British Rail Class 84

British Railways AL4 British Rail Class 84
Preserved locomotive 84001 on display at Crewe Works' open day in 2005
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder North British Locomotive Company Order number L91 Build date 1960–1961 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) Wheelbase 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m) Length: ​  • Over beams 53 ft 6+1⁄2 in (16.32 m) Width 8 ft 8+1⁄4 in (2.648 m) Height: ​  • Pantograph 13 ft 0+9⁄16 in (3.977 m)  • Body height 12 ft 4+1⁄4 in (3.766 m) Loco weight 76.60 long tons (77.83 t; 85.79 short tons) Electric system/s 25 kV AC Catenary Current pickup Pantograph Traction motors 4 × GEC WT501 Gear ratio 25:74 Train heating Electric Train Heating Train brakes Vacuum; Dual from 1972
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 mph (160 km/h) Power output: ​  • 1 hour 4 × 890 hp (660 kW)  • Continuous 4 × 750 hp (560 kW) Tractive effort 50,000 lbf (220 kN) Brakeforce 65.5 long tons-force (653 kN)
Career Operators British Rail Numbers E3036–E3045; later 84001–84010 Axle load class Route availability 6 Retired 1979–1980 Disposition One preserved, nine scrapped

The British Rail Class 84 is a type of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that operated on the West Coast Main Line of the London Midland Region in Great Britain. The ten-strong class was one of five prototype classes of electric locomotives introduced in the early stages of the line's electrification. Built between 1960 and 1961, the type was not a success, as they were beset by technical problems; after several lengthy periods of storage and unsuccessful attempts at resolving these problems, British Rail (BR) withdrew the fleet between 1977 and 1980.