been anticipated. In response, some elements were rapidly redesigned so that it could still confirm with the requirements laid out by the corresponding British Transport Commission specification. These late-stage design modifications included the replacement of heavy sections with lighter alternatives, such as an aluminium body and fibreglass roofing, while weighty electrical equipment was substituted with lighter counterparts wherever it was practical to do so. Design The Class 82 is an AC electric locomotive intended for express services on the West Coast Main Line. Its design shared numerous aspects with, and had similarly performance attributes to, the preceding British Rail Class 81, such as its power rating of 3,300 hp, and use of fully-suspended traction motors, and multi-anode mercury arc rectifiers. Power was delivered to the locomotive via overhead catenary, which was always energised at 25,000 V AC. However, the main transformer, which was normally operated with the four windings in series, could be operated at 6.25 kV AC with the transformer windings in parallel. This voltage was intended to be used where limited clearances gave concern over use of the higher voltage arcing onto lineside structures, especially those made of cast iron. Since the clearances were found to be adequate, the lower voltage connections were locked out of use. The pantograph was raised using pressurised air, power for which was provided via the battery-powered auxiliary air compressor. The locomotive body was largely composed of aluminium and resin-bonded fibreglass. The main transformer was housed within a centrally-mounted power compartment, within which the rectifiers and their cooling apparatus set at one side and the transformers' oil-cooled radiator at the other. A narrow corridor ran alongside the power compartment, enabling train crews to move through to reach either cab of the locomotive. Various pieces of auxiliary equipment were installed along the walls of this corridor, including the battery charging frame and the l.t. equipment frame. Between the power compartment and the cabs at either end were insulated bulkheads, upon which equipment such as the four traction motor blowers and brake apparatus were fixed. Climate control within the power compartment was heavily regulated, with space heaters present to pre-heat the rectifiers to operating temperature, and numerous air-driven fans that maintained steady airflow towards vents set into the locomotive's roof. The two cabs, one being set at either end of the locomotive, were largely identical in design and configuration. They were constructed by combining an