| Saturday June 9th brought an unexpected and promising event in the shape of an open day at Long Marston, a site not normally open to the public. For us diehard AC followers, this of course meant the chance to have a look, perhaps for the last time, at the 16 Class 86s and 19 Class 87s stored off-lease awaiting further use - or more probably scrap.......
Alas the main attraction - the 87s - were inaccessible other than by taking the shuttle DMU which ran past on an adjacent line. A great shame; perhaps next time...... Credit is however due to the organisers for the AL6s being shunted round into a displayable location. I've included shots of all the 86s, but not all the 87s; I thought having nineteen near-identical photos was stretching it a bit! Included are all the various livery changes they underwent once off-lease and de-branded. Also included are a few English Electric veterans, and a solitary 'grid', among other things! All in all, an interesting day, and a rare chance to photograph these stored locomotives. Roll on next time, and hopefully a better look at the Sevens. The sight of no less than nineteen of these incomparable machines lined up together, was one I shall not forget easily. PS A note on names: the names quoted are those orignally applied to the AL6s, in the late 1970s. This is not the time or place to catalogue the numerous and often ridiculous subsequent names applied, particularly by Anglia. |
Immediately upon arrival, the visitor is greeted by The AC Loco Group's immaculate 86401 (E3199, Feb 1966) 'Northampton Town', sporting its unique NSE livery. I was never a fan of this colour scheme, but there's no doubting the standard of work carried out on the loco as a whole. |
Three Anglian machines at the end of the line-up of eleven AL6s - 86260, 86250, and 86217. |
86260 (86048 / E3144, Mar 1966), 'Driver Wallace Oakes G C' |
86250 (E3189, Nov 1965), 'The Glasgow Herald' |
86217 (86504 / E3177, Sep 1965), 'Comet' |
86247 (E3192, Dec 1965) 'Abraham Darby' |
Unexplained dent on 86245's no.2 end cab. |
86245 (E3182, Oct 1965) 'Dudley Castle' |
86228 (E3167, Sep 1965) 'Vulcan Heritage' |
Reunited after a separation of a dozen or more years..... |
The only AL6 present still carrying its plates.... |
86246 (86505 / E3149, April 1966) 'Royal Anglian Regiment'. A storming machine - until Anglia broke it, that is. |
86248 (E3107, Oct 1965) 'Sir Clwyd / County of Clwyd' |
Remains of what was once a Brecknell-Willis pantograph, atop 86248 ! |
86234 (E3155, June 1966) 'J B Priestley O.M.' |
86229 (E3119, Oct 1965) 'Sir John Betjeman' |
86251 (E3183, Nov 1965) 'The Birmingham Post' |
From left to right: 86251 / 86229 / 86234 / 86248 / 86246 / 86228 / 86245 / 86247 / 86260 / 86250 / 86217 |
Rather snazzy Motorail van.... |
86231 (E3126, Nov 1965) 'Starlight Express' |
No prizes for guess which loco these scars belong to....! |
86226 and 86205 |
86226 (E3162, Sep 1965) 'Mail' |
86226 / 86205 / 86231 |
