Class 88 working recently

[Class15]

Why are the 88s suddenly doing so many nuclear flask trains? Are they no longer doing the tesco trains?

 

[D6975]

Nothing sudden about it, 88s have been commonplace on flasks for a couple of years.
We even get them down here in Bristol when the Bridgwater runs, which isn't that often of late.

 

[Class15]

Nothing sudden about it, 88s have been commonplace on flasks for a couple of years.
We even get them down here in Bristol when the Bridgwater runs, which isn't that often of late.

Thanks! About those Bristol workings, are those the first (partly) electric freight so the GW?

 

[D6975]

Thanks! About those Bristol workings, are those the first (partly) electric freight so the GW?

No, they only run under the wires from Bristol Parkway to Westerleigh, which is a very short distance, so electric isn't used at all. The flasks are usually either a pair of 68s or a 68/88 pair

 

[Class15]

No, they only run under the wires from Bristol Parkway to Westerleigh, which is a very short distance, so electric isn't used at all. The flasks are usually either a pair of 68s or a 68/88 pair

Thanks! Very disappointing about the lack of electric freight on the Great Western but if the people in charge can’t bother wiring Wentloog and Acton Bank then not much hope.

 

[Class15]

Could I have an update about the situation and whether anyone knows about when the 88s will be back on normal duties? They seem to be back on the Tilbury trains but not the Anglo-Scottish ones.
88001 - stored at Crewe?
88002 - Tilbury Intermodals
88003 - at Leeds, anyone know why?
88004 - flasks
88005 - at Crewe
88006 - at Crewe
88007 - at Crewe
88008 - stored at Carlisle?
88009 - at Carlisle
88010 - at Carlisle

Are these correct?

 

[Tractor37]

Could I have an update about the situation and whether anyone knows about when the 88s will be back on normal duties? They seem to be back on the Tilbury trains but not the Anglo-Scottish ones.
88001 - stored at Crewe?
88002 - Tilbury Intermodals
88003 - at Leeds, anyone know why?
88004 - flasks
88005 - at Crewe
88006 - at Crewe
88007 - at Crewe
88008 - stored at Carlisle?
88009 - at Carlisle
88010 - at Carlisle

Are these correct?

88003 at Midland Road, Leeds for tyre turning. Often used by DRS.

 

[50002Superb]

Could I have an update about the situation and whether anyone knows about when the 88s will be back on normal duties? They seem to be back on the Tilbury trains but not the Anglo-Scottish ones.
88001 - stored at Crewe?
88002 - Tilbury Intermodals
88003 - at Leeds, anyone know why?
88004 - flasks
88005 - at Crewe
88006 - at Crewe
88007 - at Crewe
88008 - stored at Carlisle?
88009 - at Carlisle
88010 - at Carlisle

Are these correct?

Are 5 and 6 at Gresty Road?

 

[Class15]

Are 5 and 6 at Gresty Road?

Yes.

 

[cockneyviking]

Yes.
At 15:00 yesterday 03/01 88005 & 88009 were stabled at Daventry

 

[D6975]

88001 was stored at Crewe, without a pantograph. It has since been moved to Carlisle and back to Crewe again. Does anyone know if it now has a pantograph?

 

[Class15]

88001 was stored at Crewe, without a pantograph. It has since been moved to Carlisle and back to Crewe again. Does anyone know if it now has a pantograph?

Without a pantograph?

 

[D6975]

Yes, it moved to Carlisle without a pantograph (paired with a 68) . i wondered if the purpose of the move was to fit a new one.

 

[LA50041]

88001 was stored at Crewe, without a pantograph. It has since been moved to Carlisle and back to Crewe again. Does anyone know if it now has a pantograph?

Showing on TOPS as status X (Undergoing maintenance or repair at a TMD or is on a test run)

 

[zwk500]

Thanks! Very disappointing about the lack of electric freight on the Great Western but if the people in charge can’t bother wiring Wentloog and Acton Bank then not much hope.

Wentloog would be a big issue with unloading containers under the live wire, and Acton Bank is much more trouble than it's worth at the moment (neutral sections close to stopping points on steep gradients etc). Those sort of gaps aren't half as problematic once you've got last-mile capability, it's the big runs like Westerleigh-Birmingham or Didcot-Coventry that are stopping electric freight on the GW.

 

[Class15]

Wentloog would be a big issue with unloading containers under the live wire, and Acton Bank is much more trouble than it's worth at the moment (neutral sections close to stopping points on steep gradients etc). Those sort of gaps aren't half as problematic once you've got last-mile capability, it's the big runs like Westerleigh-Birmingham or Didcot-Coventry that are stopping electric freight on the GW.

Does a shunter exist to you?

 

[zwk500]

Does a shunter exist to you?

Got to pay somebody to drive it haven't you? And if shunters are fine, then why is not wiring these places a problem? They could pull into a suitably close loop/yard, drop the shunter on and get moved into the loop. Pengam Sidings or Alexandra Dock and Acton Yards, in these cases.

Also, freight is a happy accident to electrification - the business case is always on passenger journeys.

 

[Class15]

Got to pay somebody to drive it haven't you? And if shunters are fine, then why is not wiring these places a problem? They could pull into a suitably close loop/yard, drop the shunter on and get moved into the loop. Pengam Sidings or Alexandra Dock and Acton Yards, in these cases.

Also, freight is a happy accident to electrification - the business case is always on passenger journeys.

Wire reception sidings and get a shunter to shunt around. How do Trafford Park, Coatbridge, Garston and Daventry work then?

 

[zwk500]

Wire reception sidings and get a shunter to shunt around. How do Trafford Park, Coatbridge, Garston and Daventry work then?

Largely by being diesel hauled and using the main loco to shunt around. However there are some electric worked freights to these yards and they do have reception roads for just this purpose. But they come with greater handling time and higher operating costs, as well as needing either slots with nearby signallers (at Daventry) or to shunt onto mainline-controlled sidings (at Trafford Park). Don't know about Coatbridge and Garston.

But this is all stuff that would be resolved by a Class 88, as they have the power to shunt such trains around yards and to bridge short sections of slow speed unwired track.

 

[Class15]

Largely by being diesel hauled and using the main loco to shunt around. However there are some electric worked freights to these yards and they do have reception roads for just this purpose. But they come with greater handling time and higher operating costs, as well as needing either slots with nearby signallers (at Daventry) or to shunt onto mainline-controlled sidings (at Trafford Park). Don't know about Coatbridge and Garston.

But this is all stuff that would be resolved by a Class 88, as they have the power to shunt such trains around yards and to bridge short sections of slow speed unwired track.

Then why don’t we order more bi- or tri-modes?

 

[JKF]

No, they only run under the wires from Bristol Parkway to Westerleigh, which is a very short distance, so electric isn't used at all. The flasks are usually either a pair of 68s or a 68/88 pair

They have used a pair of 88s too - 30/11/22 and 7/12/22 workings to Bridgwater were 88009 & 88002.

 

[Pep and co]

Any updates regarding the status of 88006 and 88008?
Thanks in advance for any information about these locos

 

[ls2270]

Any updates regarding the status of 88006 and 88008?
Thanks in advance for any information about these locos

88006 is currently working 4M27 0546 Mossend to Daventry.
88008 is at Carlisle Kingmoor Depot.

 

[D365]

Then why don’t we order more bi- or tri-modes?

Who is 'we'?

 

[Class15]

88006 is currently working 4M27 0546 Mossend to Daventry.
88008 is at Carlisle Kingmoor Depot.

How long has 88008 been there?

 

[ls2270]

How long has 88008 been there?

No idea sorry!