Milton and Molière's Grand Day Out
17 years and 10 months after it was withdrawn, GB Railfreight Class 92, 92 020 (formerly named "Milton") finally made it beyond the boundaries of Crewe station and out on to the WCML proper for a 75 mph test run.
An initial short run around Crewe was conducted in the early afternoon under the control of Crewe Box running as 0Z94 and 0F94. 92020 led, with 92 010 (formerly named "Molière") as the insurance loco, from Crewe ETD to Gresty Bridge, then reverse into Basford Hall and back through the station to the ETD.
After a pause waiting for a path, 92010 - which had been at the ETD for repairs - hauled the pair to Stafford as 0Z95. 92020 is photographed here on the rear of 92010 awaiting time (all 36 mins of it!) for the path to Stafford.
It was then time for 020 to ramp up the kilonewtons and finally stretch her legs - running down the WCML as 0Z96 back to Crewe at the maximum permitted speed for a light engine.
The run was the culmination of about two years of reinstatement work at Loughborough Brush and a further two months work at Crewe ETD by DB Cargo and Brush technicians to get her fully ready for the mainline.
Milton and Molière's Grand Day Out
17 years and 10 months after it was withdrawn, GB Railfreight Class 92, 92 020 (formerly named "Milton") finally made it beyond the boundaries of Crewe station and out on to the WCML proper for a 75 mph test run.
An initial short run around Crewe was conducted in the early afternoon under the control of Crewe Box running as 0Z94 and 0F94. 92020 led, with 92 010 (formerly named "Molière") as the insurance loco, from Crewe ETD to Gresty Bridge, then reverse into Basford Hall and back through the station to the ETD.
After a pause waiting for a path, 92010 - which had been at the ETD for repairs - hauled the pair to Stafford as 0Z95. 92020 is photographed here on the rear of 92010 awaiting time (all 36 mins of it!) for the path to Stafford.
It was then time for 020 to ramp up the kilonewtons and finally stretch her legs - running down the WCML as 0Z96 back to Crewe at the maximum permitted speed for a light engine.
The run was the culmination of about two years of reinstatement work at Loughborough Brush and a further two months work at Crewe ETD by DB Cargo and Brush technicians to get her fully ready for the mainline.