Class 93 Tri-mode Loco

[800001]

93009 is now in the Uk. So expect it at Worksop this week.

 

[Roast Veg]

All are ABB AMXL 400 (as 68 and 88). The model number denotes ASEA / Swedish / Vasteras heritage. The numbering system is based ASEA industrial drive numbering (AML series) with 1xx is >~250kW with increments of 250kW stepping up a hundred so 4xx demotes >= ~1MW

4FRA / 6FRA are models based on the Brown-Boveri Swiss (Zurich) / German (Mannheim) numbering e.g. 4 = 4pole, 6 = 6pole, FRA = Frame mounted rigid axle linkage, FIA = Frame mounted with Independent Axles linkage, FHA = FRA with additional height clearance, FXA = FRA with eXtra additional height clearance (e.g. for India). There is still significant linkage between Bombardier (now Alstom) locomotives and the Brown-Boveri Swiss /German heritage for example the Alstom/Bombardier Traxx MS3 and recent AC3 locomotives have 6FIA series motors.

Interesting, thank you. I have in my notes that the class 92 was fitted with 6FRA7059B traction motors, and the 68 is fitted with 4FRA6063 motors. I can't find the source, so I'm willing to be corrected.

 

[Nottingham59]

In last night's test, I see that 6Q09 passed Tebay at 0035, apparently without stopping, and got to the summit just ten minutes later at 0045. It was pathed from Crewe to Carnforth as a diesel, then as an electric.

Realtime Trains | 6Q09 2232 Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Carlisle N.Y. | 30/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 6Q09 2232 departure from Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Carlisle N.Y. on 30/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The timing load last night had been changed to 1800t, but the load for tonight is still currently set to 2000t.

Realtime Trains | 6Q09 2232 Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Carlisle N.Y. | 01/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 6Q09 2232 departure from Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Carlisle N.Y. on 01/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Bertie the bus]

It was pathed from Crewe to Carnforth as a diesel, then as an electric.

It swapped modes at Preston where in made an unscheduled (according to the path) stop.

 

[BRcrosslane]

93001/007/010 worked through Alsager on the afternoon of June 30th en route Crewe

 

[ac6000cw]

It swapped modes at Preston where in made an unscheduled (according to the path) stop.

Crewe Coal Yard to Winsford took 14.25 minutes for 6.7 miles - 28.21mph pass to pass average (I assume accelerating as hard as it could on diesel+battery, on level or very gentle downgrades), then the 43 miles from Winsford to Preston South Junction took 46 minutes - 56mph pass to pass average on a gently undulating route.

So probably not bad for a roughly cl.37 equivalent.

 

[Rail Quest]

It swapped modes at Preston where in made an unscheduled (according to the path) stop.

Crewe Coal Yard to Winsford took 14.25 minutes for 6.7 miles - 28.21mph pass to pass average (I assume accelerating as hard as it could on diesel+battery, on level or very gentle downgrades), then the 43 miles from Winsford to Preston South Junction took 46 minutes - 56mph pass to pass average on a gently undulating route.

So probably not bad for a roughly cl.37 equivalent.

Perhaps it therefore swapped early due to battery depletion. Diesel-only accelerating with 1800t in tow off the Preston speed limits must be painfully slow and would perhaps cause a delay.

 

[Trainman40083]

93009 now at junction 24 of the M1 for the night.

 

[Unobrow]

93 001/007 just left Basford Hall on battery power.

 

[Richard123]

Perhaps it therefore swapped early due to battery depletion. Diesel-only accelerating with 1800t in tow off the Preston speed limits must be painfully slow and would perhaps cause a delay.

6Q09 or 6Q42?

6Q09 gained time all the way Crewe to near Shap where it changed over as planned?

6Q42 south to Crewe climbed Shap in diesel and stayed in diesel and kept time throughout?

Previous day lost time at Eden (planned changeover).

Must be looking at different trains to you...

 

[Nottingham59]

93 001/007 just left Basford Hall on battery power.

Did you or anyone see how many wagons tonight?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 01:18 ==

Tebay to Shap Summit in 15 1/2 minutes.

