The AC Locomotive Group is a dedicated AC

electric locomotive An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a Battery (electricity), battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime mover (locomotive), ...

preservation society in England. It has five locomotives in its care: 81002, 82008, 83012, 85101 and 89001.

History

Locomotives

In 1996,

Pete Waterman Peter Alan Waterman (born 15 January 1947) is an English record producer, songwriter, and television personality. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman production and songwriting team, he co-wrote and co-produced many UK hit singles. An av ...

, who had purchased the sole surviving examples of AC electric classes 81, 82, 83 and 85, put his entire fleet of locomotives for sale. The AC Locomotive Group (ACLG) was formed with the intention of purchasing all four machines. This was accomplished in June 1997, and three of the four locomotives were moved to

Barrow Hill Engine Shed Barrow Hill Roundhouse, until 1948 known as Staveley Engine Shed, is a former Midland Railway roundhouse in Barrow Hill, near Staveley and Chesterfield, Derbyshire (), now serving as a railway heritage centre. History Staveley Roundhouse wa ...

in December 1998, with the fourth joining them in early 2000. Also between 2000 and 2008, the group had 84001 on loan from the

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, and this was given a major cosmetic overhaul following a long period stored in the open. In 2002, leasing company HSBC Rail UK placed 86213 on loan to the group while in 2004, 86401 was purchased. The same year, GNER placed 89001 into the group's care following closure of part of

Doncaster Works Doncaster Railway Works is a railway workshop located in Doncaster, England. Also referred to as ''The Plant'', it was established by the Great Northern Railway (England), Great Northern Railway in 1853, replacing the previous works in Boston, ...

where it had been stored out of use. In 2005 the ACLG was honoured by the naming of 87002 as ''The AC Locomotive Group''. This was owned by

Porterbrook Porterbrook is a British rolling stock company (ROSCO), created as part of the privatisation of British Rail. Together with Angel Trains and Eversholt Rail Group, it is one of the three original ROSCOs. Porterbrook was established in March 1 ...

and painted in its purple colour scheme, and later became the last Class 87 to haul a passenger train in regular service. Also in 2005, the group purchased 86101 and 86213. At the end of 2006 GNER put 89001 up for sale, and following a high-profile appeal, the ACLG successfully purchased the loco for preservation. In 2008, the group was able to acquire the loco that carried its name, 87002, for preservation. For four months in early 2008, 86101 operated services from London King's Cross to

Doncaster Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...

hauling

Cargo-D Cargo-D was a spot hire railway carriage company in England. It commenced operations in June 2007, ceasing in October 2011. History In June 2007, Cargo-D entered the railway carriage market with a rake of British Rail Mark 2 and Mark 3 carri ...

Mark 3s under hire to First Hull Trains. In February 2016, 86213 was sold for export to Bulgaria. The ACLG hired 86101, 86401 and 87002 to main-line operator Electric Traction Limited for use on ''

Caledonian Sleeper ''Caledonian Sleeper'' is the collective name for overnight Sleeping car, sleeper train services between London and Scotland, in the United Kingdom. It is one of only two currently operating sleeper services on the railway in the United Kingdom ...

'' services from

London Euston Euston railway station ( ; or London Euston) is a major central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station managed by Network Rail in the London Borough of Camden. It is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

and

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

between 2015 and 2019. After this work ceased in May 2019, 86101 and 87002 were sold to

Locomotive Services Locomotive Services Limited is a train operating company in Great Britain. The company operates rail tours using heritage steam, diesel and electric locomotives with support from associated companies and trusts. History In August 2017, Loco ...

and 86401 to

West Coast Railways West Coast Railways (WCR) is a railway spot-hire company and charter train operator based at Carnforth MPD in Lancashire. Using buildings and other facilities previously owned by the Carnforth MPD#Steamtown Carnforth, Steamtown Carnforth visito ...

Restoration

The ACLG made great strides to restore electrical equipment in their early locomotives; early successes included the restoration of auxiliary equipment (including cooling fans) in locomotives 82008 and 83012. In 2006, 81002 was completed electrically to a condition where it could be powered up from the overhead wires. Most locomotives in the collection have received full cosmetic overhauls since acquisition, with both 82008 and 85101 receiving fictitious makeovers for various periods. As at June 2020, 89001 is in the final stages of an overhaul to return it to main line operation.89001 moves to Toton
AC Locomotive Group 4 May 2020

Gallery

Image:86101 Hull Trains 1.jpg, 86101 at London King's Cross in January 2008 Image:87002Waverley.jpg, 87002 in

livery at

Edinburgh Waverley Edinburgh Waverley (also known simply as Edinburgh; ) is the principal railway station serving Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the second busiest station in Scotland, after Glasgow Central. The station serves as the northern terminus of the East C ...

in May 2015 Image:89001 at Barrowhill.jpg, 89001 at

in September 2011

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
Preserved electric locomotives Rail transport preservation in the United Kingdom 1996 establishments in England