Some hired help tackling the Cumbrian weeds.
All is not what it seems : The MPV hasn't broken down and its not a DRS service either. Sadly the complexities of the modern railway just create additional expense and this is a prime example.
DB Cargo have the North West England, Borders and Scottish weed spray contract currently which during the Covid pandemic ran loco hauled to maintain social distancing between the crew but this year was to run as booked with a MPV unit. The problem is route knowledge and traction knowledge, so there are just two drivers left at Carlisle who sign MPV's one works for GBRF and one for DRS and now nobody at DB. Only DB drivers at Warrington, Mossend and Millerhill sign MPV's in the area covered. The previous day had seen the MPV run with an SLC-O driver from Birmingham conducted by a DB driver but on this day with nobody available to drive the MPV and DB experiencing a loco shortage the solution was to hire a DRS class 66 for the DB driver to drive using the JSD-Rail fitter (they man the MPV) to set it up for loco haulage.... How many people to change a light bulb !
The irony on the day is the loco DB Cargo hired from DRS was 66 108 (DB owned and leased to DRS) which covered the Kingmoor Yard pilot while the "pilot loco" was used to work the weed spray train. You couldn't make it up as that loco too was a DRS liveried class 66 hired from DB to DRS and back to DB, namely 66 091.
The ensemble is seen here at Wigton with 66 091 hauling MPV DR98911+DR98969 working 3Z18 12.05 Kingmoor Yard - Carnforth - Kingmoor Yard.
Some hired help tackling the Cumbrian weeds.
All is not what it seems : The MPV hasn't broken down and its not a DRS service either. Sadly the complexities of the modern railway just create additional expense and this is a prime example.
DB Cargo have the North West England, Borders and Scottish weed spray contract currently which during the Covid pandemic ran loco hauled to maintain social distancing between the crew but this year was to run as booked with a MPV unit. The problem is route knowledge and traction knowledge, so there are just two drivers left at Carlisle who sign MPV's one works for GBRF and one for DRS and now nobody at DB. Only DB drivers at Warrington, Mossend and Millerhill sign MPV's in the area covered. The previous day had seen the MPV run with an SLC-O driver from Birmingham conducted by a DB driver but on this day with nobody available to drive the MPV and DB experiencing a loco shortage the solution was to hire a DRS class 66 for the DB driver to drive using the JSD-Rail fitter (they man the MPV) to set it up for loco haulage.... How many people to change a light bulb !
The irony on the day is the loco DB Cargo hired from DRS was 66 108 (DB owned and leased to DRS) which covered the Kingmoor Yard pilot while the "pilot loco" was used to work the weed spray train. You couldn't make it up as that loco too was a DRS liveried class 66 hired from DB to DRS and back to DB, namely 66 091.
The ensemble is seen here at Wigton with 66 091 hauling MPV DR98911+DR98969 working 3Z18 12.05 Kingmoor Yard - Carnforth - Kingmoor Yard.