Railway Herald
The Class 89 was built as a prototype alongside the GEC Class 91 design as potential prototypes for electric traction on the ECML. The Class 91 design was favoured departs from No. 89001 as the only example of its type. It was eventually named 'Avocet' and tended to be used for charter work and special workings rather than normal service trains. Once under GNER operation it regularly performed on London-West Yorkshire workings until it suffered a major failure in 2001 causing it to be placed in storage. It was eventually sold by GNER to the AC Locomotive Group in 2006 who have preserved this unique locomotive. It is seen here arriving into a very wet Leeds in June 1997 at the head of the 'Yorkshire Pullman' (the 0733 from King's Cross to Bradford via Leeds).
Dwb
