1A40 Penzance - Padd tonight.

[34D]

A fifth class 57 may help. Return of purple ronnie 57601? Or an ex virgin one?

Still, FGW do have experience of 67s from the mk 2 formed sets of 2ish years ago.

 

[Drsatan]

If Chiltern ever orders a batch of locomotives from Vossloh, couldn't there be a follow on order for five locomotives for FGW to replace the 57s? This would make sense given that the sleeper is now part of the franchise specification.

 

[bnm]

If Chiltern ever orders a batch of locomotives from Vossloh, couldn't there be a follow on order for five locomotives for FGW to replace the 57s? This would make sense given that the sleeper is now part of the franchise specification.

That presupposes FGW continue as the franchisee. It could easily be someone else's problem dealing with the ageing 57's.

 

[TEW]

A fifth class 57 may help. Return of purple ronnie 57601? Or an ex virgin one?

Still, FGW do have experience of 67s from the mk 2 formed sets of 2ish years ago.

There the operation was pretty much outsourced to DBS though. They used FGW guards who learnt MK2s for the work but DBS drivers and the 67s were maintained by DBS.

 

[34D]

If Chiltern ever orders a batch of locomotives from Vossloh, couldn't there be a follow on order for five locomotives for FGW to replace the 57s? This would make sense given that the sleeper is now part of the franchise specification.

Possibly, but in this country we have thirty class 67S, about 12 years old, for whom the work they were built has disappeared. Virtually all EWS's own work can be done with 75mph non ETS class 66s.

I believe current class 67 usage is (approx)
Three dedicated to special EWS use (royal train and managers set)
Four EC thunderbird
One ATW (wag express)
Two scotrail fife circle
Three scotrail sleeper
Three (?) Chiltern mainline

That's 13ish in use out of 30. Allowing a further four locos to be either on exam or spare to replace the above, that gives 13ish locos theoretically available for use elsewhere in this country.

Are 57s really as bad as people think though?

 

[KA4C]

Then there are all the crew and fitter training costs.

They could always hire in DBS BZ and BH men, given the amount of unsued hours those depots have? I'm sure that DBS could come up with a deal

 

[87015]

Are 57s really as bad as people think though?

They are cheap and reasonably cheerful - clearly enough for the people in charge to stick with.

 

[KA4C]

Are 57s really as bad as people think though?

No, for a small fleet they do very well