Multi Purpose Vehicles

[Big Chris]

Just a few questions around these units.

How many of these units were built?

Also aside from Rail Head Treatment Trains what else are they predominantly used for?

Where are they based and are they all based at the same place?

Are there any stored or scrapped?

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[fgwrich]

Just a few questions around these units.

How many of these units were built?

Also aside from Rail Head Treatment Trains what else are they predominantly used for?

Where are they based and are they all based at the same place?

Are there any stored or scrapped?

Thanks in advance
Chris

If your talking about the Windhoff MPVs, None of them are scrapped. As for where they are based, mostly out of Eastleigh Works & Epsom Depot, and their main purposes under Network Rail are Weedkilling duties in the summer, and RHTT duties in the Autumn & Winter.

Don't know if you've read the Wiki page about them, but there's some usefull info on there. (Would try and answer a few more of your questions but i've got to head out to work in 5).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_MPV

 

[sprinterguy]

There are thirty two Windhoff MPV sets that are utilised on rail head treatment trains and other similar duties. They operate as "master and slave" pairs. They are also used on weedkilling trains during the spring, as the units that they carry on the flatbed section behind the cab are modular and can be swapped to suit whichever role they are required to perform.

None of the thirty two MPV pairs that were ordered by Railtrack have been scrapped. However there are other MPV units that were built specifically for the West Coast route modernisation and are fitted with either piling equipment or overhead line renewal equipment, many of which are presently stored at York.

 

[pendolino]

As for where they are based, mostly out of Eastleigh Works & Epsom Depot

I don't think there is a depot at Epsom, are you thinking of Horsham?

MPVs are used for laying deicing fluid on the 3rd rail too.

 

[swt_passenger]

I don't think there is a depot at Epsom, are you thinking of Horsham?

MPVs are used for laying deicing fluid on the 3rd rail too.

Is there still an MPV depot at Effingham Jn - that might be what he was thinking of?

 

[Bushy]

I've have mentioned it in another thread, but there are four at a specially built depot at Tonbridge. They are kept very busy on the Kent Coast and Hastings lines this time of year.

Regards

Bushy

 

[DarloRich]

There are several types of MPV out there but all the NR ones come from Windhoff.

There are 4 on Hs1 numbered 97011 - 97014. They are Windhoff MPV Master units. Here is an example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29199290@N07/5627527277

There are 13 units that were acquired for the WCML upgrade works 98001- 007 &98009 - 98014. They are fitted with a mixture of piling or OHLE maintenance equipment. Of these units 003,004, 009 & 010 are active. The others are in store. They may come back into use with the various electrification schemes that have been announced. They are all Windhoff Master units. Here is an example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6597097255 or http://www.flickr.com/photos/52408438@N02/6675441267

98008 is a Twin Cab Windhoff Master unit which used to be an OHLE MPV but has now been converted for use as a High Definition S&C inspection and Plain Line Pattern Recognition unit. Here it is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/6692356735

There are 32 Network Rail Windhoff Master & Slave units in operation. They are 98901-32 (Master units) & 98951- 98982 (Slave units). They work in semi permanent pairings so 98901 will work with 98951 etc.

They are used for RHTT works, both water canon & sandite, weed killing on the track side and on embankments, de icing and winter treatment works. Modules on the flat bed section of the vehicles are changed according to duty. Here is an example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bolckow/7030129811/

They are based at various location around the country. York Holgate, Slateford, Rutherglen, Inverness, Wigan, Tonbridge, Eastleigh, Horsham, Effingham and some other places I have forgotten!

There are other MPV units like the Geismar TRAMM operated by Balfour Beatty and others. You can see it to the left of this picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/7450654112 or here http://www.flickr.com/photos/37318278@N02/6238310562

 

[Big Chris]

Thanks for all the information. I really appreciate the assistance.

 

[D365]

There's a MPV set which is parked just north of Huntingdon, on an unelectrified siding on the down line towards Peterborough. It has been there for a long time; anyone know what it's doing?

 

[DarloRich]

I didnt see it yeaterday. I might just be having a "rest" or it could be on "long term sick"