UK BR Class 89 No. 89001 — Flying Badger

British Rail Class 89 No. 89001 was a one-off high-speed electric locomotive designed by Brush Traction and mechanically built at BREL Crewe in 1986. Developed in anticipation of East Coast Main Line electrification, the powerful 25 kV AC Co-Co locomotive combined a streamlined twin-cab body with six powered axles, a 125 mph (201 km/h) maximum speed and a 4,350 kW power rating. Its distinctive outline earned the nickname 'Flying Badger'. British Rail named it 'Avocet' on 16 January 1989. British Rail ultimately adopted the Class 91 and Mk4 InterCity 225 concept rather than order a production Class 89 fleet.After trials and InterCity work in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the locomotive passed through private ownership before returning to service with Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) in the 1990s. Following further withdrawal it entered the care of the AC Locomotive Group, which purchased 89001 in 2006. The group undertook a long-term restoration, and the locomotive returned to main-line passenger working in 2026. It hauled a preserved Class 1 passenger service on 14 July 2026 and successfully completed the rerun of 'The Avocet Achievement' railtour on 7 October 2026.This Transport Fever 3 recreation presents 89001 in its familiar InterCity Swallow colours, with detailed exterior, Co-Co bogies, driving cabs, four directional white headlights at the leading end, red tail lamps, and custom electric locomotive audio. The pantograph automatically raises beneath conventional overhead electrification and lowers on compatible UK third-rail tracks. Third-rail operation is a fictional gameplay adaptation: the real Class 89 was designed for 25 kV overhead supply only. The sounds are a recreation rather than original Class 89 recordings.Original 3D model: timblewee (Sketchfab). TF3 adaptation: smileystvstream. Historical information: The AC Locomotive Group (aclocogroup.co.uk).