Class 93 Tri-mode Loco

[2001olib]

Two interesting STP Test paths in RTT for tomorrow, 8th June. Train Service Codes assigned Rail Operations Group:
4Q10 0853 Crewe South Yard to Mossend Down Yard, diesel to Crewe sta. then path timed as electric 1250t forward.
3Q03 1745 Mossend Down Yard to East Midlands Gateway Terminal. Via Lichfield. Path timed as diesel 1400t at 75mph.

Further Class 93 trials?

​

Theres a 3Q05 return journey aswell.

 

[AndrewE]

There's a 3Q05 return journey as well.

as pointed out in post 2427... apologies, I didn't spot the extra train. Maybe they are running a heavier or a faster one too, or picking up the traffic from a regular service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==

as pointed out in post 2427... apologies, I didn't spot the extra train. Maybe they are running a heavier or a faster one too, or picking up the traffic from a regular service.

edit: 3Q05 is more than a return, it's a second northbound service! https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K65790/2026-06-08/detailed is a

2307 East Mids Gateway Tml Gbrf to Mossend Down Yard​

 

[Solweytracker]

as pointed out in post 2427... apologies, I didn't spot the extra train. Maybe they are running a heavier or a faster one too, or picking up the traffic from a regular service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2026 ==


edit: 3Q05 is more than a return, it's a second northbound service! https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K65790/2026-06-08/detailed is a

2307 East Mids Gateway Tml Gbrf to Mossend Down Yard​

3Q03/3Q05 continue as test paths Mon - Fri this week.

 

[47286Dan]

Monday morning update

93001 GROG CREWE SYD CREWE SYD F N
93002 GROG CREWE SYD CREWE SYD F N
93003 GROG CREWE SYD CREWE SYD F N
93004 GROG CREWE SYD 424Q101D08 L * MOSSND DY N
93005 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N
93006 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N
93007 GROG GRESTYBGE GRESTYBGE F N
93008 GROG CREWE SYD 424Q101D08 L * MOSSND DY N
93009 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N
93010 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N

Dan

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Monday morning update

93001 GROG CREWE SYD CREWE SYD F N
93002 GROG CREWE SYD CREWE SYD F N
93003 GROG CREWE SYD CREWE SYD F N
93004 GROG CREWE SYD 424Q101D08 L * MOSSND DY N
93005 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N
93006 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N
93007 GROG GRESTYBGE GRESTYBGE F N
93008 GROG CREWE SYD 424Q101D08 L * MOSSND DY N
93009 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N
93010 GROG CREWE SYD GRESTYBGE N

Dan

And here they are! 93004 topping and 93008 tailing on 4Q10 passing my house and the Barton and Broughton loop - way ahead of schedule by the way. I also took a video.

 

[Solweytracker]

And here they are! 93004 topping and 93008 tailing on 4Q10 passing my house and the Barton and Broughton loop - way ahead of schedule by the way. I also took a video.

Good to see. There isn't an existing intermodal service between the Scottish central belt and E.M.G. so one of the aside questions is: Are these tests carrying the same containers shuttling back and forth? There is a very long interval at Mossend but only 44 min at E.M.G.

 

[zwk500]

And here they are! 93004 topping and 93008 tailing on 4Q10 passing my house and the Barton and Broughton loop - way ahead of schedule by the way. I also took a video.

Realtime Trains | 4Q10 0853 Crewe South Yard to Mossend Down Yard | 08/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q10 0853 departure from Crewe South Yard to Mossend Down Yard on 08/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Suggests they were mostly matching the timing load, but didn't need the pathing allowance and stops so were given a clean run. Hence getting nearly 40 mins early at one point.

 

[AndrewE]

Having arrived early, it looks like it has been held at Lancaster for over 1/2 hr and is now behind time. Other stuff is running a few minutes late so hopefully it will be on the move again soon. There must be some interesting regulating conversations happening.

 

[2001olib]

Good to see. There isn't an existing intermodal service between the Scottish central belt and E.M.G. so one of the aside questions is: Are these tests carrying the same containers shuttling back and forth? There is a very long interval at Mossend but only 44 min at E.M.G.

