I love the Just Trains WCML routes, but seeing class 87s on container freight and Speedlink runs just looks completely wrong, as 87s were never used on freight trains. Is there any chance of us ever getting a class 85, as they would have been doing all the freight workings back then. (Class 81-84 were practically extinct, with all survivors relegated to ECS moves around London by 1986). One of the guys from Just Trains uploaded a TSC video about the class 85 recently, so I'm wondering if this is a future teaser for a TSW class 85?
Doubt it. Unless he explicitly said it, then it's likely just his personal choice to play that on his channel. If Just Trains were going to do an 85, they'd likely announce it through the roadmap instead, especially as they do have limitations of how they can announce stuff with DTG publishing it I believe. That said, it'd be fun to see it happen, but I think you're reading too much into it with regards to it being a potential teaser.
85 (or an 81) would only really work if they could properly synthesise the "roarer" sounds as they were quite different to the 86's and 87's.
I think the chances are slightly better now we know there's a decent archive sound recording of one out there, but it's also worth bearing in mind negotiating for permission to use these sounds on a commercial product would be more complex than for use on a freeware loco. I'd love to see an 85 though, as it would be right at home in the era JT has set its routes in.
While it wasn't as common as suggested on the JT routes currently, 87s were used on freight services from time to time, 87101 was even painted into railfreight livery later on.
Yes, and 86s were used on freight in the era depicted too. An 85 would be great, but it's not true to say “they would be doing all the freight workings back then”. They would be doing some of them.
The 85’s and other surviving early build AC electrics could also be found on the secondary express services and residual loco hauled Northampton “Cobbler” peak trains.
87s were common on the Metals and Freightliner turns up until sectorisation really bit. 85s and 81s did do a lot of freight which was often the speedlink type stuff. As mentioned in other comments the 81s and 85s also worked passenger turns as and when required.
As I said in the Preston-Crewe thread months back, an 81 or 85 would be an ideal and almost legally required locomotive for the route set in that time period, along with blue & grey Mk1s. Aside from freight they regularly dropped onto ADEX and relief services and were ten-a-penny. That said, the video on the channel is just following on from one last year which was looking at the 85, just his preference to have a play with that. I do think though that there will be a loco-pack this year, though I think it might be more diesel than electric
Thanks for the info guys (and cool photo). I only ever saw 87s on passenger workings in my neck of the woods, with 85s on Speedlink and containers, but am happy to be corrected.
