4S43 Daventry DRS to Mossend EuroTerminal TESCO

[Sarahs_Railway]

This service was double headed today by two DRS Class 66's. I believe the lead locomotive was 66301. Can anyone advise what the second locomotive was please?
Picture of the train in question at the link below.
Many thanks in advance for help with this one.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149563882@N07/

 

[Darandio]

Ignore me, i'm looking at the wrong day.

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

The link below is the train I refer to. It was definitely double header Class 66 when it reached Abington in South Lanarkshire around lunch time.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H21099/2017/06/17/advanced

 

[Darandio]

Yeah, I was looking at the wrong day.

I think it was 88002 as far as Carlisle, then the two 66's took over. Still cannot find which the second one was though.

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

Yeah, I was looking at the wrong day.

I think it was 88002 as far as Carlisle, then the two 66's took over. Still cannot find which the second one was though.

I did find a picture on Flickr that showed an 88 leading the way and was also a bit confused when my picture shows 2 x 66. Thanks for your efforts.

 

[Aws87024]

66302 should be the other.

 

[TimboM]

The 88s have been having adhesion problems when there's been slippery railhead conditions. The locos have been laying down bucket-loads of sand and then running out of it. 88004 the other day took something like 35 mins to climb up Beattock and made the summit - just - at c.5 mph.

So would stack up with them switching to the two 66s at Carlisle before the big climbs at Shap and Beattock if the railhead conditions are favourable.

By the way, the real headcodes for these Tesco trains are:

4S43 (North) / 4M48 (South)

...the one above is the 'scrambled' one as DRS, like all freight companies bar GBRf, have theirs scrambled on the 'system' and hence RTT etc.

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

Many thanks Aws87024 - I shall amend Flickr page and credit you. Also thanks Timbo for educating me on train codes. I'll get the hang of this eventually.....

 

[TimboM]

...not all DRS drivers have completed their training on the 88s yet, so that may have been another reason for the switch (i.e. no 88-signed driver available for the Carlisle-Mossend stint).

 

[Chris125]

...not all DRS drivers have completed their training on the 88s yet, so that may have been another reason for the switch (i.e. no 88-signed driver available for the Carlisle-Mossend stint).

That's the reason being given on wnxx for the change.

 

[TimboM]

That's the reason being given on wnxx for the change.

That's where I got the info from

...although WNXX also then goes on to say "and there's further modifications (tweaks) to carry out [to the 88s]..." so I think it could be either or both reasons. 88004 certainly had issues going up Beattock yesterday - but that's now been taken off the 'circuit' so might just be that particular loco that doesn't like hill-climbing...?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

That's where I got the info from

...although WNXX also then goes on to say "and there's further modifications (tweaks) to carry out [to the 88s]..." so I think it could be either or both reasons. 88004 certainly had issues going up Beattock yesterday - but that's now been taken off the 'circuit' so might just be that particular loco that doesn't like hill-climbing...?

Didn't the 68s have issues with sanders when first delivered too?

 

[TimboM]

Didn't the 68s have issues with sanders when first delivered too?

That definitely rings a bell.

 

[furnessvale]

The 88s have been having adhesion problems when there's been slippery railhead conditions. The locos have been laying down bucket-loads of sand and then running out of it. 88004 the other day took something like 35 mins to climb up Beattock and made the summit - just - at c.5 mph.

Hardly a great surprise! The real test of an out of course stop at a location such as Scout Green in a winter blizzard has still to come.

What is surprising is that NR have permitted single heading for these loco/tonnage combinations in the first place.

Not for nothing do FLL use 2 x 86 or 90 on similar trains.

 

[HLE]

It was worked by a class 88 today

 

[TimboM]

Hardly a great surprise! The real test of an out of course stop at a location such as Scout Green in a winter blizzard has still to come.

What is surprising is that NR have permitted single heading for these loco/tonnage combinations in the first place.

Not for nothing do FLL use 2 x 86 or 90 on similar trains.

In fairness to the 88s, the particular 88 (88004) which had the issue on the climb the other week has been taken out of service to have a wheel slip control problem sorted. Meanwhile the other 88s have been managing OK.

As you say, though, it's summer and whilst tracks may be greasy on occasion with the periodic rain we're getting, the true test has probably yet to come.

I'm assuming NR must have seen the test data and confident these locos are up for the task?

 

[CosherB]

I don't care how good the 88s are / will be, they'll never match the performance of a 92 'over the top, or any other contemporary co-co for that matter!