Clayton CBD90 - Battery+diesel shunter - now BR Class 18

[Peter Sarf]

Visited Wolverton today, Friday 26/04/2024.

13 x Class 18s visible at Wolverton from outside observation points between 1230 and 1330 on 15.04.24:
Visible from Lidl car cark: 5 in a row (18001 & 18011 identified for certain), 2 more on siding adjacent to these (unable to identify).
Visible from footpath at west end of site which runs from main road to canal: 5 in a row (18004 confirmed by label in window).
Visible from Grand Union Canal Towpath: In siding right up by fence on other side of canal: 18013.
I was only expecting 12 locos to be here as 18002 was at Brush Works Loughborough 03.04.24, 18003 is on trial at Scunthorpe and 18006 is with Freightliner Basford Hall.
So it would appear that one of these three has returned to Wolverton. If anyone has any more information on this, I would be most grateful to hear.

+

I had a walk round the outskirts of Wolverton works yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. Visible from the LIDL car park were five 18s (see first photo) anyone know their identities?
I then walked along the footpath at the western end of the works to the canal tow-path, and along the tow-path nearly as far as the railway bridge opposite McDonalds' car park. I only spied one class 18 through the trees - and probably that'll be obscured by leaves in a week or two.

So

EDIT 27/04/2024 @ 22:00 I do not think the below 18011 & 18012 were the end two of the mentioned photo. I now think they could be a completely different location further West.
On the Lidl side the furthest two in the picture today were 18011 furthest from camera and 18012. A class 321 was making life difficult. Those two were at a very hard angle of view. But the check digits were a match for the list I had.

From the footpath I saw no hint of a class 18. Probably too many trees now in leaf.

Through the trees I got 18013 and 18009. Your two pictures through the undergrowth look very very horribly familiar !. I spent an absolute age getting those two by moving left and right and up and down. It took a lot of searching and peering to even spot a likely position to stand on the towpath as the numbers are barely above the edge of the ground at the fence.

These have full Euro spec numbers so I noted the check digit so as to validate what I saw. I checked what I saw against two lists :-
SpotLog a friend sent me seems to have duff check digits - 18009 with check digit "0" I was very sure of.
Another list texted to me later (so no idea of source) agreed with what I actually saw for all four.

The hyphen and check digit at the end of the number make it hard to read the numbers when at a bad angle.

Here is the list with their check digit, it will help people be sure they have read the number correctly.

All prefixed by 977000
then
18001-7
18002-5
18003-3
18004-1
18005-8
18006-6
18007-4
18008-2
18009-0 (SpotLog = 8)
18010-8 (SpotLog = 6)
18011-6 (SpotLog = 4)
18012-4 (SpotLog = 2)
18013-2
18014-0
18015-7

I doubt 18012 and 18013 should have the same check digit so I trust the later list I got (as above)

 

[Wandering Pom]

I doubt 18012 and 18013 should have the same check digit so I trust the later list I got (as above)

I've just found an EVN check digit calculator, provided by ÖBB (Austrian Railways). It confirms the check digits you've given for 18009-18012 from the second list.

Here's the link, in case it's helpful: https://infrastruktur.oebb.at/en/partners/it-tools/check-digit

 

[Peter Sarf]

I've just found an EVN check digit calculator, provided by ÖBB (Austrian Railways). It confirms the check digits you've given for 18009-18012 from the second list.

Here's the link, in case it's helpful: https://infrastruktur.oebb.at/en/partners/it-tools/check-digit

Thanks that's a really hand tool. I was beginning to think I would have to work out the algorithm for myself. Its been at least 40 years since I learnt how the various common versions are arrived at !. I could not begin to remember the detail !.

 

[50002Superb]

Just to confirm that 18002 is still at Loughborough, saw it myself today at around 2pm.

 

[RedPostJunc]

Passing Eastleigh today, I was surprised to see a class 18 in the yard.
Does anybody know where all class 18s currently are?

 

[Roger B]

I saw the one in Easatleigh Yard last week - it was 18015. As to where the others are ......

 

[cj_1985]

one at crewe with freightliner, and one at whitemoor with GB (Again)... plus the one at eastleigh.
the rest are at (presumably) wolverton works

 

[Peter Sarf]

one at crewe with freightliner, and one at whitemoor with GB (Again)... plus the one at eastleigh.
the rest are at (presumably) wolverton works

I make that :-
18002 Was at Loughborough so presumably that one is now at Whitemoor BUT there was one there ages ago that left iirc ?.
18006 Crewe.
18015 Eastleigh
The other 12 are dotted around Wolverton.
Any corrections / updates ?.

 

[wickham]

I am reliably informed that 18002 is still at Loughborough, although it is not always in a possition to see. The one at Whitemoor is said to be 18012: 18015 at Eastleigh is reported to be driver training and is expected to be joined by a second in due course. A second at Whitemoor and one (at least) for GBRf at Bescot are likely.

 

[Defiance149]

18002 Loughborough, 18003 Scunthorpe, 18006 Basford Hall, 18012 Whitemoor, 18015 Eastleigh, 18001/04/05/07-11/13/14 Wolverton.

 

[RedPostJunc]

18002 Loughborough, 18003 Scunthorpe, 18006 Basford Hall, 18012 Whitemoor, 18015 Eastleigh, 18001/04/05/07-11/13/14 Wolverton.

