The British Rail Class 86 Bo-Bo electric locomotive was the first large scale standard electric locomotive brought into service and was developed from the earlier Class 81 to 85. One hundred locomotives were built by British Rail at Doncaster and English Electric at the Vulcan Works, Newton-le-Willows between 1965 and 1966 to operate a high speed passenger and freight service on the newly electrified West Coast Line. Some of the class were named after towns or counties that the lines they worked passed through.
The class underwent some substantial modifications during its long life. Suspension changes were made to reduce the damage caused by prolonged running at high speed, power upgrades and push-pull capability for operating with Mk3 Driving Van Trailers.
Following privatisation the fleet was divided amongst many operators including Anglia Railways, EWS, Freightliner, Virgin Cross Country and West Coast. Currently, Freightliner still has a small fleet of Class 86s along with two privately owned 'heritage' locomotives hired for the Caledonian Sleeper service.
The Dapol Class 86 features:
- Finely detailed body with many extra fitted items
- 5 pole Super Creep motor with incredible controllable slow running speed
- All wheel drive and pick up
- Finely detailed and posable pantograph
- Accessory bag with optional fitted parts