Preservation of AC traction has been a late development, compared to steam and diesel types. Indeed, if it hadn't been for a certain amount of luck, we would probably have lost at least three of the early loco types in the 1990s.
This section covers the AC preservation period, from its unlikely start in 1979 through to the present day. The year-by-year sub-sections cover our own history in more detail, plus other AC heritage developments outside the Group. Summaries for all pages can be found below. The sub-sections are grouped for convenience.
to 1999
| The Early Years (1979 - 1996) |
1979 - 84001 goes on loan to York 1981 - 306017 is hidden away at Ilford 1988 - The last APT-P preserved at Crewe 1991 - Peter Holt buys 81002 1992 - Pete Waterman buys 82008, 83012 and 85101, then 81002 too! 1992 - 89001 is 'Preserved' 1994 - 84001 claimed by the NRM 1995 - 84009 is scrapped 1996 - The Great Waterman Rail Sale 1996 - The AC Locomotive Group forms |
| 1997 | Purchase of locos completed. Crewe Electric Depot Open Day Members visit Barrow Hill for the first time |
| 1998 | Toton Open Day Three of our locos move to Barrow Hill First modern traction Gala at BH |
| 1999 | 83012 roars for the first time 82008 repainted into Large Logo Blue 84009's cab moves to BH 85101 prepared for movement from Crewe Generator Car bought and moved to BH |
2000 to 2009
| 2000 | Stores vans arrive at BH 85101 moves to BH 83012 repainted into Electric Blue and exhibited at Old Oak Common 84001 moves to BH to join our locos on loan 82008 roars again |
| 2001 | 84001 renovation starts Generator Car overhauled and repainted Equipment Car purchased 82008 and 83012 attend Crewe Electric Staff Open Day 87101 moves to BH for scrap |
| 2002 | Unique 87101 equipment recovered 85101 repainted into Railfreight Distribution livery 84001 bodywork preparations begun 86213 arrives at BH on loan |
| 2003 | 84001 repainted in BR Blue 84001, 83012 and 85101 exhibited at Doncaster 150 Open Days 85101 officially named |
| 2004 | Electro-Diesels restored 86401 purchased 89001 stored for GNER |
| 2005 | 86213 moved to Wembley 87002 named after the Group 86213 restored to working order 81002 major restoration underway 82008 repainted into InterCity Executive 86401 repainted into Network SouthEast 86101 and 86213 purchased Eight locos attend Crewe Works open day Three locos attend the Norwich ACoRP gala |
| 2006 | 81002 electrical restoration begins 86101 restoration begins 86401 and 73138 move to Long Marston 89001 purchased Railtour announced! |
| 2007 | 86101 returns to the main line 89001 repainted into InterCity Executive 73138 and 86401 on display at Long Marston open day |
| 2008 | 86101 works passenger trains for Hull Trains 83012 repainted into Electric Blue and exhibited at NRM York 87002 purchased and returned to the main line 86101 and 87002 perform Royal Mail standby work for GBRf |
| 2009 | 86101 and 87002 perform Royal Mail standby work for GBRf 86401 moves to Willesden TMD for train heat and shunting duties |
2010 to 2019
| 2010 | 86101 and 87002 perform Royal Mail standby work for GBRf 86101 and 87002 move "home base" to Willesden TMD 85101 electrical restoration begins 86101 and 87002 perform winter icebreaker work on WCML |
| 2011 | 81002 repainted into Rail Blue 86213 visits Willesden TMD for repainting 86401 moves to LNWR Crewe to receive bogies from 86424 86101 and 87002 perform winter icebreaker work on WCML |
| 2012 | 86401 returns to Willesden TMD 86101 and 87002 perform winter icebreaker work on WCML |
| 2013 | 86213 moved from Willesden TMD to Barrow Hill 86101 and 87002 perform winter icebreaker work on WCML |
| 2014 | 86213 moved from Barrow Hill to Willesden TMD 87002 performs winter icebreaker work on WCML |
| 2015 | 86101 and 87002 perform winter icebreaker work on WCML 86401 moved to Leicester TMD to be prepared for mainline running 86101, 86401 & 87002 repainted into Caledonian Sleeper livery 86101 & 87002 start work on Caledonian Sleeper ECS duties 86401 renamed "Mons Meg" and moved back to Willesden TMD 86401 starts mainline service on Caledonian Sleeper duties |
| 2016 | 86101, 86401 & 87002 continue work on Caledonian Sleeper ECS duties Significant technical restoration work carried out on 89001 |
| 2017 | 86101, 86401 & 87002 continue work on Caledonian Sleeper ECS duties Significant technical restoration work carried out on 89001 |
| 2018 | 86101, 86401 & 87002 continue work on Caledonian Sleeper ECS duties Significant technical restoration work carried out on 89001 |
| 2019 | 86101, 86401 & 87002 work on Caledonian Sleeper ECS duties finishes Significant technical restoration work carried out on 89001 |
2020 onwards
| 2020 | 89001 overhaul completed 89001 moved to Toton for painting 89001 returns to Barrow Hill after repainting 89001 moved to Soho depot for live testing |
| 2021 | 89001 completes live testing then low-speed movement testing at Soho depot 89001 returns to Barrow Hill |
| 2022 | Design work and parts procurement carried out for 89001's main line equipment 89001 moves to Loughborough for main line equipment installation and other works |
| 2023 | 89001 main line equipment installation continues |