Thank you!

 

[Peter Sarf]

I am reliably informed that 18002 is still at Loughborough, although it is not always in a possition to see. The one at Whitemoor is said to be 18012: 18015 at Eastleigh is reported to be driver training and is expected to be joined by a second in due course. A second at Whitemoor and one (at least) for GBRf at Bescot are likely.

+

18002 Loughborough, 18003 Scunthorpe, 18006 Basford Hall, 18012 Whitemoor, 18015 Eastleigh, 18001/04/05/07-11/13/14 Wolverton.

Thankyou - looks like they are spreading their wings.

 

[childwallblues]

A friend of mine who lives near Scunthorpe has told me that some friends of his havr reported that 18004 has replaced 18003 at the steelworks.

 

[themiller]

An article from Global Railway Review that I picked up in Apple News states that GBRf have taken four class 18 shutters and more info regarding their decarbonisation plan.

GB Railfreight expands fleet with new electric locomotives — Global Railway Review

GB Railfreight (GBRf) has announced the acquisition of four new electric Class 18 hybrid+ shunt locomotives, marking a significant addition to its growing fleet.

apple.news

 

[Peter Sarf]

An article from Global Railway Review that I picked up in Apple News states that GBRf have taken four class 18 shutters and more info regarding their decarbonisation plan.

GB Railfreight expands fleet with new electric locomotives — Global Railway Review

GB Railfreight (GBRf) has announced the acquisition of four new electric Class 18 hybrid+ shunt locomotives, marking a significant addition to its growing fleet.

apple.news

The photo is tantalising. Where is that coastal location ?.

The article uses a lot of words to convey rather little information. They are an electric hybrid+ - does that make them a hybrid ?.

 

[themiller]

They should normally be operated in full electric mode, plugging into a charger when down on charge. The diesel engine is for contingency purposes.

 

[Nottingham59]

The photo is tantalising. Where is that coastal location ?.

Is it Thames Haven? The track layout there is about right, but the sidings look derelict on Google maps.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The identity of the 08 with it should be a clue, but I can't quite make out its number

EDIT - looks like D4164 aka 08934, which Wikipedia says is based at Whitemoor buty another source says it at Dagenham car terminal and yet another at Worksop!.

 

[Western 52]

The identity of the 08 with it should be a clue, but I can't quite make out its number

Does it have D4164 on it's buffer beam?

 

[3973EXL]

The photo is tantalising. Where is that coastal location ?.

Whitemoor

 

[Defiance149]

Its an old photo of 18001 when it was based at Whitemoor, taken between February and July 2022 when 08934 was also there.

 

[wickham]

Passing Eastleigh Yard today at 1600 there were TWO Class 18s present - could not confirm numbers for certain.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Passing Eastleigh Yard today at 1600 there were TWO Class 18s present - could not confirm numbers for certain.

One is almost certainly 18 015 - I photographed it there on Friday last week.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

So with all these Class 18s appearing, does that mean the end is finally nigh for Class 08s on Britains railways?

 

[Peter Sarf]

So with all these Class 18s appearing, does that mean the end is finally nigh for Class 08s on Britains railways?

Conjecture but I would say perhaps 50% replacing mainline locos and 50% replacing 08s. So perhaps 8 class 08s at risk or maximum 15 08s at risk if all class 18s are used as direct replacements. I am thinking one for one as many yards have only one 08 ?.

 

[geordieblue]

Conjecture but I would say perhaps 50% replacing mainline locos and 50% replacing 08s. So perhaps 8 class 08s at risk or maximum 15 08s at risk if all class 18s are used as direct replacements. I am thinking one for one as many yards have only one 08 ?.

To be fair not many yards have 08s at all - and some of those that do e.g. Bescot, Eastleigh, Whitemoor actually have two. I don’t know if one Class 18 could successfully replace two Class 08s - I’m not sure how the tractive efforts compare - but it’s hard to predict how many 08s will be redeployed.

 

[Chilternblue]

One is almost certainly 18 015 - I photographed it there on Friday last week.

The other shunter is 18014, seen at 0945 this morning in East Yard, 18015 is further away from the main line.

 

[50002Superb]

The other shunter is 18014, seen at 0945 this morning in East Yard, 18015 is further away from the main line.

Both seen there today

 

[Razorblades]

To be fair not many yards have 08s at all - and some of those that do e.g. Bescot, Eastleigh, Whitemoor actually have two. I don’t know if one Class 18 could successfully replace two Class 08s - I’m not sure how the tractive efforts compare - but it’s hard to predict how many 08s will be redeployed.

I was under the impression that yards with multiple pilot engines involve simultaneous working in separate parts of the facility rather than doubling-up for the purpose of tractive effort. At Bescot for example there have customarily been two 08s available that work independently.

There's also the issue in many locations of crossing a shunting loco over a busy main line between scheduled services during daylight hours.

 

[childwallblues]

To be fair not many yards have 08s at all - and some of those that do e.g. Bescot, Eastleigh, Whitemoor actually have two. I don’t know if one Class 18 could successfully replace two Class 08s - I’m not sure how the tractive efforts compare - but it’s hard to predict how many 08s will be redeployed.

Alstom, Widnes has two shunters 08454 and 08721.