Class 92 workings north of London

[dc10tim]

Dear all,
I'm just starting to take in interest again in the British railway scene, for the first time in over 20 years, it having been lost for an interest in aviation and latterly European railways in recent times. On a few recent visits to Stafford I've enquired with other spotters on the station if there are any Class 92 workings these days. No-one seems to be able to give a completely definitive answer, so wondered if anyone here has any further details?

Are there any Class 92 workings up the WCML (or ECML), other than the Caledonian Sleepers?

I recall back in 2007 seeing a southbound Enterprise working at Hest Bank with a 92 on the front, and in recent times (last 4-5 years), I'm sure I'd read the Scunthorpe-Hayange bloom working had a 92 on to/from Doncaster. In 2017/18 I saw a GBRf liveried one on China clay tanks at Carlisle. I also read whilst searching the forum on this topic before posting, that DB machines are not now permitted over NR metals - is this correct??

Any insights would be much appreciated!

Regards,
Tim.

 

[DBS92042]

Freight-wise, there are no regular Class 92 worked trains.
The only non-sleeper Class 92 moves on the WCML these days are light engine movements to/from Crewe IEMD for maintenance/repairs and occasional positioning moves related to the Caledonian Sleeper.
DB 92s can't move under their own power away from HS1/Channel Tunnel so have to be dragged from Crewe IEMD to Dollands Moor and vice versa. I believe this is because the signalling equipment required to run on NR metals has been removed/isolated. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will be able to expand further on that.
GBRF locos can run under their own power so don't require dragging by 66/67/90 etc but are used pretty much exclusively on sleeper duties. 92032 & 92044 are freight only locos and work trains HS1/Channel Tunnel duties alongside the DB 92s. The china clay tanks are now a GBRF 66 worked train.

Active DB 92s: 92011, 92015, 92019, 92036, 92041, 92042
Active freight only GBRF 92s: 92032, 92044
Active GBRF 92s for Caledonian Sleeper: 92006, 92010, 92014, 92018, 92020, 92023, 92028, 92033, 92038, 92043

Stored DB 92s: 92004, 92007, 92008, 92009, 92013, 92016, 92017, 92029, 92031, 92035, 92037 (92029 is currently stored at Crewe IEMD but is supposedly on a comeback trail)
Stored GBRF 92s: 92021, 92040, 92045, 92046

Exported DB 92s: 92001, 92002, 92003, 92005, 92012, 92022, 92024, 92025, 92026, 92027, 92030, 92034, 92039

 

[AJH2020]

Freight-wise, there are no regular Class 92 worked trains.
The only non-sleeper Class 92 moves on the WCML these days are light engine movements to/from Crewe IEMD for maintenance/repairs and occasional positioning moves related to the Caledonian Sleeper.
DB 92s can't move under their own power away from HS1/Channel Tunnel so have to be dragged from Crewe IEMD to Dollands Moor and vice versa. I believe this is because the signalling equipment required to run on NR metals has been removed/isolated. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will be able to expand further on that.
GBRF locos can run under their own power so don't require dragging by 66/67/90 etc but are used pretty much exclusively on sleeper duties. 92032 & 92044 are freight only locos and work trains HS1/Channel Tunnel duties alongside the DB 92s. The china clay tanks are now a GBRF 66 worked train.

Active DB 92s: 92011, 92015, 92019, 92036, 92041, 92042
Active freight only GBRF 92s: 92032, 92044
Active GBRF 92s for Caledonian Sleeper: 92006, 92010, 92014, 92018, 92020, 92023, 92028, 92033, 92038, 92043

Stored DB 92s: 92004, 92007, 92008, 92009, 92013, 92016, 92017, 92029, 92031, 92035, 92037 (92029 is currently stored at Crewe IEMD but is supposedly on a comeback trail)
Stored GBRF 92s: 92021, 92040, 92045, 92046

Exported DB 92s: 92001, 92002, 92003, 92005, 92012, 92022, 92024, 92025, 92026, 92027, 92030, 92034, 92039

Thank you for this info, having also been away from the rail scene for 20+ years this is certainly very useful for tracking down some elusive class members, particularly as I’m planning a visit to Crewe IEMD in a couple of weeks

 

[LRV3004]

I’m no expert, but there is a 0A06 Crewe to Wembley light engine movement fairly frequently; that sometimes (if not most times) has a 92 either powering or in the consist of locos.

 

[AJH2020]

I’m no expert, but there is a 0A06 Crewe to Wembley light engine movement fairly frequently; that sometimes (if not most times) has a 92 either powering or in the consist of locos.

