Class 89 updates

[Paul AC]

Update. A submission, supported by data obtained during the test runs carried out so far, has been made to Network Rail, to obtain approval for operation over a wider area. The test runs carried out in 2025 were restricted to Crewe - Stafford to keep things simple.

 

[D1511]

Update. A submission, supported by data obtained during the test runs carried out so far, has been made to Network Rail, to obtain approval for operation over a wider area. The test runs carried out in 2025 were restricted to Crewe - Stafford to keep things simple.

Excellent news. Fingers crossed for a NR approval.

 

[cats_five]

Have only just caught up with this. I remember seeing the loco at Doncaster from time to time when I lived in Leeds & went to London quite often on business. I might have a photo of it, somewhere! I wonder if the Avocet nameplates will ever go on again? It's certainly very handsome in the swallow livery, though being very, very clean in the videos helps, and everything looked gorgeous in GNER dark blue with the orange stripe.

 

[sprinterguy]

I wonder if the Avocet nameplates will ever go on again?

The locomotive regained 'Avocet' nameplates shortly after it was repainted into Swallow livery in 2020.

 

[D1511]

Have only just caught up with this. I remember seeing the loco at Doncaster from time to time when I lived in Leeds & went to London quite often on business. I might have a photo of it, somewhere! I wonder if the Avocet nameplates will ever go on again? It's certainly very handsome in the swallow livery, though being very, very clean in the videos helps, and everything looked gorgeous in GNER dark blue with the orange stripe.

Nameplates are definitely on it!

 

[Paul AC]

Have only just caught up with this. I remember seeing the loco at Doncaster from time to time when I lived in Leeds & went to London quite often on business. I might have a photo of it, somewhere! I wonder if the Avocet nameplates will ever go on again? It's certainly very handsome in the swallow livery, though being very, very clean in the videos helps, and everything looked gorgeous in GNER dark blue with the orange stripe.

Replica "Avocet" and RSPB logo plates, to the original drawings, were fitted when 89001 was repainted into IC Swallow at Toton in mid-2020. Toton did an excellent job, the paint has coped very well with five years mostly outside - just a few blemishes really only noticeable at close viewing. The locos that went from LSL to the Greatest Gathering were washed before departure, I don't think it's been washed since then...

 

[jfollows]

Have only just caught up with this. I remember seeing the loco at Doncaster from time to time when I lived in Leeds & went to London quite often on business. I might have a photo of it, somewhere! I wonder if the Avocet nameplates will ever go on again? It's certainly very handsome in the swallow livery, though being very, very clean in the videos helps, and everything looked gorgeous in GNER dark blue with the orange stripe.

I went on a train which used it a couple of times, the 15:40 King’s Cross to Bradford from memory, which may be faulty.

 

[sprinterguy]

Replica "Avocet" and RSPB logo plates, to the original drawings, were fitted when 89001 was repainted into IC Swallow at Toton in mid-2020. Toton did an excellent job, the paint has coped very well with five years mostly outside - just a few blemishes really only noticeable at close viewing. The locos that went from LSL to the Greatest Gathering were washed before departure, I don't think it's been washed since then...

It surprised me to realise that the loco was painted around five and a half years ago. It still looks absolutely pristine (along with the rest of LSL's AC loco fleet), despite largely being stored outside during that time, as you say.

 

[WessexEclectic]

Replica "Avocet" and RSPB logo plates, to the original drawings, were fitted when 89001 was repainted into IC Swallow at Toton in mid-2020.

Not trying to stir the pot, but what happened to the originals?

Back to lurking with interest…

 

[Krokodil]

Probably sold off when BR withdrew it or when it was overhauled for GNER

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I went on a train which used it a couple of times, the 15:40 King’s Cross to Bradford from memory, which may be faulty.

When it was with GNER the Bradford service was a regular turn. Meant you could get a decent amount of haulage (and "shovage") between Wakefield and Bradford on a DayRover day (no evening peak restrictions in those days!).

 

[xotGD]

When it was with GNER the Bradford service was a regular turn. Meant you could get a decent amount of haulage (and "shovage") between Wakefield and Bradford on a DayRover day (no evening peak restrictions in those days!).

I can testify to that...




89001 waits to depart from Bradford Forster Square.

 

[Nottsrob5623]

Newbie here. I was heavily involved with the Class89 (Badger), when I worked at Brush Loughborough from 1972-1992.
I worked as an electronics technician in the Traction Development lab.
I built all the electronics used in the control racking. As it was a prototype Loco, PCB’s were not designed, so I had to use the “wire wrap” system on every board.
After it was withdrawn from service I always wondered if it would be bought back,… as it turned out it was and is now almost at the point where it will be back in service. I’d love to know if it is still running with the wire wrap boards I hand built, and if so I’d love to go and see the loco and the boards.
Anyone know or can help?

 

[gazthomas]

I wonder if anyone from the AC Locomotive Group (owners of 89001) can help:

Contact Us - The AC Locomotive Group

We are the UK's only dedicated AC electric locomotive preservation society.

www.aclocogroup.co.uk

 

[GRALISTAIR]

@Nottsrob5623 - welcome to the forum and thanks for you contribution and to railways history with a fantastic locomotive.

