4,000hp 1960's Electric Power! Class 86 Number 86259 Named Les Ross/ Peter Pan at Speed on The WCML

British Rail Class 86/2 No. 86259 (Les Ross / Peter Pan)
Constructed by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire in 1965 (entering service in early 1966 as AL6 type E3191 before being renumbered 86059 and subsequently upgraded to 100 mph Class 86/2 specification as 86259), 86259 is a 60-year-old Bo-Bo 25 kV AC overhead electric locomotive operated on the national network in partnership with West Coast Railways. Drawing power from the 25 kV AC overhead catenary through its single-arm pantograph to four English Electric traction motors, the 82-tonne locomotive generates a massive continuous power output of 4,000 hp (2,983 kW), producing a maximum starting tractive effort of 58,000 lbf (258 kN) and a top service operating speed of 100 mph (160 km/h). Locomotive 86259 is immaculately turned out in authentic 1960s British Rail Electric Blue livery featuring crisp white cab surrounds and roof lines, cast aluminium numbers, cast British Railways lion-and-wheel emblems, and retro small yellow warning panels. Named Peter Pan by British Rail in 1979, the locomotive was later acquired for preservation by renowned radio broadcaster and railway enthusiast Les Ross MBE and subsequently christened Les Ross, celebrating both names across its illustrious frontline mainline career.

London Euston to Blackpool North
The train conveys a 10-carriage charter consist comprising vehicles numbered 3397, 3364, 80042, 3345, 3340, 3325, 6724, 5952, 5929, and 9526. The formation features an authentic mix of classic British Rail Mark 2 passenger coaches in retro InterCity Blue & Grey livery, a British Rail Mark 1 kitchen/buffet car in matching InterCity livery, and West Coast Railways Mark 2 maroon carriages including a Mark 2 brake vehicle (BSO). Operating the outward leg of a summer mainline charter the Blackpool Steam Express from London Euston to Blackpool North, the 25 kV AC electric power runs the fast trunk leg along the West Coast Main Line to Crewe, where 86259 detaches to hand the train over to West Coast Railways diesel traction—double-headed by a Class 37 and a Class 47—to haul the rake on the second leg of the itinerary forward to Blackpool North.

Heading North on the West Coast Main Line Towards Crewe
Seen in 8K 16:9 widescreen heading north at high speed along the West Coast Main Line south of Crewe, classic British Rail Class 86 No. 86259 (Les Ross / Peter Pan) speeds effortlessly beneath the 25 kV AC overhead wires. Resplendent in its vibrant Electric Blue livery with white cab detailing, the 4,000 hp electric veteran hauls its 10-coach rake (3397, 3364, 80042, 3345, 3340, 3325, 6724, 5952, 5929, 9526) on the fast dash from London Euston towards Crewe for its planned locomotive change on a warm summer's morning on Saturday, 22nd of August 2026 at 09:12.

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