IN an unexpected development, September 1 saw the entire Class 88 fleet removed from traffic for modifications. By the afternoon of this date, TOPS was showing all ten locos as ‘awaiting maintenance’, with indications that an upgrade to the OTMR data recording equipment was the cause of the blanket stoppage.
That morning had seen No. 88009 Diana heading north with the 4S43/06.16 Daventry-Mossend Tesco/Stobart intermodal service, but it was stopped at Carlisle Yard and replaced by Nos. 66302 and 66428, with the two GMs continuing to work the diagram into the following week. At the same time, Nos. 88001-04/06-08 were at Kingmoor, No. 88005 at Gresty Bridge and No. 88010 at Motherwell.
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