Class 86 to Bristol Temple Meads

[74A]

Looking forward to this possibility when the wires are up after many years of travelling behind them on the WCML.

Are there any technical reasons why this could not happen ?

 

[Kentish Paul]

Looking forward to this possibility when the wires are up after many years of travelling behind them on the WCML.

Are there any technical reasons why this could not happen ?

Probably not. Could turn up on a railtour. It would be dependant on signalling systems and the crews route/traction knowledge.

 

[co-tr-paul]

The owner of a certain mainline cert preserved 86 told me some 3 years back that he would love to do this..... .

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Probably not. Could turn up on a railtour. It would be dependant on signalling systems and the crews route/traction knowledge.

There won't be connecting wires from the WCML to GWML for a long time (CP6).
Wiring of the short but awkward gap from Acton Wells (NLL) to Acton GW (over the "Poplar Branch") has been postponed.
But nothing to stop an 86/87/90/91/92 running Paddington-Bristol (Parkway before Temple Meads) or Cardiff when wired.
Or a 313 or other ancient EMU.
I don't think anybody has proposed electric freight on the GWML yet.

 

[pdeaves]

I don't think anybody has proposed electric freight on the GWML yet.

What about the Reading-Didcot bit? The so-called 'electric spine' would have allowed (nay, required) electric freight from Southampton to 'the midlands'.

That said, I think enthusiasm for the electric spine has waned somewhat.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Probably because they haven't figured out how to switch from 3rd rail to OHLE without bringing South West Trains to it's knees!

 

[59CosG95]

But nothing to stop an 86/87/90/91/92 running Paddington-Bristol (Parkway before Temple Meads) or Cardiff when wired.

An old AC electric woud be great come Rugby season on ruggex services! The sight of an 87 in Paddington does look very tempting...