Reality Check: The final
years of the Class 45s
While many of British Railways’ early diesel classes were failures, the Class 45s were so useful that many were upgraded and refurbished to extend their lives, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.
Above: The Class 45s had a strong association with Trans-Pennine passenger workings in the 1980s. Class 45/1 45144 Royal Signals crosses Saddleworth Viaduct with a Scarborough-Liverpool service on May 31 1985. Brian Robbins/Railphotoprints.uk.