I know it's off topic, but are we any further forward in finding out what locos will be used for ECS movements once the new mk5 stock is introduced. or will the additional reactivated 92s fill that role when not in use for freight?
Short answer is no.
There seems to be an assumption that it'll be the 92s (due to the whole bespoke Dellners / ETH etc that means 92s are the only locos that can haul a Load 16 in full passenger service). However, I personally cannot see the 92s being used regularly for ECS if you look logically at the numbers of locos it'd need:
- There are 5 main a/c diagrams a night that will definitely need 92s once the Mk5s are fully rolled-out (1S25/1S26/1M11/1M16/1C11+1B26 Carstairs) - so that's 5x 92s working each night.
- Experience over the past 3 years of GB operating the contract is that to ensure loco availability, you need 7 locos to cover these 5 diagrams (to account for a couple of locos at any one time on exam/needing repair etc.). This is one more than the original 6 locos that were deemed necessary (and painted into CS livery accordingly) - and hence 92006 is planned to be the 7th loco in CS colours.
- If you then used 92s for ECS you'd need 2 more - one to work 5M11/5S96 at Glasgow and one to work 5S96/5M11 at EUS. (Using one or two of the "spares" from the above "core" pool of 7 doesn't really work if you want to avoid loads of cancellations - as firstly they often wouldn't be two "spare" as there'd usually be at least one "core" engine unavailable for some reason) and secondly ECS locos are typically trapped on the blocks for most of the night and can't help out very easily if something else fails.)
- So... you'd be looking at a minimum of 9x Class 92s full-time on the beds. Ordinarily that would be the 7 due to be in Sleeper livery (006/010/014/018/023/033/038) plus two of the freight ones (020/028/043)...
- ...meaning (once 006/020 are back) you'd only have three 92s left over for the cars/tunnel work/china clays and other electric/tunnel freight that gen elsewhere is suggesting is on the rise. And those three will need exam/repair from time to time, so you're realistically looking at only a couple of 92s available to do everything else.
Looking at it this way, I just can't see GBRf's plans being that they'd tie up most of their expensively assembled and maintained 92 fleet on the beds. I think it's much more likely it'll be the core pool of 7 in the CS livery, with the odd freight one subbing in as required, and meanwhile there's 4-5 "freight" 92s to cover the other freight/tunnel work that they can do. I don't think GBRf are going to all the time, trouble and expense to bring 006 and 020 back just to use them as ECS/shunt locos for a couple of hours each day.
Also, whilst the Dellners etc. are bespoke, I've seen reliable info that there's a) good batteries on the new stock (designed to last 4 hours) and b) different power settings (e.g. a "low power" type setting). Added to that 66s have done the Glasgow ECS at times so ETS isn't a "must have" for ECS. I think therefore that whilst a 92 is the only loco able to cope with the ETS in full service, it's much less of an issue for ECS moves.
Which then really leaves the challenge of the couplings, but then 92s/73s have been modified and there's plenty of examples of temporary/semi-permanent Dellner couplers attached to things like ROG 37s and DRS 57s, so on balance I would think adapting some dedicated ECS locos would be more cost effective then tying up expensive 92s which could be out earning their keep much better working freight/tunnel etc.
As to what these mysterious additional, non-92 ECS locos might be - if I was a betting man, I'd suggest the answer is right in front of us - in CS livery, hauling the ECS in and out of Glasgow and Euston most nights...!
