2009

The contract with GB Railfreight (GBRf) for standby locomotives for the Royal Mail Class 325 postal trains continued through 2009. As in 2008, 86101 and 87002 shared the duties.

87002 was used on a couple of railtours in 2009. On 11th July Spitfire Railtours ran their "Electric Scot" railtour from Birmingham International to Glasgow Central and Ayr: 87002 worked between Birmingham International and Glasgow Central in both directions, and also between Ayr and Glasgow Central. Two weekends later Flamboyant Railtours ran the unusually-named "Brighton Rocks with AC:DC" railtour from Doncaster to Brighton: 87002 worked between Doncaster and Willesden in both directions, with a pair of Class 73 locomotives working between Willesden and Brighton.

Later in the year 86401 was moved out of storage at Long Marston to take up shunting and Electric Train Supply duties at Willesden Traction Maintenance Depot (TMD). The loco was moved from Long Marston to Crewe on 16th September in the company of 87004, 87013 and 87014 which would later be exported to Bulgaria; 86101 hauled 86401 from Crewe to Willesden next day.

During the year, Europhoenix prepared two class 86/2 locos, 86205 and 86260, for main line running. Specially set up for 110 mph operation, they were renumbered as 86701 and 86702 respectively. They were made available to Electric Traction Ltd as alternatives to 86101 and 87002.

Towards the end of the year, and well into 2010 when the weather was really bad and there were significant problems with the traction motors on the Class 325 EMUs, 86701 and 86702 were also used on the Royal Mail workings.