First ‘91’ heads for scrap
The unfortunate No. 91132 has become the first of the IC225 ‘Electras’ to be sent for scrap.
ACCEPTED into traffic in September 1990, No. 91132 has become the first of the class to be sent for disposal, the Class 91/1 being noted on the back of a low-loader on March 18, moving to Sims Metals, Beeston, after a visit to Wabtec Doncaster.
Although numerically the final member of the 31-strong class, the ‘Electra’ was actually built as No. 91023 – the only example renumbered out of sequence during refurbishment after being involved in two fatal rail accidents at Hatfield in October 2000 and Great Heck in February 2001.
No. 91132 is expected to be the first of four Class 91s to be scrapped over the coming months, the other three likely to be Nos. 91103, 91104 and 91108.
On a more positive note, ‘Flying Scotsman’-branded No. 91110 has been reinstated to active service. The loco had been undergoing a G-exam at Wabtec, Doncaster, along with
No. 91111 when the fleet was taken out of traffic in January. It worked a Neville Hill-Wabtec light engine move with No. 67016 on March 18 to collect Mk.4 stock for a return to the Leeds depot. This was followed by a solo trial with a 10-car Mk.4 set on the 24th that saw it work a 5Z20 Neville HillPeterborough and 5Z50 return.
Also reactived is No. 91109, which was the last Class 91 to leave Bounds Green (London) in February. This was recorded working light engine at Doncaster on March 22.
There has been some reshuffling of the remainder of the fleet as LNER gears up towards reinstating more locomotives when Britain reopens more over the coming months. Nos. 91101 and 91104 moved from Doncaster Belmont to nearby Wabtec, while
Nos. 91107 and 91130 moved to Neville Hill. Their places at Belmont were taken by Nos. 91106 and 91119, both exNeville Hill. No. 91114 also moved from Belmont to Neville Hill, but had returned to Doncaster by month’s end.
At the start of April the fleet was located as follows:
Doncaster Belmont: 91102, 91106, 91109, 91112, 91113, 91114, 91115, 91116, 91118, 91119, 91121, 91125, 91126, 91129, 91131 Leicester (Europhoenix): 91117, 91120 Rectory Sidings (DATS): 91122, 91128 Neville Hill: 91105, 91107, 91110, 91124, 91127, 91130 Sims Beeston: 91132 Wabtec, Doncaster: 91101, 91103, 91104, 91108, 91111, 91132