under the earlier br classification, the type was given the designation al5 (meaning the 5th design of 25 kv ac locomotive), and locomotives were numbered e3056-e3095. in 1968, this was changed to class 85, when br introduced a new computer numbering system. from 1971 onwards, locomotives were progressively renumbered into the 85001-040 series. fifteen locomotives were converted for freight only use, numbered in the 85/1 series. these locomotives were restricted to 80 mph.