Caledonian Sleeper Class 92's

[TimboM]

92's at Edinburgh Waverley still being stabled on the Mid Road. A 92 was there this afternoon although I didn't have time to clock it's number as I was running to catch my train - might have been 92033 but my eyesight is getting dodgy!

It's 92018 stabled in Edinburgh today - most likely will be working the Highlander south later tonight. 92033 is at Willesden at the moment.

Tatty grey Freightliner 90047 is on its way to Edinburgh on 1S25 at the moment, so will be the one lurking around tomorrow most probably. 92014 is currently the loco on the Polmadie-Edinburgh-Carstairs-Edinburgh-Polmadie circuit - it is en route to Waverley at the moment and will be there c.10pm. Probably there in the morning too unless there's some switching about overnight.

I think whilst the engineering/remodelling works are going on in Waverley they'll be in the Mid Road a lot more (if not all the time).

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

Specsavers for me this weekend other suppliers of eyewear are available... how did i misread 018 for 033? I am hoping to catch the 73's on the Aberdeen section this week what with the summer daylight being at its maximum. Alarm is set - whether I will prise my spine off the mattress is another question altogether!

It's 92018 stabled in Edinburgh today - most likely will be working the Highlander south later tonight. 92033 is at Willesden at the moment.

Tatty grey Freightliner 90047 is on its way to Edinburgh on 1S25 at the moment, so will be the one lurking around tomorrow most probably. 92014 is currently the loco on the Polmadie-Edinburgh-Carstairs-Edinburgh-Polmadie circuit - it is en route to Waverley at the moment and will be there c.10pm. Probably there in the morning too unless there's some switching about overnight.

I think whilst the engineering/remodelling works are going on in Waverley they'll be in the Mid Road a lot more (if not all the time).

 

[TimboM]

Specsavers for me this weekend other suppliers of eyewear are available... how did i misread 018 for 033? I am hoping to catch the 73's on the Aberdeen section this week what with the summer daylight being at its maximum. Alarm is set - whether I will prise my spine off the mattress is another question altogether!

The 3s and 8s can look pretty similar - particularly on those Caledonian 92s. They should really have numbers on them the size of the GBRf liveried 028/032 - then we could see them better

73968 has been on the Aberdeen last couple of days, 73966 on Fort Bill and 73970 at Craigentinny. (And 67030 on Inverness.) They of course do swap around so you may see any one of the 73/9s if you do manage to get up a silly o'clock.

Probably not 73967, 969 or 971 though as they're all a few hundred miles away in Loughborough works.

 

[TimboM]

92028/92023 test run approx an hour early today - i.e. it's running to the timings it did the last couple of days although the path put in for today was a later slot.

Just north of Acton Bridge: https://youtu.be/GcyRHzhwjhA

 

[leomartin125]

92028/92023 test run approx an hour early today - i.e. it's running to the timings it did the last couple of days although the path put in for today was a later slot.

Just north of Acton Bridge: https://youtu.be/GcyRHzhwjhA

What happened to today's 0Z93? Looks like it had issues just outside Watford, as it passed Tring 1E, then Bourne End Jct (Hemel Hempstead) 20L then Watford 127L... seems like a gradual worsening for the loco...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O06854/2017/06/23/advanced

 

[TimboM]

What happened to today's 0Z93? Looks like it had issues just outside Watford, as it passed Tring 1E, then Bourne End Jct (Hemel Hempstead) 20L then Watford 127L... seems like a gradual worsening for the loco...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O06854/2017/06/23/advanced

Dunno - it was 90049. Can't rely on these 90s

Per Scotrail84 on the Caley Sleeper thread it was supposed to be working one of the northbound sleepers tonight, so I'm guessing whatever the issue it was significant enough to mess up those plans.

 

[TimboM]

What happened to today's 0Z93? Looks like it had issues just outside Watford, as it passed Tring 1E, then Bourne End Jct (Hemel Hempstead) 20L then Watford 127L... seems like a gradual worsening for the loco...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O06854/2017/06/23/advanced

Dunno - it was 90049. Can't rely on these 90s

Per Scotrail84 on the Caley Sleeper thread it was supposed to be working one of the northbound sleepers tonight, so I'm guessing whatever the issue it was significant enough to mess up those plans..

 

[Mag_seven]

What happened to today's 0Z93? Looks like it had issues just outside Watford, as it passed Tring 1E, then Bourne End Jct (Hemel Hempstead) 20L then Watford 127L... seems like a gradual worsening for the loco...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O06854/2017/06/23/advanced

Could it have been looped in Kings Langley UP goods loop.

I was hoping to see this as I passed through Crewe southbound at its departure time but it was late.

