To most WCML enthusiasts class 86 "can’s" were often derided. This derision could be blamed on how common they were, as they did all sorts of traffic and often ambushed you whilst you were hoping for a class 81-85 on your train. Finally there was a 100 of the "rancid things". .

This derision was in some cases a little fickle. As you were still ranting as said can approached on your train, you then on occasions realised it was an 86’0 on your train, and you suddenly went into a more appreciative mode of your power. Even better if you could also get your red pen out!.

86’1’s had a little more respect as they had, according to some, the "guts of an 87" whilst a "can is a can" was an equally popular viewpoint.. 86’2’s in Anglia gained a small group of mileage men I’m told. By contrast 86’2’s on Cross Country turns worked their last turns without hardly any basher interest, whilst the last 86’2’s on Virgin Inter city turns saw a fair bit of frothing by many. 86’3’s were also disliked due to their liking of working classic 81-85 turns although 86324 was a personal favourite in her keeping unique blue livery/lack of mw wires/etc long into the "Inter City" era.

86’4’s like 86432/433 allowed you to rake in former big 86’0’s like 86032/033 but again they increasingly helped push the 81-85 onto even less passenger work. 86’5’s again had rarity value on passenger and today sees 86501/86’6’s as much sought after railtour power.

To summarise, for many, an 81-85 was always the most popular up front power, then if none out, an 87 was quality, 90’s were OK for some, but an 86’2 was always bottom of the list (except for Bog Head!)…..

Despite all these prejudices to clear all 100 "Cans" for haulage was still considered a reasonable challenge especially when the 86’0’s were still around and the ongoing tendency to flag 86’s off for "another day".

My very first 86 haulage was met with thumbs down as we wanted an "AL3".. Class 86’2 and 86’3’s were raked in leaping around on the "Mid" although I was particularly pleased to get rake in 86211 with its local named connection. I also festered for 2 hours at New St to get my last 86’2 in "Vesta" back in , though I only did it to Wolves for a "roarer" back though! ..

86’0’s were slowly picked off on random unexpected turns including a good few "Cobblers" but 86004/005/032/033 eluded me as 86’0’s. Conversion of the 86’0 and 86’3 fleets to 86’4’s made raking in former biggies like 86004 or 032 much, much easier…. A twist in the tale though as many 86’4’s in later years became 86’6’s which have always been incredibly rare on passenger turns whether service trains or railtours.

My first "can" haulage – E3139 Rtn Colwyn Bay-Euston Adex 180971. At Crewe we watched an 83 move off as we arrived but then an 86 (became yummy 86257) appeared from nowhere to power us home. An 85 had worked the outward leg.

Penultimate 86’2 - 86211 0740 Euston-Aberystwyth 310782. My glee on getting the locally named "City of Milton Keynes" got a scornful look from some of the "main men" joining for 25181/136 forward from Wolves. With hindsight 211 was to prove elusive to some…..

Last 86’2 – After a poor Sunday on the drags I festered some hours for "Vesta" to come off the New St spare road. 86221 then took 1504 Bristol-Glas/Edin forward from New St on 270383

Last 86’3 – 86327 was taken MK-Northampton on the 1718 Euston-Northampton Cobbler on 041083.

May 18^th 1985 – "can gala day" – Very unusually 2 x 86’0 were out on Saturday daytime turns and also newly converted 86433. This "gala day" saw 3 out of my last 5 86’s caned in, a good day for many WCML line in the book men..

86030 – 1325 Manchester-Paignton

86031 – 0936 Liverpool-Paignton

0903 Poole-Liverpool

86433 – 0745 Glasgow/Edinburgh-Bristol

86405 – 0925 Euston-Northampton – 130686

86404 - 0633 Poole-Blackpool –120786 (13 years after E3139)

And on finally clearing my "cans"…Wild celebrations…no, just a "well, that’s them things out of the way "feeling". The horrific and fatal Colwich Jn crash on 190986 saw 86211 and 429 work their last turns so fully clearing your cans became impossible overnight.

Today on seeing 4L92 and it’s diagrammed 86’6 or on occasions seeing 86213 festering around Wembley depot you think back on what were once derided, are now considered classic power……….tis a funny old game

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