GBRF TO RETAIN ACLG LOCOS FOR A FURTHER 12 MONTHS

Published at 11:37 on Tuesday 8th May 2018
Tags: GBRf, ACLG, 86101, 86401, 87002, Caledonian Sleeper

Now carrying Caledonian blue livery, GBRf Class 47/7 No. 47727 hauls Class 86/1 No. 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS back to Scotland on 26th April, as the pair pass Old Denaby, Mexborough, working from Barrow Hill to Edinburgh Craigentinny Depot Brady Sibson

Class 86/1 No. 86101 has returned to Scotland following attention at Barrow Hill.


Currently both ACLG Class 86s that are operated by GBRf, Nos. 86101 Sir William A. Stanier FRS and 86401 Mons Meg are both located at Polmadie, with Class 87 No. 87002 Royal Sovereign remaining on ECS duties in London. Railway Herald understands that all three locomotives are to be retained by GBRf for a further 12 months to cover Caledonian Sleeper ECS services during the change over from Mk3 to Mk5 vehicles. Because the Class 92 fleet has to undergo internal modification to work with the new vehicles, including uprating the ETS supply from 1,000v to 1,500v, the modified locos are then unable to work with the existing Mk3 vehicles, hence the need to retain the ACLG vehicles.

Work on the former Colas Rail Class 47 fleet continues, with No. 47727 having moved to Scotland, hauling No. 86101 on 26th April, while No. 47739 remains at Eastleigh undergoing bogie overhaul and a repaint into GBRf livery, before moving to Leicester for fitting of Dellner couplings. The third member of the class, No. 47749 remains at Leicester for a B Exam and fitting of Dellner couplings, a repaint into GBRf colours is expected after this work.

In related news, rumours surrounding the potential re-engineering of Class 56s for the freight operator to provide additional motive power continue, although industry sources say a final conclusion is likely in the new few weeks.

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