 

[86211]

What happened to today's 0Z93? Looks like it had issues just outside Watford, as it passed Tring 1E, then Bourne End Jct (Hemel Hempstead) 20L then Watford 127L... seems like a gradual worsening for the loco...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O06854/2017/06/23/advanced

OZ93 was used to rescue a failed down freight train at Harrow which was dragged to Bletchley. OZ93 then continued to Willesden.

 

[43096]

For those who like their 92s, there's a really good article by Ian Walmsley about the GBRf locos in the current Modern Railways.

 

[TimboM]

OZ93 was used to rescue a failed down freight train at Harrow which was dragged to Bletchley. OZ93 then continued to Willesden.

Was 4M88 which failed - Felixstowe to Crewe Basford Hall Freightliner (66 hauled).

 

[TimboM]

For those who like their 92s, there's a really good article by Ian Walmsley about the GBRf locos in the current Modern Railways.

I may just go and hunt that out - available in all good newsagents and some bad ones too I assume...?

 

[43096]

I may just go and hunt that out - available in all good newsagents and some bad ones too I assume...?

Yes, available now.

 

[TimboM]

Yes, available now.

I have purchased... (double the price since when I last bought a real hard-copy railway mag, but that was probably 20 years ago )

Definitely an interesting article by Ian Walmsley and appears well-sourced. Lots of info in there and I'll need to Google half of it to understand what it means.

Couple of highlights for me were the stat that since the "modifications" the Miles per Technical Incident reliability figure has increased from c.8,000 to 32,000; and that's still with only part of the fleet having had the mods.

The article also clearly indicates GBRf will be overhauling 12 of their 92s - so that would mean 92020 and 92006 (currently lingering at Loughborough) as well as the ten currently in use. [92045/46 on blocks in the car park at Loughborough and 92021/040 in Coquelles seem destined to remain as "Christmas Trees".]

 

[TimboM]

STP paths have gone in for a light loco move to Loughborough Brush from the Crewe Holding Sidings where 92023, 92028 and 92038 are currently stabled. This is most likely for 92038 (came to Crewe yesterday) to go in for its mods.

The paths and what they probably relate to (although not confirmed!) are as follows:

0Z51 Bardon Hill GBRf to Crewe Holding Sidings (for the assisting Class 66):
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00560/2017/06/27/advanced

0Z52 Crewe Holding Sidings to Loughborough Brush (66 towing 92038):
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00561/2017/06/27/advanced

0Z53 Loughborough Brush to Toton North Yard GBRf (for the assisting 66):
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00562/2017/06/27/advanced


Short video of the three 92s in Crewe Holding Sidings earlier today:
https://youtu.be/CNztQPGEkAU

 

[43096]

I have purchased... (double the price since when I last bought a real hard-copy railway mag, but that was probably 20 years ago )

Definitely an interesting article by Ian Walmsley and appears well-sourced. Lots of info in there and I'll need to Google half of it to understand what it means.

Couple of highlights for me were the stat that since the "modifications" the Miles per Technical Incident reliability figure has increased from c.8,000 to 32,000; and that's still with only part of the fleet having had the mods.

The article also clearly indicates GBRf will be overhauling 12 of their 92s - so that would mean 92020 and 92006 (currently lingering at Loughborough) as well as the ten currently in use. [92045/46 on blocks in the car park at Loughborough and 92021/040 in Coquelles seem destined to remain as "Christmas Trees".]

The other interesting item that I had not seen before was that they have got new IGBT power converters in place of the original GTO type.

 

[TimboM]

The other interesting item that I had not seen before was that they have got new IGBT power converters in place of the original GTO type.

That was one of the things I need to read up on to understand what it means!

 

[leomartin125]

Sadly I noticed today's 5M16 was formed of two Freightliner Class 90's - One in Powerhaul colours and one in BR two tone grey. I thought the 90's were no longer needed, and the 92's hauled the majority of the sleeper? If the Freightliner Powerhaul was on the front of 5M16, then that loco took 1M11 last night. Why the lack of 92's?

 

[Sanatogen]

Don't know if it's related, there's an issue at Euston atm whereby virgin staff can't/won't dispatch passenger trains from platforms 2 and 3 if the 92 is running as they can't hear their radios over the noise.

 

[TimboM]

Sadly I noticed today's 5M16 was formed of two Freightliner Class 90's - One in Powerhaul colours and one in BR two tone grey. I thought the 90's were no longer needed, and the 92's hauled the majority of the sleeper? If the Freightliner Powerhaul was on the front of 5M16, then that loco took 1M11 last night. Why the lack of 92's?

There's still 2x 90s on-hire whilst the remaining 92s go through Loughborough for the mods. 92038 is the 8th one in - just left Crewe a short while ago on its way to Loughborough. 92043 is still in having gone in early March. 92044 and 92032 will then be the last of the operational ones to have the treatment at some point - and there's indications the two in Loughborough that aren't on blocks in the car park may yet see service again (006/020). Whilst there's one or two in Loughborough they'll keep the 90s on hire I expect.

