With a one-hour rating of 4,400 horsepower (hp), the 86 class was the most powerful locomotive in Australia at the time.

Despite their higher power rating, they were generally regarded as inferior to the Metropolitan-Vickers built 46 class, which dated from the late 1950s.

[5] The need for electrics continued to decline with their remaining duties mainly being hauling coal trains from Lithgow to Port Kembla.

[6][7] Four were leased back to RailCorp in 2004 (8601, 8609, 8622 and 8644) for use on infrastructure trains during construction of the Bondi Junction turnback.

[8] Media related to New South Wales 86 class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons