Welcome Back Old Friend: Class 86 at Nuneaton

After an absence of nearly 12 months, I could not miss the return of my favourite locomotive. Here we see 25kv class 86 no. 86259 'Les Ross' whining into Nuneaton on 17th October 2015 with 1Z86 Euston-> Carlisle, The Cumbrian Mountain Express. At Carnforth, '259 would be removed for the run to Carlisle behind steam traction. 86259 has been out of action since its last trip on 24th October 2014 due to wheelset problems and, after swapping wheelsets with 86246 at Willesden, it finally became available a few weeks ago. Further information can be found at: www.86259lesross.com/absence.htm.

The traction used to replace 86259 this year has been interesting, from double 47s to 68s, to 90s but, nothing could be quite as interesting as this 50 year old beast. Wonderful.

The Class 86 locomotives built upon the Class 81-5 however they included some improved features such as quieter fans.
The locos were initially notorious for causing track damage due to a large amount of unsprung mass however, after modifications which led to the fitting of large flexicoil springs, the problems diminished. The initial class 86/0 subclass was limited to 85 mph due to the track-wear issue, those which were fitted with flexicoil springs were renumbered into the 86/2 series and were 100mph capable. 3 test bed class 87s were numbered 86101-103 and were 110mph locos, 86101 remains in the country as part of the ACLG collection and should be moving to Warrington soon for ice breaking duties. Many locomotives have been exported to operator Floyd in Hungary and are used on freight trains over there. 86701 and 86702 were also preserved by the ACLG however, it is looking like they will be exported in the new year. The 86/7 subclass was 110mph capable however they were withdrawn in early 2013 due to lack of GSMR fitment. After nearly 50 years of service, 13 locos remain in service with Freightliner and 1 with ETL. The 86/6 subclass is limited to 75mph and are used on Freightliner trains on a daily basis as working pairs. 86501 is the only 86/5, it was converted from an 86/6 in 2000 as an experiment with regearing being carried out. It can handle the same load as two 86/6s and frequently turns up on Class 90 turns. During 2015, 86101 and 87002 have been hired in by GBRf in order to work ECS moves between London Euston and Wembley ICD. 86401 is currently undergoing repairs at UKRL Leicester and will follow in due course. 86235 has also been moved from Long Marston to UKRL Leicester 'for assessment'.

Taken on: October 17, 2015

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Sets appears in: • October 2015 • West Coast Electric Locomotives

Groups appears in: • UK Railways • British Rail Steam, Diesel and Electric Traction more » • Electric Railways • GB Railways • Classic UK rail traction • UK Train Pics • West Coast Mainline • All Locomotives, Trains and Trams • Class 86 (AL6) Electric Locomotives • Anything Railway • Electric Locomotives • WNXX • E3137/86259 Les Ross • #UK Railtours & Footex's. « less

Camera: Nikon D3300, f/5.0, 1/400 sec, 70mm (=105mm), ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D3300
Aperture:	f/5.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	70mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm)
ISO:	1600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384
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