87027 - The Wolf

27th January 2004

87027, “The Wolf” has arisen to celebrity status recently in view of its lack of Virgin branding and stripes since being reinstated during the spring bank holiday blockade at the end of May. After failing a few times, 27 was returned to WN by the middle of July with high hours after working 0935 Glasgow - Euston on 28/7/04.
Early August saw 27 move off "the line" and into WN depot. Optomism of a comeback was shattered by the gen that was giving its traction motors to 87007 to allow it to return to service.. Moved to NC, presumably for spares on 13/10/04 by, oh dear, 90014! Languished on Clown Point until moved to join its friends at Long Marston on 11/05/06

Here is a selection of phots from both this and previous guises.

"The Wolf" heads north through Old Linslade with a down Manchester on 080204 640x456 08020487027.jpg Buy Print	Wolves hunt at night, 87027 at the Keynes with the 2021 Wolves-Euston, 200604 800x600 20060487027_MK_2006W-E.jpg Buy Print	On its first working "to the blocks" since reinstatment, 87027 takes the 0915 Birmingham-Euston through Leighton station, 070604. 640x480 87027070604_0915B-E.jpg Buy Print	Vintage view of 87027 at Cov with the 1557 Wolves-Euston 090685. 640x438 87027090685_1557W-E.jpg Buy Print
87027 is seen at Wolverhampton with the 1619 Euston, 140803 640x480 87027140803.jpg Buy Print	The Wolf heads north through Old Linslade with the 1500 Manchester, 150704 640x425 87027150704_1500E-M.jpg Buy Print	My first bash on reinstated Wolf as she approaches the Keynes 160604. 640x480 87027160604_1145E-W.jpg Buy Print	The Wolf at its Wolverhampton destination with the 1707 ex Euston, 170604 640x480 87027170604_1707E-W.jpg Buy Print
Virgin liveried 87027 at wet Stoke on 251003 with a diverted 1100 Euston-Liverpool. 640x480 87027251003_1100E-L.jpg Buy Print	Nameplate viewing 640x480 87027np.jpg Buy Print	Just before being stored for a month or so, 27 i seen at int'l on a Liverpool-Euston. [I apologise for the plastic on the right] 640x480 87027130304.jpg Buy Print	87027 is dumped outside NC depot 240905 640x480 240905_87027_NC.jpg Buy Print
Last rites for the wolf. 87027 is dragged through Int'l by 47813 in the consist of a 5Z86 NC-OY ECS move 100506 640x480 100506_47813n87027.jpg Buy Print