89001 Testing July 2024

The installation of new safety systems and other overhaul work on the 89 at UKRL Loughborough has been completed. Testing of the locomotive, under power from the 25kV supply on the test track represented the one of the last items for our Engineering Team to undertake, proving that the locomotive is taking power correctly.
During the testing the 89 successfully took power on all six traction motors, this being a 'first' in its preservation history and the first time in almost 25 years the locomotive has run in this configuration.
Follow us at aclocogroup.co.uk
Testing hosted by UK Rail Leasing ukrl.co.uk
Follow LSL at locomotiveserv... and / locomotiveservicesgroup

[@rorymacve]

This is a project I've been following for the best part of two decades, as the Class 89 is a locomotive that has always held a place in my heart as a favourite. Exceptional work restoring this machine to operational service, and I look forward to the day when it starts running out on the mainline once again! Congrats! 😁

[@AberdonaiBrum101]

I know your feeling :)

[@KrisDouglas]

Looking forward to seeing a video on your channel about it's return to service 😉

[@20PhantoM07]

Are you the chap whose videos I watch?

[@andrewholloway231]

I want to thank everyone... and I mean EVERYONE... for all the hard work they put in in returning this unique Class 89 locomotive to operational condition. I hope that 'Avocet' (I think that's her name) returns successfully to the mainline.

[@sirgresley6007]

I wasn’t aware that 89001 was being restored to working order, it’s nice to see her back!

[@Kandlelite]

Yeah the class 91’s that were being scrapped their parts were used to rebuild her 91114 was also being kept in warm storage for spare parts

[@WheelsonRails728]

Imagine if there'd been a small fleet of these beasts built by Brush Traction!

[@DiggleJunction]

Incredible work from everyone involved - many congratulations! Very fond memories of seeing her run up the ECML in GNER guise when I was a youngster, can't wait to see her up and running again. One of the greatest modern preservation feats ever getting it back in running order.

[@SSccaanniiaa]

Great job AC for bringing the class 89 back to life! The work must've been hard, but it will pay off to the trainspotters/train enthusiasts like me to finally see it back on the mainline in service! 😄 Great job once again! 😊❤

[@AndrewHurst-g5s]

Superb! Well done to all involved who is making this happen!!!

[@18robsmith]

Great to see the badger moving with all 6 motors working - let's hope they stay that way for a good long time to come.

[@brushhead]

Fabulous to see...we might yet get to see what this loco is capable of.

[@andrewbrown6786]

They already know what this loco is capable of - if they’d made a fleet of these instead of Class 90’s & 91’s - the freight and passenger services would’ve been much more reliable 👍

[@mrmrst9020]

Can’t wait to see her back on the mainline Brings back happy memories working on it

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

Quite right!

[@mt5144]

This is Great News, I remember the Class 89 when it was being built in Crewe Works in 1986 & saw it in GNER Livery in Leeds during the late 90's when it looked in Superb Condition in the Dark Blue GNER Livery, this was the last time I saw it, so nice to have another rare Loco put back onto the Main Line & I will look forward to seeing it again at Crewe LS depot in the near future.

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

Exactly!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Merely one hour ago I was told by Joe Lycett (Radio 4) that the 89 is nicknamed "Badger" (which I didn't know) and lo and behold, an 89 in my video feed. Synchronicity. BTW 👍👍👍 as to this very good news.

[@chrissutton4256]

She was also known as 'The Slug' during my time at GNER BN!

[@sdroffey]

The Badger is back!

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

She's looking good. Can't wait to see her out on the mainline again...

[@fredscratchet1355]

Wow that's amazing. I never thought I'd see the day, well done to all. The noise is incredible.

[@ThinkingAloud]

Fantastic stuff - congratulations to everyone involved! This brought a big smile to my face. :)

[@graemewiltshire312]

That’s a beautiful looking locomotive.

[@Jamie92208]

Well done to everyone involved. I have good memories of being hauled from Wakefield to Leeds by it.

[@gerrynewton3147]

A far better looking loco than the class 91. Shame it did not make it into full production on ECML.

[@elaineparry9106]

My favourite - not an engineer, but happy days!!!

[@axldelticwalton1238]

Beautiful loco can't wait to see her again. At the time i was always hoping foranother 31 of these but i do also like the 91s. You have worked hard through many issues and it is very apreciated. Well done!

[@Northerner_Transport_Hub]

Looking forward to seeing the 'Badger' in action. Glad NRM didn't get their grubby little mits on this one.

[@Johnny16781]

They got 87 001 instead

[@EastMidlandsTrainspotting]

So amazing to see a loco running again after hours on end of work, great job to the teams who worked on it, hope to see the 89 on the mainline at some point

[@YTdannycookevids]

Good to see something coming of the work!

[@pn112upfast]

Excellent subbed 👍 love the 89 👍

[@johnson_street_IEMD]

This is brilliant to see .. keep up the good work

[@markbowler8091]

Wow, what an achievement. I was involved with the initial testing and commissioning of the Class 89 and it was so sad that the BRB didn’t order any, just class 90s and 91s but I think it was political (?). On one light engine test run from Crewe to Stafford, the Brush engineers temporarily raised the settings for the motor current limits and I was sat in the drivers seat in the back cab, the traction inspector asked the driver to accelerate to line speed using the speed set (cruise control) but he didn’t specify how much traction effort. The acceleration dropped me of the seat and left me in a heap on the floor. Very impressive. From memory, the final figures for the ride index were close to that of a mk 3 coach, not bad for a loco!

[@adriangiddins6065]

Absolutely fascinating....well done all !!

[@brothermoto1964]

Far superior to the Class 91. Well done everyone 👏

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

Agreed!

[@frselsig]

Awesome to see the Badger come back to life. Is the ability to join the ACLG going to come back to the website, as the page appears to have vanished in the update a year ago.

[@chriswatson4641]

Glad to see the $5 I donated about 20 years ago has went to good use!

[@TheTransportLover976]

When she comes back into service, I will try to see it every time it goes to London

[@datguy6101]

Amazing work! Well done!

[@Harry244ful]

Absolutely fantastic work!!!

[@stephenpowell5912]

Great Job ,Well done to all 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Penguins247]

Brilliant; great to see Avocet up and running again - well done to everyone involved in the restoration! I look forward to seeing her run on the mainline soon :D

[@soundseeker63]

YESSS, the badger is alive!! 🤩 I only ever saw her moving once under her own power, around 2000-ish in service with GNER. Had only ever seen her in a few books/magazines prior to that point and its been the same since - Definitely one of the UKs most unique and mysterious locos. Here's hoping she gets to VISIT the ECML again. Would be a wonderful sight to see, especially next to LNER's retro liveried Mk4 sets which also look amazing. Good work guys for getting this beast running again! 👌

[@gregkiteos1936]

That's amazing! It's strange to think that it's spent more than half of its life out of service. Hope to see it soon!

[@spitfire451]

I remember seeing this parked up outside the sheds near Derby station back in the late 80,s. I'm so chuffed she's up and running again.

[@edmonddaramy-williams625]

Amazing! Keep it up!

[@darrenhillman8396]

Incredible work and effort by all concerned! Well done! 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@philipbray880]

Still remember it from back then even when it was in GNER's colours looked pretty decent still does!

[@darylslinn5704]

The badger is back !

[@paulfuller7409]

Fabulous loco this. I have always had a soft spot for it. Well done to the people that have dedicated time and money to bring it back to life A complicated project this

[@geoff1201]

I was once hauled by Avocet from Leeds to Kings Cross. Alas the only thing i can remember about the journey is the football hooligans on the train. At least they were all arrested by the BTP on arrival.

[@bhuvaneshserene-blake9540]

Excited to see it on fully up and running!!

