Class 91

The British Rail **Class 91** is a class of 140 mph (225 km/h), 4,830 kW (6,480 hp) Electric Locomotives ordered as a component of the East Coast Main Line modernisation and electrification programme of the late 1980s.

The Class 91s were given the auxiliary name of **InterCity 225** to indicate their envisaged top speed of 225 km/h, and were also referred to as *Electras* by British Rail during their development, and throughout the electrification of the East Coast Main Line. The other end of the InterCity 225 train set is formed of a Mark 4 Driving Van Trailer, built with a similar body shell to the Class 91 locomotives. The locomotive body shells are of all-steel construction. Unusually, the motors are body mounted and drive bogie mounted gearboxes via cardan shafts. This reduces the unsprung mass and hence track wear at high speeds. The locomotive also features an underslung transformer so that the body is relatively empty compared to contemporary electric locomotives. Much of the engineering specification for the locomotive was derived from the research and operational experience of the Advanced Passenger Train.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 http://documents.epfl.ch/users/a/al/allenbac/www/documents/Fich0291.pdf
2. ↑ "The Design and Development of the Class 91 Locomotive", P J Donnison and G R West, Main Line Railway Electrification Conference 1989 - Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1989.
3. ↑ "The design, manufacture and assembly of the British Rail Class 91, 25 kV 225km/h locomotive", M L Broom and G W Smart, Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers Vol. 205, 1990.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Traction Recognition, Page 84 - 85, Colin J. Marsden, ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4
5. ↑ https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/media-centre#/pressreleases/first-minister-launches-new-virgin-flying-scotsman-train-1242511
6. ↑ Class 91: 91101 'Flying Scotsman' Virgin Trains East Coast Newcastle Upon Tyne
7. ↑ http://www.railalbum.co.uk/diesel-electric-locomotives/br-class-91-1.htm
8. ↑ Page about the locomotive, East Coast, accessed 31 May 2013
9. ↑ https://www.webcitation.org/5xXxVrMou?url=http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/Press-Release/2011/EAST-COAST-NAMES-TRAIN-SIR-BOBBY-ROBSON/
10. ↑ http://railwayherald.com/uknews/east\_coast\_unveils\_battle\_of\_britain\_91
11. ↑ http://www.mediacentre.eastcoast.co.uk/News/EAST-COAST-UNVEILS-MOVING-TRIBUTE-FOR-THE-FALLEN-48d.aspx
12. ↑ http://www.mediacentre.eastcoast.co.uk/News/EAST-COAST-TRAIN-NAMED-DURHAM-CATHEDRAL-3b8.aspx
13. ↑ http://www.mediacentre.eastcoast.co.uk/Press-Releases/FAMOUS-NORTH-EAST-ANTHEM-BLAYDON-RACES-TAKES-TO-THE-TRACKS-314.aspx
14. ↑ https://www.stevenknightmedia.com/the-steven-knight-media-blog/bounds-green-depot-celebrates-40-years-of-hst-maintenance-by-naming-a-class-91
15. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/4293034443/
16. ↑ http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/1978\_to\_1992\_page.htm
17. ↑ https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2017/11/virgin-loco-91-126-named-darlington-hippodrome.html
18. ↑ https://twitter.com/richardsalkeld/status/751013406719807488
19. ↑ http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14949758.All\_aboard\_the\_Lord\_Mayor\_of\_Newcastle/?ref=arc