New South Wales 86 Class

The 86 class were a class of electric locomotives built by Comeng, Granville for the State Rail Authority of New South Wales that operated in service from 1983 to 2002.
== History ==
With the extension of electrification from Gosford to Newcastle (opened June 1984) and to Port Kembla (from December 1985), additional electric locomotives were required to service these new routes and add to the existing fleet of aging 46 class and newer 85 class electrics. The Commonwealth Engineering Company of Granville was again successful in winning the $118 million tender for 50 locomotives using Mitsubishi electrical equipment from Japan. They had previously built the 85 class, which were first introduced in May 1979. The 86 class electric locomotives were a further development from these, with an electrical design similar but not identical to that of the previous class. Compared to the 46 class, the 86 class had roomier cabs, modern amenities and were better riding for the crew, but their traction control system was less direct and slower to respond to the driver's commands.
The class leader 8601 was delivered in February 1983 and the penultimate member of the class, 8649, was delivered during late August 1985. However, the last of the class, 8650, was not delivered until January 1986 and underwent its trial trip on 6 January that year. 8650 was an experimental departure from the NSW norm in featuring the Bo-Bo-Bo ("tri-Bo") wheel arrangement. It was built as a prototype for the electric locomotive design Commonwealth Engineering planned to construct for Queensland Railways, having also successfully tendered for these locos.
As the new class entered service they took over the handling of the most important express, mail and passenger trains, ranging from the Indian Pacific to and from Lithgow; the Brisbane Limited, Pacific Coast Motorail and Newcastle Expresses to and from Broadmeadow/Newcastle as well as inter-urban loco hauled services to Gosford and the Blue Mountains. 86 class locomotives continued to haul the Indian Pacific and the Grafton Express up until 1994, when both runs were taken over by diesel locomotives. 86 class electrics shared goods train workings with 85 and 46 classes on all three electrified main lines out of Sydney. The use of quad 86 class on Lithgow to Port Kembla coal workings was a feature of their service. 86 class locomotives were also used to haul new chopper sets and early Tangara sets from Goninan's at Broadmeadow to Sydney.
All 50 members of the class were delivered in the then standard "candy" livery. To commemorate the Bicentennial in 1988, the SRA adorned ten locomotives in a striking livery, including electric units 8604 and 8619. In 1990, locomotives 8601 and 8602 were painted in an experimental blue and yellow colour scheme. 8626 was then painted in a modified scheme, that became the FreightRail/FreightCorp blue livery, at Clyde Engineering's Bathurst workshops during December 1990 and January 1991. The remainder of the 86 class fleet were then repainted into this blue standard livery at Goninan's Taree (and one at Broadmeadow) during 1994 and 1995.
=== Demise and withdrawal ===
During 1997 eighteen 86 class locomotives were withdrawn from service as a result of the discovery of cracks in their underframes, that had initiated within welds in areas of high stress near the bogie centre pivots. Despite the damage being easily repairable if caught early, most of these affected locos were never returned to service.
With revised methods of working long distance freight trains reducing locomotive changes on-route, usage of electric locomotives on the Sydney to Broadmeadow route was discontinued in March 1998. However 86 class locos continued to be used on coal trains and the occasional container train between Lithgow, Sydney and Port Kembla (on the South Coast). The creation of the Rail Access Corporation (later Rail Infrastructure Corporation) in 1996 lead to higher charges for electricity being imposed, that made electric locomotives less economic compared to diesel units, particularly when combined with the locomotive changes that were required, due to the limited range of electrification in NSW. Thus all 10 of the 85 class and progressively further 86 class locos were withdrawn from service.
In February 2002 government owned Freightcorp and National Rail were purchased by a consortium of the Lang Corporation and Toll Holdings which formed a private company trading as Pacific National. By the middle of June there were only seven 86 class units remaining in service. It was decided by this company that these remaining electric locomotives were surplus to requirements and all were withdrawn from service on 30th June 2002. Sunday 30 June saw the last freight train to use these locomotives, being CA16 from Clarence Colliery to Inner Harbour hauled by 8628, 8627, 8607 and 8606. The last locomotives available for service were 8641 and 8646 which were held at Enfield into early July.
On the 7th September 2002 the Sydney Electric Train Society arranged a special farewell passenger train charter to mark the both the withdrawal of the 86 class electrics, and the end of commercial use of electric locomotives in N.S.W.. Pacific National facilitated loco 8646 being specially prepared and made available for this trip. Thus this 86 class unit became the very last NSW electric locomotive in commercial service.