 

[Suraggu]

Did you or anyone see how many wagons tonight?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 01:18 ==

Tebay to Shap Summit in 15 1/2 minutes.

5 loaded JNA wagons and a 93 tucked inside. Both trips on Diesel/Battery.

 

[Nottingham59]

5 loaded JNA wagons and a 93 tucked inside. Both trips on Diesel/Battery.

Thanks. So a trailing load of 5x90+86 = 536t and a total train weight of 622t, assuming full wagons.

Tebay to the summit is 5m40ch (8.84km), giving an average speed of 8,840/930 = 9.5m/s (34 21mph)
Tractive effort is 622x9.8x(1.31+0.1)% = 86kN if allowing 0.1% of train weight for rolling friction.
Power demonstrated was 86x9.5 = 816kW, so close to the 900kW spec for 93 on diesel.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 09:47 ==

EDIT:
Wind resistance at 21mph will have been small but not neglible. I don't have data for open wagons, but the world record for a 2x1320kW HST was 148mph. At a fifth seventh of that speed (21mph), an HST-shaped trailing load would have wind resistance of 2640/125 329 = 8kW, as wind resistance power varies as the cube of the speed. I'm guessing now, but a rake of 5 JNAs and a 93 with a less streamlined shape at 21mph might need two or three times that, so around 16-24kW. That makes the power delivered on diesel around 830-840kW.

 

[ac6000cw]

Tebay to the summit is 5m40ch (8.84km), giving an average speed of 8,840/930 = 9.5m/s (34mph)

Last night's 6Q09 took 15.5 minutes from Tebay to Shap Summit (as you said upthread) for 5.5 miles, which is 21.3 mph average. The 9.5m/s is correct, the 'mph' error is in the m/s to mph conversion

 

[Nottingham59]

The 9.5m/s is correct, the 'mph' error is in the m/s to mph conversion

Thanks. That'll teach me to use Google to do the maths!

I'll edit the post.

 

[800001]

The comment below are taken from the ‘Class 93 locomotive Group’ on Facebook

Not sure if many of you use LinkedIn, or if you can view without signing up but we’re been posting a few videos that might be of interest for you, some technical talk, some messages and plans from our CEO and Head of The project etc

Last night was another successful test, as you may have seen from some pictures, we ran diesel hybrid rather than with the Panto up, slightly less weight on but performed really well and were getting some great regenerative power figures on the brakes and coasting on the declines

More moves coming soon, will update you with some plans and where you’re likely to see them soon but have a look and follow Rail Operations Group on LinkedIn if you don’t already!

0Q26 - Thursday 11.40 Crewe - Worksop is 001/007/010 running together on the return leg from testing

 

[Nottingham59]

Last night 6Q09 got from Tebay to Shap summit in 9 1/2 minutes, equivalent to 8840/570=15.5m/s (35mph)
The timings were based on a trailing load of 2000t. Does anyone know what the actual load was? Thanks.

Realtime Trains | 6Q09 2232 Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Carlisle N.Y. | 02/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 6Q09 2232 departure from Basford Hall Yard (Fl) to Carlisle N.Y. on 02/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Green tractor]

The load was 16 low height Network Rail loaded ballast/spoil bogie boxes

 

[ac6000cw]

The load was 16 low height Network Rail loaded ballast/spoil bogie boxes

So borrowing @Nottingham59's calculation method for that Wed 2nd/Thurs 3rd overnight run:

A trailing load of 16*90+86 = 1526t and a total train weight of 1612t, assuming full wagons.

Tebay to the summit is 5m40ch (8.84km) and took 9.5 minutes (570s), giving an average speed of 8840/570 = 15.5m/s (34.7 mph), pass-to-pass.
Tractive effort is 1612*9.8*((1.31+0.1)/100) = 223kN if allowing 0.1% of train weight for rolling friction.
Power demonstrated was 223*15.5 = 3456kW, so in the high electric power range for a 93.

So a good test week, in terms of cl. 93 performance, I think.