Locomotive Class

Class 86 (AL6)

Class 86 (AL6) Class: Class 86 (AL6)
Type: Electric
Designer: British Railways
Weight: 81 tons
Purpose: Mixed Traffic

Information: British Railways Modernisation Plan put forth plans in the late 1950’s to electrify large parts of the network using 25-kV AC electric over-head catenary. Subsequently plans were put forth by BR for five prototype designs to be built in sufficient quantities in order to evaluate locomotives, resulting in the AL6, later Class 86.

Details: Between 1964 and 1965, 100 AL6 AC electric locomotives were constructed, with 60 being built by English Electric Vulcan Works at Newton-le-Willows and 40 at BR’s own Doncaster Works.
In operation the class has seen a number of changes over the years. The first major alteration, necessitating wheel replacement and fitting of large helical flex-coil springs to the bogies due to problems associated with track damage. Other changes came about as operating needs changed, usually not resulting in external appearance modification.
It appears that most Class 86 locomotives were originally out-shopped in Electric blue with red buffer beams and white window surrounds and roofs. The livery was adorned with a cast BR lion emblem and running numbers at both cab ends. It appears that British Railways wasted no time adopting the new Corporate Blue colour scheme with full yellow ends while production was still in progress. After 1972 locomotives in the class were renumbered in the Class 86 series under TOPS. After 1972 locomotives in the class were renumbered in the Class 86 series under TOPS. During the mid to late 1980’s locomotive were repainted in BR Sector colours to suit passenger, parcels, or freight operation. After the mid-1990’s, locomotives were scattered amongst numerous Private Operators receiving a wide array of colourful liveries.
Several locomotives were prematurely withdrawn due to fire or accident damage. Commencing in 2000, further members have been withdrawn. As of late 2010, 21 members remain in active service status with most being operated by Freightliner and 2 additional locomotives being refurbished and exported to Hungary. Currently, four locomotives have been preserved, all in operational condition.

John Faulkner

Class 86 (AL6) Releases (31)

MODEL NO. LIVERY
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive
Released: 1988 1989
86401 B.R. Network SouthEast
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive
Released: 1990 1991 1992
86405 B.R. Inter City Swallow Grey
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive
Released: 1996 1997
86417 B.R. Rail Express
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Frank Hornby
Released: 1988
86414 B.R. Inter City Swallow Grey
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Glenfiddich
Released: 2003
86241 B.R. Rail Express
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - NHS 50
Released: 1999
86218 Anglia Blue
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Post Haste
Released: 1991 1992 1993 1994
86419 B.R. Parcels Sector
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - The Kingsman
Released: 1988 1989
86417 B.R. Inter City
Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Released: 2001
86631 Freightliner Green
Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Released: 2001
86602 Freightliner Green
Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Released: 2001
86426 EWS Maroon & Yellow
Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Released: 2011
86637 Freightliner Green
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - ALSTOM Heritage
Released: 2004
86233 Virgin Heritage Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Caledonian
Released: 2001
86245 Virgin Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Cheif Engineer
Released: 2006 2007 2008 2009
86901 NR Yellow
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Crown Point
Released: 2000 2001 2002
86235 Anglia Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Golden Jubilee
Released: 2003
86227 Anglia Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Halleys Comet
Released: 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
86504 B.R. Railfreight 2-Tone Grey
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Hardwicke
Released: 2002
86225 Virgin Red
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Hartfordshire Rail Tours
Released: 2003
86401 EWS Maroon & Yellow
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - James Kennedy GC
Released: 2002
86242 Virgin Red
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Josiah Wedgwood
Released: 2003
86236 Virgin Red
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Les Ross (Preserved)
Released: 2008 2009
86259 B.R. Electric Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Novelty
Released: 2004
86235 B.R. Inter City Swallow
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Phoenix
Released: 1981 1982 1983 1984
86219 B.R. Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Royal Anglican Regiment
Released: 1986 1987
86246 B.R. Inter City
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Sir Clwyd - County Of Clwyd
Released: 2005
86248 Virgin Red
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - The Boys Brigade
Released: 1984 1985
86243 B.R. Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - The Rail Charter Partnership
Released: 2000 2001 2002
86261 EWS Maroon & Yellow
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - University Of East Anglia
Released: 2001
86237 Anglia Blue
Class 86 Electric Locomotive -The Round Tabler
Released: 2004 2005
86215 Anglia Blue

Class 86 (AL6) Images (31)

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 86401

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 86405

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive 86417

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Frank Hornby
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Frank Hornby 86414

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Glenfiddich
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Glenfiddich 86241

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - NHS 50
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - NHS 50 86218

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Post Haste
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - Post Haste 86419

Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - The Kingsman
Class 86 Bo-Bo Electric Locomotive - The Kingsman 86417

Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Electric Locomotive 86631

Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Electric Locomotive 86602

Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Electric Locomotive 86426

Class 86 Electric Locomotive
Class 86 Electric Locomotive 86637

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - ALSTOM Heritage
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - ALSTOM Heritage 86233

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Caledonian
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Caledonian 86245

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Cheif Engineer
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Cheif Engineer 86901

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Crown Point
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Crown Point 86235

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Golden Jubilee
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Golden Jubilee 86227

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Halleys Comet
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Halleys Comet 86504

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Hardwicke
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Hardwicke 86225

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Hartfordshire Rail Tours
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Hartfordshire Rail Tours 86401

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - James Kennedy GC
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - James Kennedy GC 86242

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Josiah Wedgwood
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Josiah Wedgwood 86236

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Les Ross (Preserved)
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Les Ross (Preserved) 86259

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Novelty
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Novelty 86235

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Phoenix
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Phoenix 86219

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Royal Anglican Regiment
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Royal Anglican Regiment 86246

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Sir Clwyd - County Of Clwyd
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - Sir Clwyd - County Of Clwyd 86248

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - The Boys Brigade
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - The Boys Brigade 86243

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - The Rail Charter Partnership
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - The Rail Charter Partnership 86261

Class 86 Electric Locomotive - University Of East Anglia
Class 86 Electric Locomotive - University Of East Anglia 86237

Class 86 Electric Locomotive -The Round Tabler
Class 86 Electric Locomotive -The Round Tabler 86215


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