From the late Tony Ewer, 86006 at Coventry with the 2130 to Preston on June 21st 1985
Part One – Class 86’0 Daylight passenger turns
Imagine the scene, the usual cranks are hovering at Leighton Buzzard awaiting 1B07 the 1718 Euston – Northampton, initial loud groans ring out as the approaching loco is identified as a “rancid can” rather than the hoped for “roarer”. However the groans turn to cheers as they realise its an 86’0 on their train. Class 86’0’s were always something special on a daylight passenger train between 1981 and May 1987, rare birds indeed.
Between 1972-4 TOPS renumbering of the class saw the 86’0, 86’1 and 86’2 number series replace the as built E3101 – E3200. The unmodified locos were classified as 86’0 and this sub class at first totalled 48. By October 1981 the 86’0 fleet fell to 20 with further conversions to 86’2 and 86’3. The remaining 86’0s were then restricted to 80mph because of the continuing excessive track wear caused by their unmodified bogies.
This 80mph restriction saw the class normally working just freight, parcels and overnight passenger services. Weekends would see the sub class stabled between duties in long lines at Stonebridge Park, Bescot or Mossend. Another weekend duty was as spare loco at Bletchley and Rugby. The 86’0 would often work the Saturday morning 2A23 0350 Euston – Bletchley “milk empties” staff train and then remain at Bletchley until Sunday evening unless it replaced a failure.
Power shortages especially on Fridays would see the 86’0’s produce on secondary turns on secondary turns booked for class 81-85 or 86’3. They were more common on overnight sleeper duties where their restricted speeds were not a problem on slacker timings.
Rare local 86’0 turn 1: August 1st 1984 –
86006 1925 M.Keynes – Euston all stations local
Having worked an evening Cobbler North, 86006 was returning “Cobbler” ECS from Northampton to Euston when a 310 unit failed. The front four coaches of the 12 coach rake were unlocked for the local service. 86006 calling at the unknown loco-hauled haunts of Cheddington and Aspley amongst others!
Rare local 86’0 turn 2 – May 3rd 1985 –
86009 1A76 1730 Birmingham – Euston (via Northampton)
The short lived load 5/6 loco hauled turn from Birmingham NS to Euston via Northampton calling at Cov, Rugby, Long Eaton, Northampton, Wolverton, MK, Bletchley, L.Buzzard, Berko, Hemel H and Watford Jn. These stations saw a hugely rare 86’0 working that early May evening.
86’0s were primarily freight locos and they dominated WCML freight traffic which needed pairs of locos like liners and Speedlink traffic. Those of us who endured overnights at Carlisle will remember 86’0s in pairs with 86’3s or 87’s on freight in abundance. 86007/86009/86030 were the only sub class members not fitted with multiple working cables so these locos had regular parcels and light freight turns. 86007 was the last 86’0 to be converted to 86’4 in May 87.
Evening Cobblers..
The Euston – Northampton evening commuter “Cobbler” trains were booked for tightly timed 100 mph AC electrics. Despite this, nominally 80 mph restricted 86’0’s did produce on the Evening Cobblers rough once a month or so. When power was short especially on Fridays when we used to have heavy Fridays Only traffic ex Euston the 86’0s would be kicked out on the shorter mileage “Cobbler” turns. 55 different Evening Cobbler 86’0 workings have been recorded between 1982-1986 with all the 86’0 fleet working (except 86002, 86008 and 86032).
Friday July 6th 1984 saw power obviously tight with 3 86’0s leaving Euston between 1710 and 1815. This was rare!
86006 1G39 1710 Euston-Wolverhampton
86010 1750 Euston-Preston Relief
86003 1B09 1815 Euston-Northampton
Vintage Northampton, 86035 with diamond pan having just arrived with 1B09 1815 Euston – Northampton “Cobbler” on April 12th 1983
2A23 0350 Euston – Bletchley “Milk Empties”
Another weekend duty was spare locos at Bletchley and Rugby. The 86’0 would often work the Saturday morning 2A23 0350 Euston – Bletchley “milk empties” staff train and then remain at Bletchley until Sunday evening unless it replaced a failure.
At least the following 86’0 “Milk Empties” workings have been noted involving getting out of bed early to view or bash this famous train which left Leighton around 0510.
86001 – 250884
86007 – 010984
86008 – 121184
86009 – 240384
86030 – 050586
86031 – 040683
86034 – 271084
86036 – 060485
86’0 daytime Workings table
Loco orig no date renum to 86’4/
Sample 86’0 daytime pass turn.
86001 E3199 86401 – 12/86
1F90 0700 Euston – Liverpool (ex BNS) 020984
86002 E3170 86402 – 1/85
1H18 1508 Birmingham – Manchester 220382
86003 E3115 86403 – 6/86
1B09 1815 Euston – Northampton 300785
86004 E3103 86404 – 1/86
1O15 0925 Manchester-Poole 300483
86005 E3185 86405 – 3/86
1M03 0805 Portsmouth – Manchester 300683
86006 E3112 86406 – 12/85
1925 M.Keynes – Euston all stations local (unit failure) – 010884
86007 E3176 86407 – 5/87 – 86007 – not multiple working fitted
1850 Euston-Preston Relief 010683
86007 at Bletchley with 1B09 1815 Euston – Northampton “Cobbler” on April 26th 1984. 86’0’s were always quite rare on daytime passenger trains such as 1B09 by April 84, familiar profile at the lead droplight!
86008 E3180 86408 – 11/85
1A08 1000 Wolverhampton-Euston (87025 failed) (ex Nuneaton) 120284
86008 at Rugby after 87025 failed with the 1000 Wolves – Euston on February 12th 1984
86009 E3102 86409 – 11/85 – 86009 – not multiple working fitted
1733 Smethwick – Euston rtn footex – 110585
86010 E3104 86410 – 8/86
1750 Euston-Preston Relief 060784
86030 E3105 86430 – 2/87 – 86030 – not multiple working fitted
1V88 1325 Manchester-Paignton 180585
86031 E3188 86431 – 4/86
1M10 0600 Ealing – Manchester (ex Bir Int’l 47532 failed) 120682
86032 E3148 86432 – 1/85
Widnes – Wembley Ruggex 010582
86033 E3198 86433 – 5/85
1B09 1815 Euston – Northampton 270784
86034 E3187 86434 – 12/85
1G36 1540 Euston – Wolves 050585
86035 E3124 86435 – 2/86
1V76 0936 Liverpool-Penzance 180585
86036 E3160 86436 – 7/85
1Z49 1205 Bristol-Edinburgh Relief 020185
Post New year reliefs ran in abundance as in this January 2nd 1985 view. 86036 is making a rare daytime passenger apperarence on 1Z49 1205 Bristol – Edinburgh relief. The BSK we travelled in from Wolves SC 35477 was a 1963 Wolverton built coach, presumably long gone like 86036 (later 86436). At Crewe we viewed the start of the up procession of reliefs from Scotland joining 85023 on the 1025 Stranraer – Euston to M.Keynes. Happy days on the WCML..
86037 E3130 86437 – 5/86
1G75 1752 Preston-Coventry 141285
86038 E3108 86438 – 12/86
1Z98 1315 Glasgow – Euston Relief 040185
86039 E3153 86439 – 6/86
1V73 0820 Liverpool-Padd (50L) 020384
Thanks to the Rail Gen Archive for helping with the gen
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Leighton Lists 