18.03.05

Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook"), a subsidiary of Abbey National plc ("Abbey"), has named one of its Class 87 locomotives "ACoRP - Association of Community Rail Partnerships".

The dedication took place at Crewe Station on 15th March, where the locomotive's new livery, an updated version of London and North Western Railway (LNWR) 'Blackberry Black', was unveiled. The naming ceremony was performed by Pete Waterman, whose company L&NWR repainted the locomotive; a third nameplate was presented to Dr Paul Salveson, General Manager of ACoRP.

In December 2004 Porterbrook and RAIL magazine invited suggestions for eye-catching repaints for two Class 87 locomotives. The LNWR colour scheme was the most frequently nominated. The 'Millennium' version of the livery is a 21st Century reinterpretation. The design faithfully retains the LNWR colour palette and proportions and an authentic numeral typeface. It is sympathetically revised to suit the locomotive's body style, the visual effect bringing the West Coast Main Line front-line express locomotive story full circle.

Howes Models of Kidlington, Oxford and HMG Paints of Manchester, suppliers and manufacturers of the RailMatch range of authentic railway colours to the model trade, kindly donated the paint for this project.

Porterbrook retains a fleet of 34 Class 87 locomotive's, many now returned from passenger service. It is actively looking for and identifying new uses to which this extremely reliable and powerful locomotive type can be put.