[@screwdriver5181]

Lovely to see what is probably the best AC loco ever built in the UK. I was very much involved in the design of the brake control and WSP system for her. On test runs with the International Demonstrator coaches her performance was stunning. Well done to the team who have done the restoration job. Pity that politics got involved regarding a fleet build. Did you ever find the spares which I had concealed behind the brake frame ?😊

[@pokefan-ix7sh]

great to see her for a long time

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

Like many other railway relics, this locomotive should be maintained with pride in full working preservation. A one off, and unique item.

[@Penfold37250]

Excellent! Now it's time to give your other locos the same level of attention.

[@dgattenb]

sexy ! used to see her with the 91's and buffer 43 's at bounds green , sounds awsome inside .

[@bfapple]

A pity that I missed it when I popped in to 25 shop a few months ago. But at least I know there are some very dedicated people working on this.

[@crompton33022]

Fabulous news.

[@DarkAngel-ph9on]

Awesome congrats it looks amazing!

[@RailwayWorld_2023]

love the class 89, what an amazing job you guys are doing to restore this beast and bring her back to life! I noticed that the AWS sounds like one of the new LED types, is this staying or are you going to put one of the older mechanical ones in?

[@paulsteane4168]

The loco was withdrawn by GNER before TPWS became mandatory, so it was never installed (actually it was, after withdrawal, but never approved for use). Nowadays TPWS Mk.4 is mandatory for anything that doesn't already have TPWS, so that's what we have installed - so you have the LED sunflower and electronic bell/horn tones and "speaking announcements".

[@Slipperyisimproving]

It's a shame only one Class 89 was built. #89001 is a lonely survivor. #89001 is returning to the mainline :]

[@justinobrien3593]

the badger is up and running again 2 decades to late but hopefully it will join the rest of the preserved electric sparkie locomotives at crewe hopefully 🙏 nice video 😍🥰🤩

[@jamesedwards7241]

Good to see the project starting to see daylight. A lot of questions about its overall reliability back in the day left us wondering if the TM's were actually up to the job they were being asked to do and it would be a sad tale if a solution was not implemented during this refit.

[@barnsproductions]

Recently, I put down a £25 deposit for the Accurascale 00 scale Class 89 in GNER Blue with white lettering. Delivery expected anytime between now and September.

[@trainman86trainstramsandmore]

What are those 60s doing outside the sheds. Are they going for overhaul? Great work on the 89, well done to all involved.

[@petersmith4455]

hi great video, very interesting, as with all electric locos pure Dr Frankenstein insides which are great.pity there are no circular amps meters. the swiss crocodile was also a FAB loco with creepy noises and flashes,

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

Armstrong Powerhouse must be preparing to work a 89 EP at some point now…

[@SpoonyMcSpoonface]

I’m sure it will look great going over its old routes. However,how about getting it route cleared for Cardiff-Paddington-Newbury for a tour on the old Western region. Or even lending it to GWR as a shore supply for when the Night Riviera goes into Euston!!!

[@phillynch3819]

Let's stay out of puddles from now on, eh?

[@Thiefnuker]

Awesome work! A question I have though is why the brake pipe was overcharged to 5.5bar during testing?

[@20PhantoM07]

Never seen or heard of one of these before…

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

You have now...

[@BIGV710]

89 and posswibly mk4 coaches like when it ran on east coast from kx

[@avidtrainspotting]

BREL would be stunned if they still existed.

[@psychoaftershok]

UKRL in Loughborough? local to Loughborough and never heard of it - only heard of UKRL Leicester, looks like this being done near the Brush. i know the GCR run testing but they dont have overhead lines.

[@paulsteane4168]

Brush/Wabtec closed their Loughborough workshops a few years ago and UKRL have taken it over. They do heavy overhaul work on 66s, GBRF 92s etc.

[@delticnapierdccsound4236]

MEINE LORDZ 🔥

[@mikeuk4130]

I always wondered why the Class 89 bogie design couldn't have been used on the 67s.

[@vernongoodey5096]

Didn’t Brush quote GM a million pound a pair. So GM went off and tried to design their own!

[@ccityplanner1217]

Can't wait to hear her hauling carriages! Reminds me somewhat of Skoda locomotives of the same era. Is she chopper-controlled like them?

