Preserved electric locos on the main line

IT is now 27 years since the return of Pete Waterman’s ‘Peak’ No. D172 Ixion to the main line, the first preserved diesel to break the so-called diesel ban (see the Preserved diesel locos on the main line feature in the January 2020 issue) – although there had been several runs made by preserved locos, either officially sanctioned or otherwise! Interestingly, there was no such ban on the use of preserved electric traction, providing it met the necessary safety requirements, which meant a couple of locos, as well as several EMUs, saw action on the main line prior to 1994. This feature examines the preserved electric locos which have seen use on British Rail and Railtrack/Network Rail metals.

The first preserved electric which took to the main line in the 1980s had never been operated by British Rail or its predecessors. No. 12 was a former London Underground machine,