Both photos: CHRIS MILNER
FOOTBALL SPECIALS: Two Class 86-hauled ‘Footex’ trains ran on February 25, taking Liverpool fans to Wembley Central for the final of the EFL Carabao Cup against Chelsea (which Liverpool won 1-0). First to pass Atherstone was No. 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS (above) with 1Z90, the 09.38 from Liverpool Lime Street operated by LSL, followed by No. 86259 Les Ross/Peter Pan (left, seen just south of Atherstone) with 1Z86, the 09.24 from Liverpool South Parkway operated by West Coast Railway. Both trains were diverted via Earlestown due to overhead line problems near Runcorn, and the return departures left Wembley Central at 19.56 to South Parkway (1Z87) and 20.11 to Lime Street (1Z91).