More DB Class 90s to Freightliner?

[Class15]

Hi all, I’ve just seen a path on Christmas Eve from Crewe Basford Hall to Crewe IEMD. No return path in RTT just yet.

Suggestion is that it’s to collect some DB class 90s and the return path would take them to FL.

Realtime Trains | 0Z15 1052 Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Crewe T.M.D. (E) | 24/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 0Z15 1052 departure from Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Crewe T.M.D. (E) on 24/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I have a question regarding this, what would FL do with additional 90s? Basically all of the Ipswich - NW England/Scotland trains are in the hands of 90s already, so I’m struggling to see what they would use them for?

 

[Chris125]

I have a question regarding this, what would FL do with additional 90s? Basically all of the Ipswich - NW England/Scotland trains are in the hands of 90s already, so I’m struggling to see what they would use them for?

Aside from a useful source of spares, some of the DB locos may be in better condition than their own.

 

[Class15]

Suggestion on WNXX that the move may be to take Freightliner Class 90s to Crewe IEMD over the Christmas period when Basford Hall is shut. This doesn’t make sense to me as FL have their own depots/sidings away from Basford Hall (Mossend, Trafford Park and Ipswich spring to mind) and all of the intermodal traffic is diverted away from the whole area, but can anyone confirm if this is correct?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Dec 2024 ==

Aside from a useful source of spares, some of the DB locos may be in better condition than their own.

Spares would make sense, however I’m not sure if buying locos from a competitor is cheaper than just fixing your own?

 

[Chingy]

Suggestion on WNXX that the move may be to take Freightliner Class 90s to Crewe IEMD over the Christmas period when Basford Hall is shut.

That’s correct.

It’s to take a number (exact number yet to be decided) of class 90’s from Basford Hall to DBC’s Crewe IEMD to stable there whilst the Crewe blockade is ongoing, so they aren’t “blocked in” should they be needed.