TOPS number for TW metrocars

[robertclark125]

I read somewhere that the three battery locomotives for the Tyne and Wear Metro have TOPS umbers as, in theory, they can run onto Network Rail metals. This has led me to wonder, do the metrocars themselves have TOPS numbers, and if so, what are they?

 

[Kite159]

Class 994?

So Metro set 4001 will become 994001?

(Unless i've got the wrong end of the stick)

 

[hacman]

That is correct. 994xxx for the Metro stock with their headcodes on Network Rail routes being derived from the Metro running board numbers also.

Not so sure if he battery locos are the same though, as IIRC they are not passed to leave the network, and have never done so.

 

[142094]

The battery locos had additional numbers applied last year at some point to become 97901-03. There was talk of them being allowed down onto Network Rail, mainly incase a Metro failed and needed recovering. However as Hacman says this hasn't happened yet.

 

[robertclark125]

Although they haven't, yet, been onto NR metals, the battery locomotives were given NR or BR numbers, in this case class 97901-3, as they can, in theory, go onto BR metals, and are cleared to do so. The thing that puzzled me was the Metrocars themselves.

Which leads me to ask, do the metrocars actually carry their TOPS numbers at all, as I'm assuming if they do, it'll be in the cab, as they're not on the fronts of the cars, just the TWM numbers 4001-90.

 

[142094]

No, in the cab the only number displayed is the 40xx and either A or B end. At first Metrocars were classed as 599, but this changed to 994.