The AC Locomotive Group

2012

86101 and 87002 on icebreaking duty at Carlisle86101 and 87002 on icebreaking duty at Carlisle

87002 at London King's Cross on a GBRf private charter87002 at London King's Cross on a GBRf private charte

86101, 86701 and 87002 continued with icebreaker work on the West Coast Main Line until 6th March.

After receiving the bogies from 86424, 86401 returned from Crewe LNWR to Willesden TMD, being collected by 86101 and 87002 on 6th March while returning from icebreaking duties.

86101 and 87002 worked a private charter for GB Railfreight on 14th July between Newcastle and London King's Cross and return.

28th September saw The Modern Railways Golden Jubilee railtour operated by UK Railtours, with an award ceremony at the National Railway Museum in York. 87002 hauled the charter train from Kings Cross to York. After a naming ceremony at the NRM, 66745 hauled the railtour back to London via Gainsborough and Pyewipe, with 87002 dead on the rear.

Colas Rail Freight expressed an interest in using an electric locomotive for moving supermarket goods etc. After a crew refresher to Watford Junction and back on 29th August, 86701 went to Washwood Heath on 1st September for repainting into the Colas Rail Freight livery. Returning to the Colas depot at Rugby on 23rd October. A test run from Rugby to Milton Keynes with former Motorail car carrying wagons took place on 24th October. A loaded train from Rugby in Euston was run on 31st October, returning empty to Rugby early the following morning.

Immediately after its return to Rugby, on 1st November, 86701 was used by Colas to haul two new Pendolino carriages from Rugby to Alstom's depot at Longsight near Manchester. These carriages were en route from the factory in Italy. 86701 returned from Rugby to Willesden TMD on 6th November.

86101 and 87002 performed icebreaker work on the West Coast Main Line during winter 2012/2013. The contract ran from 5th December 2012 until early April 2013. Generally the nightly routing was Carlisle - Carstairs - Carlisle - Carstairs - Carlisle - Preston - Carlisle.

At Barrow Hill electrical and cosmetic restoration continued on 85101. The medium term plan was to repaint the locomotive into Rail Blue livery and renumber it back to 85006.