What's 86401 doing at Crewe Electric?

[TimboM]

86401 "Mons Meg" went up to Crewe today (Sat 10th) on 0Z91 1140 Willesden TMD to Crewe Basford Hall - with 90045 which was being switched with 90046 as part of the periodic rotation of Freightliner 90s on-hire to GBRf for the Sleeper.

It appears after dropping 90045 off at Basford Hall, 86401 then went on to Crewe and is now showing as being at Crewe EMD (Crewe Electric).

Assuming this info (via TOPS) is correct, anyone know what it's doing there?

AC Loco Group's locos usually go to Barrow Hill if they need repair (and it's not something that cannot be fixed at Willesden or Craigentinny where 86401 can go when on Sleeper ECS duties).

GBRf also usually stable "their" locos in the Holding Sidings if they're staying in Crewe.

Seems somewhat odd that it's at DB Cargo's depot?

 

[Mag_seven]

My understanding is that 86401 is on its way back to Polmadie to resume ECS duties there. Not sure when it will resume its journey north from Crewe or why its being stabled at Crewe Electric though.

 

[TimboM]

My understanding is that 86401 is on its way back to Polmadie to resume ECS duties there. Not sure when it will resume its journey north from Crewe or why its being stabled at Crewe Electric though.

That was one of my options for why it went to Crewe with the 90 today. But you'd think the easiest way to get it back to Polmadie would be to send it back north attached to one of the sleeper runs. Last time it ended up in London as a last-minute replacement, that's how they got it back (tucked in behind the 92 the following evening).

Maybe there's something heading to Scotland from there it's catching a lift with - but that still seems odd, i.e. that DB would ferry it or that it wouldn't just stable at Basford Hall (or the Holding Sidings) awaiting its lift north.

Perhaps it needs a bit of work en route (that's beyond GBRf's remit) and ACLG have sub-contracted it to DB?

There is an STP in from Crewe Electric to Wembley EFOC tomorrow afternoon, but that's not an unusual path and quite often they don't run (or if it was a loco move back to Wembley you'd think DB would have enough locos to do that then need to borrow 86401).

Perhaps it's just a TOPS "funny", but I don't think it is on this occasion.

No doubt all will become clear soon enough...

 

[captainbigun]

As correctly guessed it's sat at Crewe with the two 92s awaiting further movement to Polmadie on Tuesday. It's not on the EMD.

TOPS is often incorrect it's certainly not a golden source of information.

 

[TimboM]

As correctly guessed it's sat at Crewe with the two 92s awaiting further movement to Polmadie on Tuesday. It's not on the EMD.

TOPS is often incorrect it's certainly not a golden source of information.

Thanks for the clarification - yes, TOPS does have some weird ideas as to where locos are sometimes!

 

[TimboM]

86401 has been taken North today on 0Z23 - hauled by 92028 with 92023 in the consist too (both 92s on post-Loughborough test run):

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O04306/2017/06/13/advanced

https://flic.kr/p/VKB1TX


86401 will be detached at Carlisle and the 92s are due to return to Crewe. This is almost certainly the path for 86401 to continue on to Polmadie - light engine I expect:

0Z86 13:16 Carlisle to Polmadie http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O04421/2017/06/13/advanced