=== Preservation ===
Late in 2002 Pacific National commenced a disposal process for their surplus locomotives, including all members of the electric locomotive fleet. Following recommendations from Lithgow Locomotive Maintenance Centre, 8606 was selected as one of the top ranked operational units and was sold to the Sydney Electric Train Society effective 21st February 2003. The other 86 class loco initially set aside for preservation was 8646, obtained by the (then) N.S.W. Rail Transport Museum. The balance of the 85 and 86 class electric locomotives were then sold to Silverton Rail/Allco Finance.
After 9 months in storage and replacement of a defective battery, 8606 was operated light-engine (under electric power) from Lithgow LMC direct to Hornsby Maintenance Centre in Sydney on 31st March 2003. In doing this, 8606 gained the distinction of being the only withdrawn electric locomotive to leave Lithgow LMC under overhead power.
Following replacement of a defective frequency relay (used in starting the alternator) and a motor-alternator set overhaul (to rectify worn bearings and an uneven commutator surface), the locomotive ran its inaugural Society trip operating the 8606 Return to the North Tour on 6th December 2003.
In 2004 8606 was used together with 4615 to push-pull operate the AK train across the Sydney suburban system, including through the City Railway and ESR. For this the locos were used on the evening of 8/9th, and then the evenings from 12/13th to 15/16th July inclusive. 8606 has since been used on a number of the Society's trips, the last being our Terrain Tunnel Push-Pull Tour on the 29th October 2005.
In late 2004 four 86 class units were reactivated for hauling spoil removal trains from the Bondi Junction turnback excavation works. These were 8601, 8609, 8622 and 8644. Subseqently in November 2006 seven 86 Class locomotives were sold by Allco Management Limited - these being 8601 and 8650 (tri-bo unit) to Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum. 8609, 8622 and 8649 to El Zorro and 8607 and 8644 to private buyers. The remainder of the 86 class fleet was scrapped at Broken Hill. Later former El Zorro units 8609 and 8622 were scrapped at Lithgow State Mine yard in 2017. As at 2018 all of the remaining 86 class locomotives are intended for preservation.
Following a change of management at Railcorp's Hornsby Maintenance Centre and a change in policy away from embedding heritage electric stock in an operational depot, SETS moved 8606 (and its other items) to covered accommodation at the Junee RoundHouse Railway Museum on 7th June 2009. The loco was then opened to public display within the museum without its pantographs. (Which had to be removed for the transfer over non-electrified lines.)
On 16th and 17th June 2018, 8606 and the other SETS items were transferred from Junee RoundHouse back to Pacific National's LMC Lithgow for reactivation. In summary the works involved re-installation of two overhauled original-type SMC-EK pantographs, new pantograph hoses, a new set of batteries, new fire extinguishers, installation of ICE train radio equipment (which required the roof to be removed for modification and a new roof seal), testing of both and repair of one cab air-conditioning unit, provision of camping toilet, cleaning commutators and checking brushgear, meggering of all rotating electrical equipment, cleaning and test operation of all high-voltage switch gear, equipment changeout of all 26L brake equipment, changing around a dozen lamps and one inverter, relubrication and finally fit for service inspection and certification. These various works were undertaken by SETS, Pacific National Lithgow and their radio and mechanical maintenance contractor Progress Rail, and various specialist contractors (for pantographs, fire extinguishers and air conditioning).
On Thursday 25th October 2018, 8606 was taken on an electrically powered test run to Mount Victoria and back, with LMC Lithgow Shunter 48120 in tow. On Friday 26th 8606 hauled four 82 class locos up to Mount Victoria as a load test. On Saturday 27th 8606 was electrically transferred light engine from Lithgow to Clyde Yard in perfect weather.
One of the benefits of electric locomotive hauled trains is that they can be taken into Sydney's underground railways. Other than being a feature of SETS passenger excursions, this also makes electric locos useful for working the Robel rail train on underground lines. Pacific National has operated 8606 on the Robel train as E702 overnight from Monday 29th to Tuesday 30th October 2018, to drop rail between North Sydney and Central; as E704 overnight from Tuesday 27th to Wednesday 28th November 2018, to drop rail between Martin Place and Bondi Junction; and as E802 overnight from 7/8th to 10/11th January 2019 inclusive, to drop rail on the City Outer.
8606 was scheduled to haul the Robel Rail train again from the 25th February on the City Inner. However just past Circular Quay the loco suffered an interpole fault on its number 1 traction motor. The loco was first taken to Delec for examination and then to LMC Port Kembla for removal of this traction motor. The motor then received a full overhaul, including all necessary repairs. Following its reinstallation, 8606 was successfully tested on the 12th April.
