Locomotive Services Group and Electric Traction Ltd has announced plans for the next phase of work to bring Class 89 No. 89001 Avocet back to the mainline.

The design work for the mainline equipment is now complete and the parts have been obtained. However, the workshops at Barrow Hill are at full capacity and the decision has been taken to move the locomotive to UK Rail Leasing’s Works in Loughborough for the installation to take place.

Other work will also be completed at Loughborough, including the replacement of a faulty blower motor and the overhaul of the air conditioning units for the driving cabs. The repaired traction motors will also be fitted.

With the traction motors missing from the locomotive, the move to Loughborough is set to take place in the next few weeks by road.

It is hoped that most of the static testing can take place at Loughborough before moving to Crewe for further testing.

LSL’s AC Locomotive Engineer, Robert Fenner commented: “After months of work behind the scenes and very much away from the public eye, 89001 is finally at a stage where all outstanding works can be completed now all materials have been sourced. This will be done at one of her original birth places in Loughborough thanks to UKRL. Works will now ramp up to get the ‘Badger’ over the finish line ready for a busy season of mainline operations with LSL in mid 2023.”

ETL’s Electrical Engineer, Paul Steane added “Carrying out the design work for the installation, and obtaining the necessary parts, has been a long and arduous job. Some of the critical parts were on very long lead times, and it was pointless trying to plan the final installation until these items had been delivered. With the help of staff at LSL and our suppliers, we are now ready for this next step towards 89001 becoming a main line approved locomotive again.”
Thanks to UK Rail Leasing for accommodating 89001 for this work to take place.