POWER BY THE HOUR
WCR acquires ‘86’ while LSL’s newly-acquired electric locos go InterCity.
New look and new home for electrics.
AFTER November’s news that Locomotive Services Ltd had purchased Nos. 86101 and 87002 from the AC Locomotive Group, the fate of the third member of the former GBRf Caledonian Sleeper empty coaching stock pool (GBCH) No. 86401 has been revealed, as West Coast Railways has acquired this sole remaining British-based Class 86/4.
The sale keeps the locomotive in the UK after initial concerns it would join the exodus of almost half the remaining class members to Eastern Europe. This is the first Class 86 to be acquired by WCR, although it does regularly employ Les Ross’s No. 86259 (operated by Vintage Trains) on charters and empty stock workings.
No. 86401 moved north from Wembley to Carnforth under its own power on February 14 (as the 0M43 light engine move).
No. 86401was notably the only AC electric locomotive towear Network SouthEast livery, but it will be interesting to see howWCR replaces the current Caledonian Sleeper teal paint.
Meanwhile LSL, which prefers heritage liveries for its charter fleet, has returned its own pair of ex-ACLG machines to InterCity Swallow, making a welcome change to the 1960s schemes that have been preferred previously. Nos. 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS and 87002 Royal
Sovereign were revealed in their new colours after leaving the Eastleigh paintshop at the end of February. LSL sent Nos. 47501 and 47805 to collect the pair for return to Crewe, although only No. 87002 joined the 5Z36 move due to brake issues with the Class 86/1.
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