Class 86
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The British Rail Class 86 is an electric locomotive built during the 1960s. One hundred of these locomotives were built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or British Rail (BR) at their Doncaster works. The class 86s were built primarily to haul trains on the new West Coast Main Line between London Euston, Birmingham, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool and later Preston and Glasgow.
The operators with active class 86s left are Network Rail and Freightliner.
Network Rail
Two locomotives (numbered 86901/902) have been converted into mobile load-banks to test the electricity supply at selected locations around Britain. The locos can still move under their own power and are also used to clear ice off the overhead lines.
The pair visited Scotland for the first time on 14 July 2005, and were used later in the month on the reinstated Larkhall branch.
Freightliner
They operate class 86s on their intermodal trains between Ipswich and Crewe and between Crewe and Coatbridge.
The operators with active class 86s left are Network Rail and Freightliner.
Network Rail
Two locomotives (numbered 86901/902) have been converted into mobile load-banks to test the electricity supply at selected locations around Britain. The locos can still move under their own power and are also used to clear ice off the overhead lines.
The pair visited Scotland for the first time on 14 July 2005, and were used later in the month on the reinstated Larkhall branch.
Freightliner
86609 & 86621 head South with a intermodal train, seen approaching Coatbridge Central. Photo by sa56009
They operate class 86s on their intermodal trains between Ipswich and Crewe and between Crewe and Coatbridge.