189 090-4 (D-DISPO) Touax modal (S) Köln West 08 06 2018

06.54: MRCE Dispolok's 189 090-4 (ES 64 F4-990) heads south on a Touax modal through Köln Weston a misty morning, 8 June 2018.

 

189 090-4 was part of the batch built by Siemens for customer evaluation and their own hire company (Siemens Dispolok GmbH, München).

 

It was built at Siemens' München Allach Works and delivered into service on 14 April 2004 (Works No. 20736).

 

Initially tested by SBB Cargo AG, Basel [CH], they retained it until June 2005, when it was rebuilt for use in Slovenia & Croatia evaluation.

 

It was used from 2005 by LKM - Lokomotion Gesellschaft für Schienentraktion mbH, München until 2009.

 

In the meantime, Siemens lok clients had started complaining that Siemens were competing with them for lok hire.

 

So on 30 September 2006, Siemens sold the business to Mitsui and it was renamed MRCE Dispolok GmbH, München.

 

Since then to January 2024, it has been hired out to 14 companies (including repeats).

 

From 9 October 2013, Mitsui sold the lok hire business to BRLL - Beacon Rail.

 

When this photo was taken, it was on hire again to SBB - its 4th time with them.

 

 

Done