[@1258-Eckhart]

Yes 😊

[@paulsteane4168]

She has thyristor rectifier power control (not chopper) with dc traction motors, as on 87101 and the 90s and 91s.

[@JamesLee-by3wx]

Do the fans rev down when stopped like on the 91s?

[@EastMidlandsTransport]

Dont like look of these but good to see it back out i quess

[@markarnold8160]

Will this be for Passenger or Freight? I know it has the Inter City swallow livery but that's obviously from twenty-five years ago.

[@lancashire-john]

Charter trains.

[@jamesbraithwaite478]

I've never seen a Class 89. Is it a one-of-a-kind?

[@davidstrains4910]

Hi James, this is a class of one locomotive, only one was built.

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

Yep, one of one prototype locomotive.

[@KrazyKotYoutube]

Badger Badger Badger…

[@adelestevens]

Are you looking to get ERTMS fitted for the East Coast Route now roll out has started?

[@Dreamweaver787]

Looking good, what was the original purpose of the class 89, as only one was built?.

[@rockerjim8045]

is the pantograph powered by batteries to raise it

[@RailwayWorld_2023]

are you guys going to save a few Class 91s (like you did with the Class 90s) when LNER retire them? their my favourite trains :)

[@RailwayWorld_2023]

i know the 225 Group are going to hopefully be preserving a whole 225 set and the National Collection is getting some of the commemorative 91s... also 91131 is in Scotland

[@terrier_productions]

@@RailwayWorld_2023there is also an ex-Europheonix 91 at the Crewe Heritage Centre that has recently been repainted to IC Swallow

[@RailwayWorld_2023]

@terrier_productions from what I heard its on loan to them, not sure if this has changed to permanent since I read it though. But yeah there is the one at Crewe and the work they've done repainting it is beautiful 😍

[@danielsellers8707]

@@terrier_productions Yes I saw it at Crewe Heritage Centre when I went there last year; it looks splendid!

[@mikj29]

Avocet yeah a cross with a 125 and a91

[@richardbradley2335]

WHY was only one built of these ???

[@MetroStudios]

Is this a new train

[@StewartBarnard]

Did she use a Tap changer when taking power like an 86 / 87 ?

[@1258-Eckhart]

No, the loco has thyristor control equipment.

[@MM0IMC]

Would 6 traction motors have given her more "pulling power" than traditional Bo-Bo electric locos?🤔

[@1258-Eckhart]

This query is not about pulling power (tractive effort) but adhesion. It's a mechanical truism that six axles give you more adhesion capacity than four. Comparing the 89 with the contemporary DB Class 120, the Co-Co had a starting tractive effort of 205 kN (or 205,000 apples falling on your head) whereas the Bo-Bo had a starting tractive effort of 340 kN. As always, the trick is getting all that drawbar force into the railhead, which given the load of a passenger express and normal weather conditions is never a problem. Hook up a gravel train of 2,000 t on a track filthy with quarry slime and six axles are a benefit, it is not about drawbar force. As to pure power, the 89 produces 4,300 kW, the 120 5,600 kW.

[@soundseeker63]

In old footage you can see the 89 gets away from a standing start MUCH quicker than the 91s do, despite being a heavier and less powerful loco.

[@alanrobertson9790]

Pity it never made a class of locos.

[@SN06BNF]

That Just Looks Ugly Ngl. It Needs A Headlight Rework

[@muttsnutsNAFO]

Looks disgusting... 😂

[@norburycrossing3426]

Fantastic video of the Badger,under test, especially the walk through the middle,whilst under power,lovely locomotive,glad it has managed to survive and be made operational again,a truly remarkable one off loco. 🦡💯👍🏻⚡⚡

[@railwayfan-tiktok]

Class 89 = class 43 × class 82/90

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

If you mean Class 82 as in, DVT, then no. DVTs are not 82s, and calling it an 82 is like calling an HST set's buffet car a Class 40. It's just a carriage numbered as 82xxx.