Direct From Dollands
For the first time since at least 2016 when the DB 92s were restricted to the Channel Tunnel/HS1 only, a Class 92 ran under its own power direct from Dollands Moor to Crewe ETD.
GB Railfreight Class 92, 92 032 "IMechE Railway Division" made the c.225 mile trip from the Kent coast to Cheshire for a brief visit to DB Cargo's Crewe ETD - or Crewe International Electric Maintenance Depot (IEMD) to give it its full name.
Crewe IEMD was the original base for the entire Class 92 fleet and after over a decade away, the 92s owned by GB Railfreight are once again regular visitors for major repairs and certain specific work that cannot be done at Wembley.
032 - seen at Crewe - was on its way to have its annual TVM430 recertification performed. Crewe ETD is one of only two places to have the equipment to do this - the other being Eurotunnel in France.
TVM430 is the in-cab signalling used in the Tunnel/HS1 - the antennae is housed in the black box beneath the buffers. TVM stands for "Transmission Voie-Machine" or "track-to-train transmission" with the 430 referring to the maximum speed in km/h it can control trains up. 430 km/h is required for the TGVs where this system is used in France, but is more than enough for the 140 km/h top speed of the 92s.
Direct From Dollands
For the first time since at least 2016 when the DB 92s were restricted to the Channel Tunnel/HS1 only, a Class 92 ran under its own power direct from Dollands Moor to Crewe ETD.
GB Railfreight Class 92, 92 032 "IMechE Railway Division" made the c.225 mile trip from the Kent coast to Cheshire for a brief visit to DB Cargo's Crewe ETD - or Crewe International Electric Maintenance Depot (IEMD) to give it its full name.
Crewe IEMD was the original base for the entire Class 92 fleet and after over a decade away, the 92s owned by GB Railfreight are once again regular visitors for major repairs and certain specific work that cannot be done at Wembley.
032 - seen at Crewe - was on its way to have its annual TVM430 recertification performed. Crewe ETD is one of only two places to have the equipment to do this - the other being Eurotunnel in France.
TVM430 is the in-cab signalling used in the Tunnel/HS1 - the antennae is housed in the black box beneath the buffers. TVM stands for "Transmission Voie-Machine" or "track-to-train transmission" with the 430 referring to the maximum speed in km/h it can control trains up. 430 km/h is required for the TGVs where this system is used in France, but is more than enough for the 140 km/h top speed of the 92s.