Theres a gbrf working that sometimes runs Mossend to EMG. Itll be interesting to see if the tests can keep to the timing. If all goes smoothly itll take roughly half the time the gbrf path takes.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Realtime Trains | 4Q10 0853 Crewe South Yard to Mossend Down Yard | 08/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 4Q10 0853 departure from Crewe South Yard to Mossend Down Yard on 08/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Suggests they were mostly matching the timing load, but didn't need the pathing allowance and stops so were given a clean run. Hence getting nearly 40 mins early at one point.

I understand these trains are formed of FFAs. Does anyone know if these have been uprated to 90mph ? Or are these trains timed at 75mph with existing wagons maybe ?

 

[2001olib]

3Q03 is running tonight

 

[Adrian Barr]

Are these tests carrying the same containers shuttling back and forth?

They appear to be, yes. Tonight's 3Q03 has 6 FFAs on the consist, which are shown in TOPS as being originally loaded at Garston with no indication of being reloaded between trips.

I understand these trains are formed of FFAs. Does anyone know if these have been uprated to 90mph ? Or are these trains timed at 75mph with existing wagons maybe ?

In TOPS the FFA wagons used have a maximum speed of 75mph, but looking at the timings for 3Q03, Motherwell to Gretna (80 miles) is timed for 59 minutes, while Penrith to Garstang (63 miles) is timed to take 48 mins. This requires an average speed of 80mph. 3Q03 lost 5 mins between Motherwell and Gretna but even so I think that averages out at 78 mph if my (admittedly rusty) maths is correct.

I assume the wagons are allowed to exceed their usual max speed under the test conditions, to at least 80mph, possibly 85/90. Interesting...

 

[Harlequinuk]

So have they solved the reasons why that werent running at test speeds?

 

[craigybagel]

They appear to be, yes. Tonight's 3Q03 has 6 FFAs on the consist, which are shown in TOPS as being originally loaded at Garston with no indication of being reloaded between trips.

They have a rake of containers. The first and last carry the corporate logo.

In TOPS the FFA wagons used have a maximum speed of 75mph, but looking at the timings for 3Q03, Motherwell to Gretna (80 miles) is timed for 59 minutes, while Penrith to Garstang (63 miles) is timed to take 48 mins. This requires an average speed of 80mph. 3Q03 lost 5 mins between Motherwell and Gretna but even so I think that averages out at 78 mph if my (admittedly rusty) maths is correct.

I assume the wagons are allowed to exceed their usual max speed under the test conditions, to at least 80mph, possibly 85/90. Interesting...

There's a video on linkedin here showing a previous run passing through Acton Bridge at 85mph

 

[Wyrleybart]

They have a rake of containers. The first and last carry the corporate logo.

There's a video on linkedin here showing a previous run passing through Acton Bridge at 85mph

That is interesting. Was it running on AC or on diesel ? I ws under the impression it was suppsoed to be diesel between roughly Weaver junction and Crewe Coal yard, but maybe exempted if running as a "Q"

 

[craigybagel]

That is interesting. Was it running on AC or on diesel ? I ws under the impression it was suppsoed to be diesel between roughly Weaver junction and Crewe Coal yard, but maybe exempted if running as a "Q"

I was wondering that myself. It's certainly been departing Crewe South Yard on diesel - I've seen and heard it myself. Beyond that, I couldn't say.

 

[hwl]

I understand these trains are formed of FFAs. Does anyone know if these have been uprated to 90mph ? Or are these trains timed at 75mph with existing wagons maybe ?

FFA-G (40' platforms) built in 2021-2022 by Greenbrier rather than the original FFA wagons (60' inner platforms) made BR Shildon and Ashford in the 1960s and 1970s. Bad reuse of a 3 letter carkind in my view because of the potential confusion.
The reason for the choice is that the FFA-G wagons have the smallest gap between wagons which helps with the aerodynamics and TF20 bogies that were the easiest to get agreement to run at higher speeds with.

 

[BRcrosslane]

93005/006 visable this morning at Gresty, one other unidentified behind the two 57s that have not moved for ages.

 

[Wyrleybart]

FFA-G (40' platforms) built in 2021-2022 by Greenbrier rather than the original FFA wagons (60' inner platforms) made BR Shildon and Ashford in the 1960s and 1970s. Bad reuse of a 3 letter carkind in my view because of the potential confusion.

