The Class 57 Diesel Locomotive, The Story So Far
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- The Class 57 diesel locomotive operated by Freightliner, Virgin Trains, Network Rail, Direct Rail Services (DRS) and West Coast Railways.
This video looks at the history and recent mainline operation of class 57 fleet.
The Class 57 is a diesel locomotive utilising the body shells of redundant class 47 locomotives and fitted with a refurbished EMD engine and a re-conditioned alternator of same type as that fitted to the Class 56. They were rebuilt by Brush Traction at its plant in Loughborough.
The class began life in 1997 when Freightliner ordered an initial six locomotives to compliment existing fleet of Class 47s. The first of these was released in July 1998. After an initial evaluation period Freightliner planned to have a fleet of twenty-five locomotives. In the event only twelve Class 57/0s were rebuilt as Freightliner decided to commit to the new-built Class 66s instead to replace its fleet of ageing Class 47s.
In the year 2000 Porterbrook, a railway rolling stock leasing company, placed an order for a prototype passenger locomotive fitted with electric train heating. This locomotive became 57601 and was painted in a striking version of the Porterbrook purple livery.
It was leased to First Great Western in June 2001 as the company were looking for a replacement for its elderly Class 47 locomotives. It hauled Mark 2 stock on day services from London Paddington to Plymouth and Penzance until these ceased operating in September 2002. In May 2002 FGW agreed to lease three production Class 57/6s from Porterbrook to work its Night Riviera sleeper services to the West Country.
As 57601 was a non-standard prototype it was returned to Porterbrook and a fourth Class 57/6 was ordered as a replacement. 57601 was later sold to West Coast Railways.
In 2002 Virgin Trains signed a deal with Porterbrook to rebuild twelve Class 47s as Class 57/3s to provide a fleet of locomotives for rescue duties and for drags on routes with no overhead wires.
A further four were ordered in 2003 which were fitter with Dellner retractable couplings. The original twelve were retrofitted with these couplings from October 2003. The Dellner coupling allows easier connection to Class 390 Pendolinos in regular service, and also Class 221 Super Voyagers in case of failure or emergency.
From spring 2005 Class 57/3s were used to drag two daily Virgin Class 390 Pendolino services from Crewe to Holyhead, complementing the Class 221 Super Voyagers that covered the other North Wales services. However due to the increases journey times caused by the coupling and uncoupling at Crewe these services were gradually replaced by the Class 221 Super Voyagers.
In September 2011 Network Rail leased six ex Virgin Class 57/3s fitted Dellner couplings from Porterbrook. These were used on test trains and the new Network Rail snow train. The Dellner couplings were reconfigured to operate with a variety of Southern Region multiple units as they were based in the South East and could be called on in an emergency situation.
Eventually 33 of the class were built in the number series 57001-012, 57301-316 and 57601-605. The class are currently operated by Direct Rail Services, West Coast Railways, Rail Operations Group and Great Western Railway.
In the following video filmed between 2012 and 2017 we will look at some of the duties the class 57s are tasked with caring out around the national network.
A new improved two part remastered version of this video is now available here ua-cam.com/video/jmQat9pPj9g/v-deo.htmlsi=IZiz34Fk_YrKnSg9 and here ua-cam.com/video/F87FoFZOgoI/v-deo.htmlsi=aH1XkOF_V48sqNJM
Great vid. I love the class 57s especially the 57/6. They remind of a jet fighter taxiing on a runways
Fantastic compilation there Anthony, a great selection of workings and locations. I'd forgot all about the Network Rail 57s, even though I've filmed them myself! It's a shame we don't still have the Chiltern diverted Virgin Blockade Buster workings these days.
Many thanks. Indeed the Virgin diverts over the Chilterns were enjoyable trains to film and a sensible idea as well!
kind of a shame that Freightliner didn't rebuild the rest of their fleet, it's not like they couldn't also commit to the Class 66s, hell, in many ways this was just a symptom of what led to the Engine Shortages the UK keeps seeing more and more often these days.
Another great video. Is that a nuclear train 2:16 ? Could you advise what the trucks preceding and trailing the locomotives are for - perhaps as a further protection for the locos from a collision or for brake force reasons?
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it. The train at 2:16 is actually the Network Rail snow and ice treatment train, not a nuclear train. The leading wagons are mini snow ploughs for clearing snow from the track. The other wagons between the locos treat the third rail to prevent ice build up.