Class 86's

Apparently to be stored off the juice.

 

Does the warm storage still exist at Long Marston, if not, the inevitable torch awaits sadly.

 

I don’t believe Long Marston was warm storage - Crewe will be off the juice as it is.


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Stored at Basford Hall, off juice!

 

Not a brilliant photo I know, it was a quick shot taken with my little compact.
A class 66 with two electric locos in tow dropping down from Copy Pit summit near Walk Mill on 17th December 2020.
According to RTT they were heading to Basford Hall from Leeds.

 

What's the likelihood of any entering preservation? I'm guessing that the limited mainline work, absence of a heritage line possibility and the fact WCRC and LSL already have one, plus Les Ross, all make it a slim chance. Museum piece maybe?

 

I believe they are generally pretty ropey so I fear not.

 

Doubtful given that they have been re-geared for freight work thus restricted to 75 mph IIRC. Given that both GBRf and DRS trialled Class 87s when available and reverted to diesel traction traction I presume another Europhoenix sale abroad will be the only option of continuing service.

 

That is capitalism.

 

I'm 99% sure that the 86/6s do not have different gear ratio compared to "100 mph" locos. 86501 did, for a while, before catching fire. Certainly when they were first renumbered in the 1990s, the only major change was to limit the speed via the wheel slip system. Happy to be corrected!

 

'Les Ross' made a fine sight today as it called at Preston with the northbound CME @Victor 's fav 'lecky!

 

Never used to give it a second glance, when in Intercity or Virgin Red!

 

It's a very fine machine and it's a credit to all the people who look after it.

 

Some of us remember them when they were in that livery the first time around!

 

Some of us even remember them being introduced to service - and chasing them to complete the ton of sighting.

 

...and some of us saw them being built in Doncaster (never got to look around EE @ Newton-Le-Willows)!

 

And some of us remember a time when they weren't there at all!

 

More to the point it proves that an operational electric locomotive - and by implication multiple unit is possible.

 

... assuming you can afford the mainline certification, maintenance, storage etc and have a business opportunity to use it (such as hauling railtours at line speed from large centres of population to scenic locations). I don't see a similar business case for an emu, unfortunately.

 

Be nice if somebody could go at that CME headboard with a carefully aimed jigsaw. The blue background fits, the yellow border not so.