Yes, it’s a good working to keep an eye out for as can consist of 3 or 4 locos and often of different classes of loco 66/67/90/92 etc

 

[dc10tim]

Thanks very much for your help, much appreciated. Will keep my eyes out for 0A06.

Tim.

 

[Freightmaster]

Will keep my eyes out for 0A06.

Tim.

Also check your PMs!



MARK

 

[DBS92042]

I’m no expert, but there is a 0A06 Crewe to Wembley light engine movement fairly frequently; that sometimes (if not most times) has a 92 either powering or in the consist of locos.

There is indeed the 0A06 move. This is move used to ferry the 92s from maintenance at Crewe back to Wembley and ultimately Dollands Moor.
These days a 92 won't be powering as mentioned above but can be in the consist sometimes. It all depends on whether there's any at Crewe that need moving back south. 67s/90s are the most common type of traction seen on the 0A06, with 66s/92s sometimes along for the ride too.

As of today, all of DBs active 92s are down at Dollands Moor (or working trains on HS1/Channel Tunnel)

 

[EnlargedTrain2]

Freight-wise, there are no regular Class 92 worked trains.
The only non-sleeper Class 92 moves on the WCML these days are light engine movements to/from Crewe IEMD for maintenance/repairs and occasional positioning moves related to the Caledonian Sleeper.
DB 92s can't move under their own power away from HS1/Channel Tunnel so have to be dragged from Crewe IEMD to Dollands Moor and vice versa. I believe this is because the signalling equipment required to run on NR metals has been removed/isolated. I'm sure someone with better knowledge will be able to expand further on that.
GBRF locos can run under their own power so don't require dragging by 66/67/90 etc but are used pretty much exclusively on sleeper duties. 92032 & 92044 are freight only locos and work trains HS1/Channel Tunnel duties alongside the DB 92s. The china clay tanks are now a GBRF 66 worked train.

Active DB 92s: 92011, 92015, 92019, 92036, 92041, 92042
Active freight only GBRF 92s: 92032, 92044
Active GBRF 92s for Caledonian Sleeper: 92006, 92010, 92014, 92018, 92020, 92023, 92028, 92033, 92038, 92043

Stored DB 92s: 92004, 92007, 92008, 92009, 92013, 92016, 92017, 92029, 92031, 92035, 92037 (92029 is currently stored at Crewe IEMD but is supposedly on a comeback trail)
Stored GBRF 92s: 92021, 92040, 92045, 92046

Exported DB 92s: 92001, 92002, 92003, 92005, 92012, 92022, 92024, 92025, 92026, 92027, 92030, 92034, 92039

though it must be kept in mind that DB Cargo UK intend to increase their fleet down at the Tunnel to 10 operational examples to handle a projected increase in traffic (they're barely dealing with it as it is) 92029 is confirmed to be returning. 92007/013/031 appear the other likely candidates.

 

[DimTim]

Not sure where to post this

92040 seen heading north on M1 this afternoon between j26 & j27

 

[geoffk]

Were these locos a complete waste of money? A class of 46 built in the mid-1990s and apparently only 18 still active in the UK, yet we see freights behind diesel under the wires for long distances. I've a few shots of the china clay train around Preston and intermodal trains on WCML and in Manchester. I've just looked at Dollands Moor on RTT and can see only two freights in each direction to/from Calais today.

 

[Mollman]

Were these locos a complete waste of money? A class of 46 built in the mid-1990s and apparently only 18 still active in the UK, yet we see freights behind diesel under the wires for long distances. I've a few shots of the china clay train around Preston and intermodal trains on WCML and in Manchester. I've just looked at Dollands Moor on RTT and can see only two freights in each direction to/from Calais today.

Yes and no. The problem is they appear to be too complex for their own good. There was a time when EWS used them regularly on the WCML on domestic as well as international flows, their power being useful over the hills - this included test runs for the possibility of hauling MGR trains. They also saw some use on the ECML, mainly south of Doncaster. GBRF did use them briefly on Anglo-Scottish china clay trains and Felixstowe - Trafford Park intermodals.

Unfortunately the temperamental nature has meant that new EMUs don't interact well with them. It would be impossible to run north of Crewe during the day as there are too many Northern 331s in use for their to be a suitable 'gap' to slot a 92 hauled train in (although there has been the odd Sleeper ECS movement).

In theory the 92s could be a good source for a 'new' electric freight loco, however I am unsure a to the practicality and cost of fixing all the issues i.e. it might be cheaper / easier just to buy new. After all, whilst the Southern region was good at repurposing older traction (e.g. conversion of 71s to 74s), recent experiences suggest that it isn't so simple these days.