NR's load banks have a 'Deltic' connecting

摘要

Just before the Christmas holidays, the second of Network Rail's mobile load bank test locos was dispatched to Rugby after conversion from a conventional Class 86. Both were used during the shutdown of the network at Christmas to carry out tests on the overhead line south of Rugby. The conversion of both Nos. 86901 and 86902 from 86253 and 86210 respectively turned out to be an unusual example of the rail industry working closely with the heritage movement. With the need for the specialist development of the two load banks to test new power supply equipment and OLE being installed on the West Coast Main Line, Network Rail's tender was won by Bralesford Engineering, who undertook the design work and then sub-contracted the actual conversion work to the Deltic Preservation Society's Commercial Services arm.