonload freight service, most of the class were withdrawn and the last few worked on short distance empty stock workings in Manchester and London.

• 35 of the class were scrapped by MC Metals at Springburn between 1989 and 1994.

See also

• Trains of Scotland
• Class 81
• Class 86
• Electrification
• Gallery - Electric locos

External Links

• Wikipedia - BR Class 85
• The AC Locomotive Group - 85006 / 85101
• BR Database - Class85

Photo links

• Flickr: Class 85 at Gourock, circa 1977
• Flickr: Class 85 at Wemyss Bay, 1977
• Flickr: 85022 at Ayr, 1988>
• Scot-Rail: 85002 Exhibition Centre, May 1988