Agree "Hwl" In my aging memory FFAs x 3 were sandwiched by "outer" FGAs and were radically different in practically all senses from the latter day flats - if only because bar coupled FFAs needed a buffer fitted FGA at each. Does this mean there are no other "FxA" codes available to reuse ? What those Thrall well-deck type wagons which EWS bought and rarely used coded ?

The reason for the choice is that the FFA-G wagons have the smallest gap between wagons which helps with the aerodynamics and TF20 bogies that were the easiest to get agreement to run at higher speeds with.

Makes perfect sense

 

[2001olib]

Does anyone know the weight of tonights 3Q03? Sounded effortless climbing away from the stop boards at EMG.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Does anyone know the weight of tonights 3Q03?

The return 3Q05, 22:54 EMG to Mossend, hauled by 93004 was 622 tons trailing including the DIT 93008 on the back (16 FFAs, each with a 15 ton container). I think it's a fixed test rake (rather than containers being loaded and unloaded) so 3Q03 would have been the same.

Does this mean there are no other "FxA" codes available to reuse ? What those Thrall well-deck type wagons which EWS bought and rarely used coded ?

I'm not sure if there are any spare CARKNDs beginning with F available without re-using old ones. Those FAA low deck well wagons are still in occasional use with container traffic on MoD trains (and also some in infrastructure use as a cable train or similar).

 

[Wyrleybart]

I'm not sure if there are any spare CARKNDs beginning with F available without re-using old ones. Those FAA low deck well wagons are still in occasional use with container traffic on MoD trains (and also some in infrastructure use as a cable train or similar).

Thanks for the FAA info Adrian

 

[Welshguy1048]

Morning

I have been told this is a Class 93 on test - can anyone confirm this please and which 93 it is ?

Realtime Trains | 0Q93 1030 Crewe Gresty Bridge (Drs) to Crewe Gresty Bridge (Drs) | 16/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Q93 1030 departure from Crewe Gresty Bridge (Drs) to Crewe Gresty Bridge (Drs) on 16/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thank you

Dave

 

[Adrian Barr]

93007 + 93010 are consisted to 0Q93 on TOPS

 

[Welshguy1048]

93007 + 93010 are consisted to 0Q93 on TOPS

@Adrian Barr

Thank you

Dave

 

[Peter Sarf]

93007 + 93010 are consisted to 0Q93 on TOPS

Interesting route Crewe to Llandudno Jct and back. Not much electric there !. Is this testing the class 93s capabilities off the wires or just mileage accumulation still ?.

Anyone able to supply an up-to-date location list please for the 93s ?.
It seems like only 93001 is at Derby which precludes me seeing any different ones in London on deliveries !.

 

[800001]

Interesting route Crewe to Llandudno Jct and back. Not much electric there !. Is this testing the class 93s capabilities off the wires or just mileage accumulation still ?.

Anyone able to supply an up-to-date location list please for the 93s ?.
It seems like only 93001 is at Derby which precludes me seeing any different ones in London on deliveries !.

Ref milage accumulation, I thought that was all Completed and all 10 locos accepted.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Ref milage accumulation, I thought that was all Completed and all 10 locos accepted.

That's what I assumed but not so sure know.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Anyone able to supply an up-to-date location list please for the 93s ?.

From TOPS:

93001 Derby RTC
93002 Crewe South Yard
93003 Crewe South Yard
93004 Mossend
93005 Gresty Bridge
93006 Gresty Bridge
93007 0Q93
93008 Mossend
93009 Gresty Bridge
93010 0Q93

N.B. Those are last reported locations - it's possible 93002 / 93003 could have moved across to the depot at Crewe without being updated on TOPS

 

[Peter Sarf]

From TOPS:

93001 Derby RTC
93002 Crewe South Yard
93003 Crewe South Yard
93004 Mossend
93005 Gresty Bridge
93006 Gresty Bridge
93007 0Q93
93008 Mossend
93009 Gresty Bridge
93010 0Q93

N.B. Those are last reported locations - it's possible 93002 / 93003 could have moved across to the depot at Crewe without being updated on TOPS

Thanks. I must consider a visit to Crewe (Gresty) then.