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86501 is an unique locomotive having been re-geared to enable it to haul these trains single-handed. Normally a pair of class 86s are required. It is not clear quite how successful this has been but it is still around and regularly appears at Stratford. The date is the 25th September 2003. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Crewe works 19 May 2000 just before the naming ceremony. Photograph taken Kodak DC260 Digital Camera. Copyright belongs to author and the picture is not to be used without permission, I can be contacted via e-mail at ecml@yahoo.co.uk

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Its always good to see this loco, a real old survivor from one of the original classes of electrics dating from 1965. Despite the odd failure and a fire 86501 continues to regularly haul Freightliners and is seen here at a gloomy Stratford E.London on the 3rd December 2009. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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OLD LOCOS STILL GOING STRONG AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. Some locos that still see main line use in 2008 first took to the rails in the late 1950s or early 1960s making them 40 to 50 years old. Quite remarkable considering they were designed in a very different era. Well if any loco has survived against the odds in recent times it is 86501! The class were new in 1965 and have effectively out lived the later class 87s. This loco is unique being previously 86608 before being re-geared to handle liners single handedly. Despite a fire in 2004 and causing the occasional disruption due to failure since, Freightliner have stuck with 86501 which can be seen here running through Stratford on April 9th 2008. Pairs of class 86s are also still in daily use with Freightliner. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.