8606 was rescheduled to complete the same City Inner rail drops from 15th April, however a train control error saw the locomotive with its Robel train routed over an un-wired crossover as it exited Enfield yard en-route to the City. Unfortunately the dewirement on the crossover and the subsequent recovery works largely destroyed both of 8606's overhauled pantographs.
Due to the urgency of the rail deliveries, one of the two remaining pantographs at Lithgow was specially overhauled by LRW in three days and refitted at Delec to return the loco to operation on the 29th April 2019. The loco subsequently operated the Robel train overnight on the City Inner from 29/30th April to 2/3rd May 2019 inclusive, then 13/14th to 16/17th May inclusive, and then 20/21st to 22/23rd May inclusive.
On the June long weekend, 8606 was on display at the 2019 Transport Heritage Expo, held on the Country platforms at Central Station, with its cab open for public inspection. The loco proved very popular with the public.
A forth pantograph was completely overhauled and rebuilt with many new components by LRW and fitted to 8606 at Delec on 24th September 2019. The loco then operated the Robel train overnight from 30 Sept/1st October to 3/4th October inclusive. Further electric-hauled Robel operations are currently scheduled for December 2019. 
8649 was later restored as well for the same purpose and re-entered service on 26 October 2021. After SETS received a $40k heritage grant from Transport Heritage NSW for the repaint of 8649 into the SRA ‘Candy’, on the 6th of March 2022, 8116 hauled 8649 from Enfield to Broadmeadow yard as train number D143. 2 days later on the 8th, 8649 was given an external clean and the pantograph was taken off and later shunted into one of the paint booths at UGL Broadmeadow. On the 9th of May, SETS revealed 8649 in its fresh 'Candy' colour scheme. On the 14th of May, 8184 hauled dead attached 8649 from UGL Broadmeadow to Enfield on train number D414. On the 2nd of September, PN train 1921 ran from Clyde Yard to Port Kembla with 8160, 8025, DL50, 8649 DA and 8606 DA. All 4 locos apart from the 81 were on their way to Progress Rail at Port Kembla for maintenance where 8649 would have its 2nd pantograph fitted from 8606. 8649 made its first heritage operation since restoration in SRA Candy on the 25th of September 2022, where it was used as a rear banker locomotive to help the 38 to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge and also led the train at certain times during the day.
== Status ==
86 class locomotives
Number	Owner 	Location 	Status 	Livery 	References/Notes
8601 	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum 	Dorrigo 	Static Display	FreightCorp Blue	
8602 	 	 	Scrapped 	Freightcorp Blue	
8603 	 	 	Scrapped 	Freightcorp Blue	
8604 	 	 	Scrapped 	Freightcorp Blue	
8605 	 	 	Scrapped 	Freightcorp Blue	
8606 	Sydney Electric Train Society 	Enfield 	Operational 	Freightcorp Blue	
8607 	Privately Owned 	Canberra 	Stored 	FreightCorp Blue	
8608 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8609 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8610 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8611 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8612 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8613 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8614 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8615 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8616 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8617 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8618 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8619 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	Planned For Conversion to Drivable Crew Van for SCT at Islington Workshops, Plan Scrapped.
8620 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8621 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8622 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8623 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8624 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8625 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8626 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8627 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8628 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8629 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8630 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8631 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8632 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8633 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8634 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8635 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8636 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8637 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8638 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8639 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8640 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8641 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8642 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8643 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8644 	Members of Sydney Electric Train Society	Chullora 	Stored 	FreightCorp Blue	
8645 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8646 	Transport Heritage NSW 	Thirlmere	Static display	FreightCorp Blue	
8647 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8648 	 	 	Scrapped 	FreightCorp Blue	
8649 	Members of Sydney Electric Train Society	Enfield 	Operational 	Candy 	
8650 	Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum 	Dorrigo 	Static Display	FreightCorp Blue	Experimental “Tri-Bo” or “Bo-Bo-Bo”
== Survivors ==
* 8601 & 8650 are owned by the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum, the former stored at Kooragang Island, then Werris Creek and moved finally to Dorrigo during late 2021
* 8606 & 8649 are owned by the Sydney Electric Train Society (see above)
* 8607 is privately owned, stored at Canberra [?]
* 8644 is privately owned by certain members of Sydney Electric Train Society, stored at Chullora
* 8646 is preserved at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere
== Gallery ==
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Category:Australian Locomotives
Category:Electric locomotives