Network Rail MPV
Constructed by Windhoff, the CargoSprinter MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) is widely used across the Great British rail network.
32 MPVs are used by Network Rail, for various track maintenance operations, including:
- Weed spraying and vegetation control.
- De icing of rail heads during winter.
- Water jetting and sandite application during RHTT season.
The MPV trains consist of a master unit, which is powered by a diesel engine, and the rear unit which is a slave and is unpowered. Some MPVs ordered for South East England have both units powered to provide better tractive power and acceleration.
MPVs are infrequently used throughout the year on weedspray runs, usually operated by Balfour Beatty or JSD Research & Development. Between late September and November, MPVs are used by Network Rail, operated by Balfour Beatty or regional freight operating company, to carry out rail head treatment train workings. The cylinders on the multi purpose vehicle are filled with water which is blasted through a nozzle under the train, spraying the rail heads, to remove build up of leaf residue following leaf fall in autumn. (The leaves get ground up on rails by train wheels and cause trains to slip. Making it take longer for trains to stop, or sometimes over run the platform, as well as encountering difficulty pulling away from stations and red signals). These tend to run under 3S or 3J headcodes.
The MPVs are later used for SITT (snow and ice treatment trains). When temperatures drop ice can form on rails, too making it difficult for trains to stop or pull away from stations. A bristled brush is rubbed along the rails and de icer is sprayed too, to mitigate freezing. SITT MPVs usually run under 8Y or 3Y headcodes. A conventional radiator is fitted inside the cab to provide warmth during the winter months.
MPVs are used alongside loco hauled RHTTs, operating out of places such as Totton yard, Horsham UP TC, Effingham Junction CHS, Tonbridge Engineers Sidings, Wigan LIP, Carlisle Kingmoor, York Holgate, Slateford, Inverness and Rutherglenn.
Other Windhoff built vehicles such as Switches and Crossings video train DR98008, and OHLE MPV are also seen on the GB rail network.
The standard seasonal MPV numbers can be found below. The vehicle numbers have a difference of 50 between the front and rear unit.
DR98901 / DR98951 DR98902 / DR98952 DR98903 / DR98953 DR98904 / DR98954 DR98905 / DR98955 DR98906 / DR98956 DR98907 / DR98957 DR98908 / DR98958 DR98909 / DR98959 DR98910 / DR98960 DR98911 / DR98961 DR98912 / DR98962 DR98913 / DR98963 DR98914 / DR98964 DR98915 / DR98965 DR98916 / DR98966 DR98917 / DR98967 DR98918 / DR98968 DR98919 / DR98969 DR98920 / DR98970 DR98921 / DR98971 DR98922 / DR98972 DR98923 / DR98973 DR98924 / DR98974 DR98925 / DR98975 DR98926 / DR98976 DR98927 / DR98977 DR98928 / DR98978 DR98929 / DR98979 DR98930 / DR98980 DR98931 / DR98981 DR98932 / DR98982
Author: matt
Owner of Rail Record