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Class 73 Double Header Light Engine on ECML

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ricoblade

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Hi All - As the title says, I just saw a Class 73 Double Header Light Engine on the ECML just north of Retford, GBRf branded I think.

It's a long time since my spotting/bashing days but was this an exotic movement or are they regular on the ECML, I'm pretty sure I haven't seen one before.

Thanks.
 
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Dfatcontroller

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ricoblade said:
Hi All - As the title says, I just saw a Class 73 Double Header Light Engine on the ECML just north of Retford, GBRf branded I think.

It's a long time since my spotting/bashing days but was this an exotic movement or are they regular on the ECML, I'm pretty sure I haven't seen one before.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Heading north to Edinburgh for sleeper duties.

0H06 0933 Peterborough - Millerhill. 73961 + 73962.
 
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Townsend Hook

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Given that GBRf regularly struggle to provide two working locos for the Southern Region PLPR infrastructure monitoring trains (an ongoing weekly requirement) out of the fleet of five blue 73/9s this is an interesting move.
 
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aem7ac

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Wouldn't the recently reintroduced 67s have eliminated the need for these additional 73/9s?
 
_toommm_

_toommm_

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aem7ac said:
Wouldn't the recently reintroduced 67s have eliminated the need for these additional 73/9s?
Click to expand...

They still need the 73s as a translator loco, between the coupler on the 67 and the carriages. If the 73 is in the works, it won’t be able to be used as a translator.
 
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Townsend Hook

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_toommm_ said:
They still need the 73s as a translator loco, between the coupler on the 67 and the carriages. If the 73 is in the works, it won’t be able to be used as a translator.
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73961-965 haven’t had the sleeper coupler and ETS mods, so these two which have gone north won’t be any more helpful than the 66s and 67s, unless GBRf have some special purpose earmarked for them like traction training.
 
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MiNi

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47810 has ran light to Carlisle and onto Edinburgh on hire to Gbrf to help out with the shortage of engines for the sleeper services.
 
_toommm_

_toommm_

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MiNi said:
47810 has ran light to Carlisle and onto Edinburgh on hire to Gbrf to help out with the shortage of engines for the sleeper services.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information. I passed it at Penrith, and was puzzled why an LSL loco was off to Edinburgh with no apparent onward working.
 
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Suraggu

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By many accounts they have been sent north to replace the 66's on CS duties and also to assist in double heading as GB have a bit of a traction shortage at present. 47810 is to be a standby loco according to other reports.
 
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fgwrich

fgwrich

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MiNi said:
47810 has ran light to Carlisle and onto Edinburgh on hire to Gbrf to help out with the shortage of engines for the sleeper services.
Click to expand...
The reason for 810 being sent northwards is because has RETB fitted (should it be needed for service).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

aem7ac said:
Wouldn't the recently reintroduced 67s have eliminated the need for these additional 73/9s?
Click to expand...
Only recently repainted 027 has had some modifications so far, 023 as far as I'm aware is still unmodified. Neither have drop head Dellner couplings yet so still require the 73 to translate / couple to the Mk5s.
 
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12LDA28C

12LDA28C

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fgwrich said:
The reason for 810 being sent northwards is because has RETB fitted (should it be needed for service).
Click to expand...

Which would only be required for the Fort William sleeper, both of which were cancelled last night.

Several of LSL's Class 47 fleet are RETB fitted, but 810 isn't one of them.
 
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John Bishop

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Probably all kicked off after Sunday nights WHL portion failed in the middle of nowhere due to traction issues. Was a single 73 hauling and no immediate recovery option. Bit of a nightmare for the passengers who had to be evacuated off the train in less than pleasant conditions. I suspect there were lots of questions being asked on the Monday!
 
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ricoblade

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fgwrich said:
If anyone’s wondering about the status of these two, the pair returned south this morning from Craigentinny to Peterborough.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I was running by the ECML in North Notts this morning but did not see them.
 
JohnMcL7

JohnMcL7

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50002Superb said:
Can’t seem to get that link to work
Click to expand...
Try this one:

Realtime Trains | 0Z73 0709 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D to Doncaster Down Decoy | 07/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 0Z73 0709 departure from Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D to Doncaster Down Decoy on 07/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What was the plans for the 73s when they came up and left only doing one run to Aberdeen (might have missed one), I think the 47 has left as well?
 
12LDA28C

12LDA28C

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JohnMcL7 said:
Try this one:

Realtime Trains | 0Z73 0709 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D to Doncaster Down Decoy | 07/04/2023

Real-time train running information for 0Z73 0709 departure from Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D to Doncaster Down Decoy on 07/04/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What was the plans for the 73s when they came up and left only doing one run to Aberdeen (might have missed one), I think the 47 has left as well?
Click to expand...

The 47 returned to Crewe on Tuesday (4th April)

I believe all 3 locos were just employed as standbys, to cover any last-minute shortage of the booked traction.
 
D365

D365

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fgwrich said:
If anyone’s wondering about the status of these two, the pair returned south this morning from Craigentinny to Doncaster for onward movement to Peterborough / Tonbridge.
Click to expand...
Spotted in Doncaster yesterday during our Last Chance railtour.
 
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