Class 89 updates

[sprinterguy]

Badger on the mainline...

 

[Spartacus]

Service now reclassified as 0Z39 (your link still works)

A little clash with a 6Z38 which ran as 0Z38 also.

 

[D365]

If they get the 89 running I might have to abandon my principles and book on an LSL tour! That aside to see this machine resurrected is really incredible. I assume the skills required are pretty niche.

Indeed - ACLG and UKRL Loughborough still have a fair amount of expertise between them.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is this the Class 89 parked out the front of LSL? Taken from a Pendolino going on the down fast through Crewe.

 

[12LDA28C]

View attachment 163769
Is this the Class 89 parked out the front of LSL? Taken from a Pendolino going on the down fast through Crewe.

It's pretty hard to tell where that picture was taken but it's certainly the 89 and seems to be one of LSL's 90s behind it.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

It's pretty hard to tell where that picture was taken but it's certainly the 89 and seems to be one of LSL's 90s behind it.

I took it from a Pendolino going through Crewe fast earlier today.
Only identifying the 89 was the question, thanks for the help.

 

[james_the_xv]

Fantastic to hear! Hopefully we'll see it out on a test run soon. Perhaps a test run up the WCML, maybe to Carlisle?

Would imagine they'll keep it local to begin with, probably lots of runs to Stafford/Nuneaton before they send it further afield.

 

[43096]

Would imagine they'll keep it local to begin with, probably lots of runs to Stafford/Nuneaton before they send it further afield.

Nah, quick light engine move to Stafford and back, then put it on a tour over Shap. As was done similarly with 50050.

 

[12LDA28C]

Would imagine they'll keep it local to begin with, probably lots of runs to Stafford/Nuneaton before they send it further afield.

There's a lot of work still to be done before it gets sent out on the main line on test.

 

[The_Train]

There's a lot of work still to be done before it gets sent out on the main line on test.

From what I gather off mutterings on the recent tour (I was sat with someone who seemed to know the LSL team), it'll be well into next year before the 89 comes out on the mainline. Safe to say that when that first tour is announced, it's going to sell quickly

 

[Harlequinuk]

Realtime Trains | 0Z81 2313 Crewe H.S. to Stafford | 29/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z81 2313 departure from Crewe H.S. to Stafford on 29/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Crewe to Stafford , depart at 23.18

Badger (Class 89) out tonight

 

[Juniper Driver]

Great.Saw it at Crewe a few months back.

 

[TheLancsNinja]

Great to see they have got it to this stage, no mean feat with a unique prototype 25kv loco! Can't wait for the first tours to be announced, they will sell out very quickly I suspect

 

[Strathclyder]

Realtime Trains | 0Z81 2313 Crewe H.S. to Stafford | 29/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 0Z81 2313 departure from Crewe H.S. to Stafford on 29/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Crewe to Stafford , depart at 23.18

Badger (Class 89) out tonight

Excellent stuff. Top marks to all involved for getting to this point with her, been a long road. Safe to say the tours will sell out like no man's business when they're announced.

Expecting to see a few pics of this run crop up on Flickr etc. over the next couple days.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

89001 with 90001 it looks like.

 

[D1511]

I changed at Crewe on Thursday last week, and Avocet and 90001 were on the end of the line outside LSL closest to the station, so I dragged my bag on wheels all the way across to the end of platform 1 to get a good look at it. They've done a great job, it looks proper immaculate, and what a fine looking loco it is. I'll be piling on the first tour as soon as it's announced......if I'm fast enough with booking!
As others have said, top marks to them for getting a prototype loco full of non-standard kit running again.

 

[Rhysdabeast]

89001 + 90001 awaiting departure tonight from Crewe HS:

View attachment PXL_20250929_213744253.NIGHT.jpg

 

[fgwrich]

A couple of videos have appeared from Stafford (not mine sadly as I’m in deepest Hampshire).

 

[Harlequinuk]

Video by Tim Moran as the badger snuffles away from the sidings

 

[The_Train]

Amazing work from LSL (and all the work done by the ACLG before that) to get the loco to this stage and back out on the rails under its own power

 

[DarloRich]

Amazing work from LSL (and all the work done by the ACLG before that) to get the loco to this stage and back out on the rails under its own power

agree - a sight I thought I would never see!

 

[Rover]

It looks absolutely superb!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Amazing work from LSL (and all the work done by the ACLG before that) to get the loco to this stage and back out on the rails under its own power

I kn ow what you mean, and it is great to see.

But can any electric train truly be said to be operating under its own power, as it is taking that power from the grid?

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I kn ow what you mean, and it is great to see.

But can any electric train truly be said to be operating under its own power, as it is taking that power from the grid?

Well by that logic a diesel loco takes its power from the ground (oil), probably best not to overthink it

 

[D1511]

Well by that logic a diesel loco takes its power from the ground (oil), probably best not to overthink it

Indeed.....I also thought it was a bit of an over-simplification of what happens between the OLE and the railhead!

But it looks bloody superb anyway!

 

[hexagon789]

But can any electric train truly be said to be operating under its own power, as it is taking that power from the grid?

Under its own power at the very least in the sense of being propelled by the traction power of its own motors as opposed to hauled/propelled by another locomotive.

 

[Paul AC]

Amazing work from LSL (and all the work done by the ACLG before that) to get the loco to this stage and back out on the rails under its own power

I will gently point out that ACLG engineers are still heavily involved with 89001, as you'd expect as they still own the loco (or, more strictly, the loco is owned by Electric Traction Ltd, ACLG's commercial arm). The last few years' work have been as joint effort in many senses. LSL and ACLG engineers were on this week's test runs checking the loco's performance.

 

[D1511]

On the subject of the ACLG, the membership link on their website doesn't work and the email function doesn't work either. Does anyone know if they're still accepting new members?

 

[50002Superb]

Heard a rumour that this was due to be out again for some testing soon, anyone heard similar?

 

[Mollman]

Railway Adventures website has it out on Monday evening running between Crewe and Stafford
19:00 off Crewe HS
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U71073/2025-11-24/detailed?s=2287
20:07 off Stafford
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U71074/2025-11-24/detailed?s=2288