89001 restoration

According to one of the youtube comments, they have done a great job bringing a "very old locomotive" back to running order...

Bellerophon says "hold my coal"...

Great to see Avocet back running. Was always disappointed the last ECML locomotives didn't get racehorse names

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U79954/2026-03-18/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U79955/2026-03-18/detailed

Rumoured to test runs for 89001 on Wednesday and Friday, same paths both days.

 

Confirmed from sources

 

89001 + 86101 + 6 Mk3s + DVT.

 

Departing:


And at speed:


(not my videos, and there are many more of today's run out there)

 

89001 running forty three minutes late at Benson Hall Farm.

 

89001 on the second loaded test run both ways through the Lune Gorge, arriving twenty four minutes early at Tebay, apologies as I had a few focus issues on the return leg.

 

Following its outing on the Chairman's Train the other week, Avocet's first public working is scheduled for August 18th.

https://inter-city.co.uk/journey/test-6/

 

Sadly only appears to have made it as far as Warrington BQ before failing, Class 90 on route to take over for a curtailed itinerary going as far as Carlisle and back.

 

90001 Royal Scot + 89001 Avocet (dit) tnt 82139 seen from Shap Wells.

 

I read a comment that the batteries weren't charged after previous outings. I didn't realise that was something that needed to be manually done on a modern AC electric!

 

Reportedly LSL has redated the tour & all those with tickets yesterday are transferred to the new date or can have a full refund. Seems very fair.

 

Given the fare was a reported £180:00 just for the seat I would say necessary

 

Certainly the right thing to do but probably the booking t&c didn't create a "necessity". As a number of people have pointed out over the years the t&c usually seeks to exempt the seller from liabilities arising from unexpected events.