Mendip 59s out of action

[RedPostJunc]

59002 was recently dragged up to Leeds to join its classmate 59001, which has been there for a few months now.
Both are currently shown on TOPS as waiting for materials. Last year 59005 was also stored at Leeds for several months awaiting materials.

I guess that some things have to be made to order with lengthy delivery times.

On a brighter note, 59103, which was dragged to Leeds with 59002 is now back in service. I read somewhere that 59103 was sent to Leeds for tyre turning.

 

[fgwrich]

Could well be wheel related, as 003 is still unfortunately proving.

 

[55002]

Is 001 in Leeds or Merehead?

 

[RedPostJunc]

Is 001 in Leeds or Merehead?

My mistake. 001 is indeed at Merehead. I believe it has been stored awaiting materials since October last year.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Could well be wheel related, as 003 is still unfortunately proving.

Haha. I heard Arlingtons were fitting 59003 with (white) elephant hoofs.
Latest I heard is that it will become the GBRf ETCS test / training loco

 

[D365]

Latest I heard is that it will become the GBRf ETCS test / training loco

I’ve heard that too, but not sure why, as the Class 66/67 are top of the queue for fitment.

 

[Taunton]

GM were always top notch for product support and spares, even airfreighting them by FedEx if a loco was standing. Caterpillar, now the owners, were the same for heavy construction plant. What happened?

 

[Wyrleybart]

GM were always top notch for product support and spares, even airfreighting them by FedEx if a loco was standing. Caterpillar, now the owners, were the same for heavy construction plant. What happened?

Who knows. A major Caterpillar dealer / repairer is just a couple of miles from where I live. Used to be Bowmakers back in the 1970s but is now Finnings, and is a sea of yellow paint everytime drive passed. Back in the late 1990s we at EWS were told that practically anything electrical could be obtained from a GM/Vauxhall dealer for the class 66. I doubt that was ever proved !!!

At the end of the day though Freightliner have always stored locos as and when. When was the last day that Midland Road didn't have a stored class 70 on the premises ?

 

[hwl]

Possibly bogie refurb/rebuild programme related where bogies were being sent away?