When did Class 91s first work to Newcastle

[rfletcher72]

Hello all,

Does anyone have any details of when the first Class 91s worked to Newcastle, both on test and in passenger service?

As always, any information greatly appreciated

Kindest Regards,

Richard

 

[caliwag]

I am going to guess 1990/1...ran to Leeds in '89. First to York, on an Institute of Electrical engineers celebratory excursion was signalled into the now platform 4 (beyond 3) where the pantograph popped up (at the end of the knitting) and knocked out a bit of cast iron valence. I guess that also was 1990.

 

[43167]

1st Passenger working I saw North of York was June 91. Cant remember exact date.

 

[edwin_m]

Tyneside IECC was commissioned in April 1991. No electrics could have run to Tyneside before then. Having been involved in the project I recall that this was the last major obstacle to operating the electric service so my guess would be it came in with the May 1991 timetable. Wikipedia says late 1990 for electrification to Edinburgh but that might have been the completion of works there or even energisation from Carstairs which I think came slightly before the ECML completion.

http://www.limitofshunt.org.uk/document-library/signalling-alteration-notices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Main_Line