Class 90 Loocmotive Fleet Operations

Current Fleet Situation Of the original 50 Class 90 locomotives built for passenger and freight duties, only 40 remain active today. Ten locomotives (90017, 90022, 90023, 90025, 90027, 90030, 90031, 90032, 90033, and 90038) were sold to scrap merchants in April 2024 and sub- sequently broken up. This 20% reduction in the fleet is widely seen as a consequence of poor management and neglect; previous owners chose not to invest in routine maintenance when the locomotives were younger, opting instead to store them with minor defects until they became uneconomical to repair. A full breakdown of the surviving fleet and their current operators is detailed below.

Which Class 90s are currently out of traffic for maintenance? For the latest Class 90 fleet updates, see the Fleet Summary below, or visit the homepage for the Daily Gen Reports and Fleet Status News.

Which Class 90s have been sold for scrap? In December 2023, DB Cargo listed 10 long-term stored Class 90s for sale from Crewe IEMD: 90017, 90022, 90023, 90025, 90027, 90030, 90031, 90032, 90033, and 90038. Although these engines only required minor maintenance like wheelset replacements and mid-life overhauls when first stored (some as early as 2005), former operator EWS refused to invest further in the fleet and stored them instead. These locomotives were ultimately moved by road to Sandbach and Liverpool Docks for scrap in Spring 2024. Meanwhile, 90018 and 90040 were also sold during the same period having spent sometime in storage at Crewe IEMD, but avoided dis- posal by transferring to Freightliner for continued service. Separately, 90050 narrowly escaped being cut up. After suffering extensive fire damage in the early 2000s, it was stripped of its parts and stored. Following cosmetic restoration in 2024, the locomotive is now on display at the Crewe Heritage Centre, though it remains under Freightliner ownership.

Which Class 90s remain in storage? At the time of writing, the following DB Class 90s were still in warm storage at Crewe IEMD: 90019, 90020, 90024, 90028, 90029, 90034, 90035, 90036, and 90037. The future of the above DB Cargo Class 90s is unclear (really hope they do not go the same way as the others i.e. being left to rot), Click here for more details on the stored fleet owned by DB Cargo.

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DB Cargo

Fleet Profile The DB Cargo fleet now comprises of 9 locomotives only (see below) ------------------------------------------------ Current Availability None. ------------------------------------------------ Current Stored Fleet: 90019, 90020, 90024, 90028, 90029, 90034, 90035, 90036, 90037. Former Long-term stored fleet 90017, 90022, 90023, 90025, 90027, 90030, 90031, 90032, 90033, 90038 (largely disposed off now). ---------------------------------------------------

Locomotive Services

Fleet Profile The LSL fleet consists of 3 class 90s, which are 90001, 90002 and 90026. ------------------------------------------------ Current Availability 90001. ------------------------------------------------ Stopped for maintenance 90002, 90026. ---------------------------------------------------

Freightliner

Fleet Profile Freightliner has 28 Class 90s which include 90003-90016, 90018, 90021, and 90039-90050. ------------------------------------------------ Current Availability 90003, 90006, 90008, 90009, 90010, 90011, 90012, 90013, 90014, 90015. 90016, 90018, 90021, 90039, 90040, 90043, 90044, 90045, 90046, 90047, 90048, 90049. ------------------------------------------------ Stopped for maintenance 90004, 90005, 90007, 90041, 90042. ---------------------------------------------------

Crewe Heritage Centre

Fleet Profile 90050 is on long-term loan from Freightliner to the Crewe Heritage Centre. ------------------------------------------------ Current Availability None. ------------------------------------------------ Stored Unserviceable 90050 (Crewe Heritage Centre) ---------------------------------------------------