Class 86's

The remaining few in service with Freightliner seem to be coming to the end of their days of service, not a bad effort after c. 55 years front line service.

 

What do expect from a design to come from English Electric?
From a totally unbiased Class 20, 37, 40, 50, 55, 73, 86, Canberra and Lightning fan

 

*Cough*Baby Deltic*cough*

Sawdust.

 

I was wondering who would be the first to notice that, well done @Sawdust

 

They might be a bit 'long in the tooth' but they can still put in a good shift.. I was mightily impressed with Les Ross out of Euston.

 

I understood that they were to be kept for an anticipated upturn in electrically hauled freight

 

I think that's the official line, albeit they all will need money spending on them to run again after storage, FL have a decent number of 90's now and once the 86's go will the competency be maintained within FL to drive them?

 

Stored in a siding, off juice and not mothballed. The cold and damp will kill 55 year old electrical kit.

 

I gather that there is Hot or Cold storage with hot being better at keeping things alive

 

Put them under the wires and run them up once or twice a week? Would that be a problem at somewhere like Crewe or Ipswich?

 

Don't forget the engines supplied for Classes 08 / 09 / 11 / 12 / 201 thru 207 and the first 5 main-line diesels 10000/1 + 10201 - 3; not a bad contribution methinks !

 

Pity we managed to keep the locomotives going but not the company.

 

They do seem to be using a Felixstowe to Garston turn (comes past me at Brinklow at about 8.30am) to keep them active.

 

That was last week .Only one left with 8 hours to exam now.

 

Think they are just running down the clock on route refreshers now aren't they.

Add into the mix the fact that many already stored need wheel sets and other expensive bits, even the ones being retired now will need exams before they can run again after storage I don't hold out much hope for them even if storage doesn't kill them.

But by god they have had a good innings!

 

Hadn’t forgotten those either Fred, Baby Deltics aside I think it’s safe to say the taxpayers had its money’s worth from English Electric

 

I think the diesel bits part of Paxman diesels didn’t the electric bit become part of GEC (now Alstom?)

 

And not forgetting the EE traction motors that sat under several generations of SR and BR(S) EMUs, plus much of the electrification infrastructure.

 

I think that should be 'sit', rather than 'sat', as the last time I went to Waterloo (albeit, covid time means that was a while ago now) there were still loads of 455s around, which I think still have EE motors…

EDIT of course, should have looked at wikipedia before hitting 'post reply', as it looks like they were all re-motored…. as you were!

Simon

 

You can still get the EE motor experience if you wander over to Victoria or London Bridge for the Selhurst based 455s...