AC electrics at Wembley

[plastictaffy]

Any idea what gives with the AC electrics at Wembley Yard?? Went by yesterday and saw 86401, 86701, 87002, 86101 (gone by today) and one other that I can't remember the number of. They're all stabled, pans down, and look like they haven't moved for a while (apart from 86101, obviously, as that was gone today - trip over the wheel lathe as someone else suggested??)
Anyone know anything about them??

I'd love to see 86401 Northampton Town on a Cobbler service again, as it's my home town, and looks glorious in it's weatherbeaten NSE "Toothpaste" livery.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=82679

Any help?

 

[Foxy1980]

Was this engine part of the 17:05 service which used to run from London to Northampton? If not does anyone know what this was? From memory I think this used to be the only loco hauled service of the day for quite a while.....
I do remember one day being on this service and after arriving at our destination my dad speaking to the driver who said it was only the engine's third outing on and he had basically been giving it the beans on the journey testing it out, as a young kid with a love of speed this was music to my ears!
I also seem to remember taking a direct route from Northampton down to Folkestone in Kent to see family some weekends so instead of taking the now traditional route into London and back out, this took the route around London near Willesden that the Southern services to Clapham Junction and further afield from MK and Watford Junction do now however somehow got onto the route to Kent using these tracks, anyone ever take this service too or know the routing this took? I have a feeling these used to tie in with the Rail/Sail boats from Folkestone Central to Bolougne however I am not sure if this was maybe just a weekend service or once a day....
Do many 86's these days in use on Domestic Passenger Services? The only one's I seem to see today are either converted into Freight livery.....

Thanks for the anticipated feedback on all of the above.....

 

[sprinterguy]

Was this engine part of the 17:05 service which used to run from London to Northampton? If not does anyone know what this was? From memory I think this used to be the only loco hauled service of the day for quite a while.....

Yep, 86401 was repainted into Network South East livery for working the Euston to Northampton "cobbler" services - The only AC electric loco to receive NSE livery (Until 87012 was similarly treated a couple of years back). More often than not though these trains were worked by class 81 and 85 "Roarers" in the eighties.

Do many 86's these days in use on Domestic Passenger Services? The only one's I seem to see today are either converted into Freight livery.....

Nope, there are no class 86s at all used in passenger service in the UK: Freightliner are by far the dominant user of the class on freight duties.

 

[plastictaffy]

Foxy1980 - No, It wouldn't have gone round via the Willesden Relief, (the way the Southern services go) as this route is only wired as far as Mitre Bridge Jn. (I was route learning down there only a fortnight ago - noticed something going on in North Pole Depot, too, if anyone knows what's going on........??)
It's possible that they would come off the WCML the same way the freight goes down to places like Felixstowe - comes off just by Willesden junction and round the North London line.

Yes, sprinterguy, thanks. They wouldn't possibly scrap all those fairly high powered AC electrics..........would they?? Surely to god someone, somewhere can use them??

 

[captainbigun]

Given that 100 plus electric locos have been cut or exported in the last ten years the resounding answer is there to see.

 

[High Dyke]

Yes, sprinterguy, thanks. They wouldn't possibly scrap all those fairly high powered AC electrics..........would they?? Surely to god someone, somewhere can use them??

Don't you believe it...

News from ETL: http://www.electric-traction.co.uk/news.php

Though there is a lifeline for some...in mainland Europe.

http://www.europhoenix.eu/index.php

 

[plastictaffy]

They were the mainstay of the WCML high speed services for many, many years. One of the 87's (or even a Skoda, at a push) needs to be claimed for posterity. Don't see why the NRM can't have one of them and rent it out for tours and spot hire to make some dosh with it. Mind you, because it's not steam or early diesel, I imagine the NRM will find a reason not to.........ooh, sorry, did I say that out loud??

 

[captainbigun]

The NRM have 87001. It's not likely to see mainline use again, too much wrong with it and the spares are now in Bulgaria.

You'd need to do a lot of tours, like several a week to cover the bills.

 

[plastictaffy]

I guess so. It'd be nice to see, though. Funny, isn't it, when I first started travelling on the WCML, I hated the AL6's, the 87's, and the Skoda's with a passion, but I'd much rather travel behind one of those than a Plasticlino. Odd how times change.......
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Slightly off-topic, but re my earlier post about North Pole Depot - anyone know what's going on there?? Saw summat going on up there last time I went route learning round those parts........

 

[Monty]

North Pole should become the new home for the IEPs on the Western, however I'm under the impression quite a bit of work needs doing to the yard to make it suitable. I don't even think the depot has a direct connection with the GWML as of yet. So it could have something to do with that.

 

[plastictaffy]

Bit premature to be sorting the depot out, I woulda thought. What do we know though, eh?? They didn't seem to be doing a huge amount, but I guess it could be preliminary works.

 

[33056]

With reference to through trains from the WCML to various destinations on the Southern Region, there were a number of Cross Country services that changed locos at Mitre Bridge Junction. There used to be a siding there and just enough OHL to remove the electric loco though I can remember seeing at least one pantograph lying on the floor where the "leccie" had gone too far!

In those days, the trains came straight off the Up Fast onto the West London Line, don't forget that the Willesden Relief lines were Goods lines until around 2001 and the South West lines from Acton Wells were through sidings until 1990.