Echoes Through the Platforms: Class 85 Roarers in the Late '80s скачать в хорошем качестве

Echoes Through the Platforms: Class 85 Roarers in the Late '80s

The Class 85 electric locomotives, affectionately nicknamed "Roarers" due to their distinctive and loud motor noise, were a familiar and evocative presence at Birmingham New Street station in the late 1980s. Built between 1961 and 1964 by British Rail’s Doncaster and Crewe Works, the Class 85s were part of the early fleet of AC electric locomotives designed for use on the newly electrified West Coast Main Line. By the 1980s, although they were already considered somewhat dated compared to newer locomotives like the Class 86s and 87s, the Roarers continued to be used extensively for passenger and occasional freight services, especially on routes connecting Birmingham with London Euston, Liverpool, and Manchester. Their presence at New Street was particularly notable because the station served as a major interchange on the electrified network. The nickname "Roarers" came from the loud, high-pitched whine produced by their mercury arc rectifiers and traction motors — a sound that echoed through the enclosed platforms of New Street and left a lasting impression on rail enthusiasts and passengers alike. This sonic signature made them one of the most recognizable locomotives of their era. This video contains extracts from the excellent Roy Bowden collection in particular this one here    • British Rail 1988 (Part 5) - Birmingham Ne...   and is produced under Creative Commons Licence