There's 2x 90s and 4/5x 92s on the Sleeper - just depends on how they get allocated as to what's working what.

Last night it was 90049 (Green) on 1M11, with 90047 (Grey) on 1M16.

92s worked the northbounds (1S25 - 92014, 1S26 - 92018) and the Edinburgh portion (92033). Triple Grey 92044 was on the Lowlander ECS moves last night and this morning. 92010 has also been active over the past few days and was at Wembley/Willesden last night.

92023 also got back to revenue earning service yesterday on the Dagenham-Garston cars. Took over from 66758 at Crewe and then did the empties back to Dagenham yesterday pm and then the loaded working early this morning back to Garston. I expect after a few runs it'll get put back on the sleeper.

Waiting to see if 92028 has escaped going back to Loughborough again - hopefully it has and that'll be another one to add to the mix.

 

[TimboM]

Don't know if it's related, there's an issue at Euston atm whereby virgin staff can't/won't dispatch passenger trains from platforms 2 and 3 if the 92 is running as they can't hear their radios over the noise.

The whole Euston operation was 92 run last night - so not sure how much an issue this is? 92044 was also in this morning and took the Lowlander empties from P1.

I'm finding this a little hard to believe is really much of an issue - the 92s only really kick up a noise when they're pulling out and I don't think the Virgin dispatchers stand right down the very far end of P1 (or P15) do they? The amount of time the 92s at the London end are there with their Dyson effect in full flow must be pretty limited too.

 

[Sanatogen]

Apparently they've been complaining for a while and nothing's been done so they have invoked the worksafe policy.

Hasn't been to much of an issue as p2/3 trains have been replatformed where necessary and if the sleeper stock comes up early I believe the 92 gets shut down.

 

[Mag_seven]

Don't know if it's related, there's an issue at Euston atm whereby virgin staff can't/won't dispatch passenger trains from platforms 2 and 3 if the 92 is running as they can't hear their radios over the noise.

How on earth did they cope in the days of a "real" WCML with roarers roaring away at the buffer stops:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvZ1fITmDtc&list=PLJN19YiudCbwfdzPf-wW7GTPQgoaXOL9n

 

[TimboM]

Apparently they've been complaining for a while and nothing's been done so they have invoked the worksafe policy.

Hasn't been to much of an issue as p2/3 trains have been replatformed where necessary and if the sleeper stock comes up early I believe the 92 gets shut down.

I'd have thought Voyagers revving up and leaving are not too dissimilar in noise levels. Euston is a noisy place. As is any major station (Class 91s powering up is an example that comes to mind, Class 68s etc. etc.).

As you say, though, I imagine it can be dealt with fairly easily with a few alterations to platforms etc. It's not like they're in and out all day either.

Maybe new radios are needed

 

[TimboM]

How on earth did they cope in the days of a "real" WCML with roarers roaring away at the buffer stops:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvZ1fITmDtc&list=PLJN19YiudCbwfdzPf-wW7GTPQgoaXOL9n

I expect back then they adopted working practices that worked around the locos and the noise they create, as they're not going to suddenly change or get any quieter.

It's not like the 86s/87s/90s are quiet either. Or the tannoy announcements? Or the assistance trolleys running about? Or the general hubbub of one of the UK's busiest stations...?

I'd have thought a lot of the despatch would be visual anyway - for the very reason it's a busy, noisy station?

 

[TimboM]

Reported that it was just 92038 taken into Loughborough for its mods today (by 66765). Hopefully that means 92028 is all but ready for a return to earning its keep.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

How on earth did they cope in the days of a "real" WCML with roarers roaring away at the buffer stops?

They didn't even have radios for the platform staff in those days did they?

 

[TimboM]

They didn't even have radios for the platform staff in those days did they?

Think they had Acme Thunderers instead?

 

[fgwrich]

To be fair to the staff of Euston station - When those cooling fans get going, they certainly can get going and unfortunately can take a while to stop. It's probably more of a problem in the mornings when the 92s arrive in from Scotland - 92018 decided to stay nearly full bore for nearly 5 minutes upon arrival when I had it last August.

I'm sure they'll find a way to work around it though.

 

[TimboM]

To be fair to the staff of Euston station - When those cooling fans get going, they certainly can get going and unfortunately can take a while to stop. It's probably more of a problem in the mornings when the 92s arrive in from Scotland - 92018 decided to stay nearly full bore for nearly 5 minutes upon arrival when I had it last August.

I'm sure they'll find a way to work around it though.

Agreed - a couple of spells of 5 mins (at most) per day should be manageable.

I'm guessing you know 92018 was on full Dyson mode for nearly 5 minutes as you were stood approximately 2 feet from it for the duration soaking up the atmosphere?