During 2024 and 2025 an enourmous amount of work was carried out by both AC Locomotive Group (ACLG) volunteers and the team at Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) at Crewe. A major examination and a considerable amount of other 'behind the scenes' activities were completed.
On the nights of 29-30 September and 30 September - 1 October 2005, 89001 worked a series of journeys between Crewe and Stafford. These journeys were the first in 25 years that the 89 had run under its own power on the national network and represent a huge step forward towards the goal of returning the locomotive to mainline service.