The AC Locomotive Group

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 at Loughborough
2024 89001 main line equipment installation continues at Loughborough
89001 system testing carried out at Loughborough, including live 25 kV testing
89001 hauled to Crewe for further testing