BR Class 87 87035

BR Class 87 87035 Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from BR Class 87 87035, Crewe.

An archive of restoration updates, news and anything regarding Crewe Heritage Centre's resident Class 87.

87035 is back under full care and responsibility of the Crewe Heritage Centre.

A leg stretch around the yard for 87035 today
25/09/2025

A leg stretch around the yard for 87035 today

Still alive and kicking.
04/02/2024

Still alive and kicking.

Two more faults sorted on 87035 yesterday once again with assistance from Paul Steane.The wheelslip detection card has n...
07/07/2023

Two more faults sorted on 87035 yesterday once again with assistance from Paul Steane.

The wheelslip detection card has now been repaired and refitted by Paul. When tested we confirmed the fault to be rectified. There was a split solder track on the card resulting in relay REL1 being permanently energised, resulting in a permanent wheelslip indication.

Attention then turned to the fire alarm fault which the loco has had ever since I’ve worked on it. In summer months the fire bells would go off, always suspected to be a bad detector. We were able to logically split the detector circuit in half and confirm it was a detector at no.2 end. Then using -50°C freezer spray on each detector we pinned it down to 2 of them causing the fault. We were able to salvage a detector from 43018 as a temporary replacement for one but ideally we need x2 85°C detectors. For now though the other one is linked out. Luckily both are easily accessible.

This weekend at Crewe Heritage Centre (Rail-riders event) will be the last that you can see 86622 before it’s return to ...
09/06/2023

This weekend at Crewe Heritage Centre (Rail-riders event) will be the last that you can see 86622 before it’s return to FL Basford Hall on Monday.

87035 has also been temporarily reunited with the mk3/DVT set for the first time in Virgin livery, making for a good photo opportunity.

Thanks to Jon Latham for shunt move/photos.

The 86259 cab desk renewal project has finally been completed! All 8 panels and all fasteners replaced with new material...
28/05/2023

The 86259 cab desk renewal project has finally been completed!

All 8 panels and all fasteners replaced with new material. Particularly difficult project in some ways due to each of the old panels being made to measure when the loco was built, then various parts of the desk warping over time. These panels were all drawn out in solidworks, CNC cut and brought 100 miles south to Rugby. So there was not much room for error.

Hoping to provide more assistance to Les Ross/86259 in future should it be needed.

26/05/2023

TET test set in operation.

This stands for tractive effort translator and was fitted as an interface between the TDM multiple working rack and the loco.

L9 = software level
1-10 = testing
PA = pass

A day yesterday was spent looking at a couple of faults on 87035 with kind assistance from Paul Steane. The faults we we...
26/05/2023

A day yesterday was spent looking at a couple of faults on 87035 with kind assistance from Paul Steane.

The faults we were looking at were:

Constant detection of wheel-slip by the loco. This does not allow the tap changer to operate correctly without either wedging relay SWR, or removing the wheelslip card from the rack.

The first thing that we checked was the TET rack was operationally ok and the rack's mod level matched the mod level of the loco. This was done by Paul using the original Contronics test set.

After confirming it was okay attention turned to the wheelslip rack and the loco wiring. Following further inspection it was agreed it is likely to be an issue with the wheelslip card and this has been taken away for futher testing.

We also did some investigation into the problem with the fire alarm on the loco. This has been proven to be an issue within the fire detector ring, likely a bad connection or a faulty detector. This will have to be rectified by checking each detector individually.

Video on next post shows the TET test set in operation.

06/04/2023

Brake contactors 1 and 2 (with the rheo brake transformer to the left) are used for auxiliary rheostatic braking. These are required if the tap changer is still running back and driver makes a brake application. This provides enough field excitation for the rheo to hold in until the tap changer has reached notch 0, and can change over via secondary contactor 4 to begin supplying the fields. This prevents any unwanted tread brake application.

06/04/2023

A view of the tap changer drive unit during rheo brake operation. Brake pipe reduces and actuator inside the unit controls the notch selected.

06/04/2023

Rheostatic brake operation from cab; controller moved to full service, BIR relays pick up, power brake switches change over to brake, radiator bypass shutters open, secondary contactor no.4 closes and tap changer runs up to notch 7 for traction motor field excitation during rheo braking. Releasing the brakes the tap changer will then notch back down to 0 slowly.

Had a successful few days fault finding on 87035. The main rheostatic brake and auxiliary brake now work in test sequenc...
06/04/2023

Had a successful few days fault finding on 87035. The main rheostatic brake and auxiliary brake now work in test sequence.

The issue turned out to be interlock related. The interlock block on no.4 secondary contactor was split at the bottom so both sides were always touching. Luckily there was a spare one available so this was changed out.

The other issue was the interlock on the no.2 radiator bypass shutters, one copper contact was snapped. Luckily as the contacts next to it was not in use it was simply swapped over.

At no.2 end the micro switch in the auto brake controller was not connected to anything, the wires were found cut and chucked down the back of the desk. These were recrimped and reconnected.

After these were fixed the loco now changes over into rheo. Some videos and more detailed explanations to follow.

Some other jobs have been completed too. As a couple of fault light dimming resistors were broken and no 87 replacements were available they’ve been converted to the shorter 86 type. It just requires drilling one hole and moving a retaining clip. Good result as all are now lit.

The no.1 cab change end switch has been repaired, the retaining piece for the handle has always been missing but to fit it nearly complete disassembly was required. Afterwards it was given a quick AWS test to ensure it was set up right.

Hoping to have a stab at some of the little historical faults this week now I’ve finally got a little free time between ...
28/03/2023

Hoping to have a stab at some of the little historical faults this week now I’ve finally got a little free time between normal duties.

The main 2 issues are the rheostatic brake sequence test failing to complete, and the wheelslip system activating when it shouldn’t.

Here are a couple photos from a check up last night;

Address

Crewe

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when BR Class 87 87035 posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to BR Class 87 87035:

Shortcuts

Share