 

[Nottsrob5623]

Thanks.. I have tried to contact them but have not had a reply to the two emails I have sent. But thankyou , I will try again as I know they own it .

 

[Cowley]

I think this might be something that @Paul AC would have some information on?

We’ve actually had a thread related to this kind of thing fairly recently:

Obsolescence of electronic components on early computer era traction

I particularly remember reading a comment from a senior BR engineer involved in the cl. 74 project, along the lines of 'never again' as far as doing that sort of major conversion. mods note - split from here I seem to remember reading that a contributing factor in the lack of reliability was...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Nottsrob5623]

I think this might be something that @Paul AC would have some information on?

We’ve actually had a thread related to this kind of thing fairly recently:

Obsolescence of electronic components on early computer era traction

I particularly remember reading a comment from a senior BR engineer involved in the cl. 74 project, along the lines of 'never again' as far as doing that sort of major conversion. mods note - split from here I seem to remember reading that a contributing factor in the lack of reliability was...

www.railforums.co.uk

Thankyou for that, it’s always interesting to to find things out around the time class 89 was being designed and built.
The microprocessor rack was on PCB’s I believe but I was not involved with that side so much.
The Electronics control system was what I was involved in.
It was always going to be a prototype and a one off. No PCB’s were made for the electronics control system system and I had to hand build and wire wrap every single connection on all the boards ( I can’t recall how many there were). I used Vero boards and soldered integrated circuit wire wrap pin mounts for the chips.. and single pins for the resistors and capacitor and diodes etc. I made layout drawings for each board so locating each component would be possible for fault finding.. the wiring diagram drawings I used to mark off what connections I had done one by one.
The comments about the environment these boards were expected to operate in has always crossed my mind, and if any were made into proper PCB’s (which I doubt because of complexity and cost)… hence my interest in going to see for myself, as it’s over 40 years since I made the control system electronics.
Thankyou in advance if anyone knows anything more.

 

[Mollman]

According to Rail advent website the Badger will be working the Chairman's Train tomorrow.
Light move to Carlisle in the early morning
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U88403/2026-07-14/detailed?s=4001
Then down to Euston at 09:39
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U88401/2026-07-14/detailed?s=4010

 

[DarloRich]

According to Rail advent website the Badger will be working the Chairman's Train tomorrow.

WOW - will have to try and pop out of work and see this.

 

[matt]

WOW - will have to try and pop out of work and see this.

Same, I will walk out of work at lunchtime to get a photo. It is already showing at allocated to the Crewe to Carlisle loco move.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

And here is Avocet southbound on 1Z34 at Newsham Hall Lane Railway bridge with the Barton and Broughton loop clearly visible. Really pleased to see this in action. I have the video but the forum says it is too large to upload.

 

[robin_cox]

And here is Avocet southbound on 1Z34 at Newsham Hall Lane Railway bridge with the Barton and Broughton loop clearly visible. Really pleased to see this in action. I have the video but the forum says it is too large to upload

Easy to fix that - there is a free software package called "Handbrake" available online that is a very efficient way of adjusting videos from filmed size to something more amenable with upload restrictions. Also capable of converting file types etc.

HandBrake: Open Source Video Transcoder

HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder.

handbrake.fr

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Easy to fix that - there is a free software package called "Handbrake" available online that is a very efficient way of adjusting videos from filmed size to something more amenable with upload restrictions. Also capable of converting file types etc.

HandBrake: Open Source Video Transcoder

HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder.

handbrake.fr

Or just upload it to YouTube (as unlisted if you'd rather it not showing publically).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Or just upload it to YouTube (as unlisted if you'd rather it not showing publicly).

Thankyou for that advice. Here is the video link I uploaded of 89001 on 1Z34 travelling south towards Preston - almost exactly 4.0 miles north .

 

[matt]

Return of the Badger by Matt Spencer, on Flickr

I managed to catch it during my lunch break at Rugby

 

[TheLancsNinja]

First public tour now on sale - Crewe-Glasgow return on Tuesday 18 August.

Intercity | The Avocet - 18 August 2026

It is with great pleasure that Locomotive Services Group, in association with the AC Locomotive Group, announce the first mainline operation in public service of the Class 89 89001 Avocet…

inter-city.co.uk

 

[D365]

Thankyou for that, it’s always interesting to to find things out around the time class 89 was being designed and built.
The microprocessor rack was on PCB’s I believe but I was not involved with that side so much.
The Electronics control system was what I was involved in.
It was always going to be a prototype and a one off. No PCB’s were made for the electronics control system system and I had to hand build and wire wrap every single connection on all the boards ( I can’t recall how many there were). I used Vero boards and soldered integrated circuit wire wrap pin mounts for the chips.. and single pins for the resistors and capacitor and diodes etc. I made layout drawings for each board so locating each component would be possible for fault finding.. the wiring diagram drawings I used to mark off what connections I had done one by one.
The comments about the environment these boards were expected to operate in has always crossed my mind, and if any were made into proper PCB’s (which I doubt because of complexity and cost)… hence my interest in going to see for myself, as it’s over 40 years since I made the control system electronics.
Thankyou in advance if anyone knows anything more.

I concur that, if you haven't already made contact, @Paul AC is your man.