virgin class 57's

[tonytat]

Does anyone. Know what's going too happen with them there my favorites can't find much about it myself thanks

 

[SprinterMan]

Does anyone. Know what's going too happen with them there my favorites can't find much about it myself thanks

DRS apparently have got the contract to provide West Coast thunderbird locomotives, so it would stand to reason that the 7 remaining VT 57s will transfer to them eventually, although this is just seemingly conjecture. Of the 7 VT 57s, only 57307, 57308 and 57311 retain VT livery and "Thunderbirds" name badges.

Adam

 

[fgwrich]

DRS apparently have got the contract to provide West Coast thunderbird locomotives, so it would stand to reason that the 7 remaining VT 57s will transfer to them eventually, although this is just seemingly conjecture. Of the 7 VT 57s, only 57307, 57308 and 57311 retain VT livery and "Thunderbirds" name badges.

Adam

They will be transfering, with visits booked to the Eastleigh Works paintshop on the cards, except for the 4 Ex ATW 57/3s.

From WNXX.

Loco Pool Location/Notes
57001 MBDL Converted from 47356. 57001 is currently in traffic with West Coast Railway.

57002 XHCK Converted from 47322. 57002 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57003 XHCK Converted from 47317. 57003 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57004 XHCK Converted from 47347. 57004 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57005 MBDL Converted from 47350. 57005 is currently in store at West Coast Railway, Carnforth and has surrendered parts to the repair and return to use of 57006.

57006 CROL Converted from 47187. 57006 is currently In traffic with West Coast Railway. The WCRC operational fleet is usually allocated to the MBDL pool but 57006 is still allocated to the now defunct Cotswold Rail CROL pool.

57007 XHCK Converted from 47332. 57007 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57008 XHCK Converted from 47060. 57008 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57009 XHCK Converted from 47079. 57009 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57010 XHSS Converted from 47231. 57010 has been out of traffic since January 2012 but is currently undergoing
repairs at Eastleigh Works for a return to service with Direct Rail Services.

57011 XHCK Converted from 47329. 57011 is currently in traffic with Direct Rail Services.

57012 XHSS Converted from 47204. 57012 has been out of traffic since January 2011 but is currently undergoing
repairs at RVE, Derby for a return to service with Direct Rail Services.

57301 QADD Converted from 47845, 57301 is currently in use with Network Rail.

57302 XHAC Converted from 47827. 57302 is currently in use with Direct Rail Services.

57303 QADD Converted from 47705, 57303 is currently in use with Network Rail.

57304 XHAC Converted from 47807. 57304 is currently in use with Direct Rail Services.

57305 QADD Converted from 47822, 57305 is currently in use with Network Rail.

57306 QADD Converted from 47814, 57306 is currently in use with Network Rail.

57307 IWCA Converted from 47225. 57307 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast and is one of the three pencilled in for transfer to Direct Rail Services.

57308 IWCA Converted from 47846. 57308 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast and is one of the
three pencilled in for transfer to Direct Rail Services.

57309 XHAC Converted from 47806. 57309 is currently in use with Direct Rail Services.

57310 QADD Converted from 47831, 57310 is currently in use with Network Rail.

57311 IWCA Converted from 47817. 57311 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast and is one of the
three pencilled in for transfer to Direct Rail Services.

57312 QADD Converted from 47330, 57312 is currently in use with Network Rail.

57313 IWCA Converted from 47371. 57313 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast . 57313 is potentially surplus to requirements once the West Coast Thunderbird duties pass over to Direct Rail Services.

57314 IWCA Converted from 47372. 57314 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast . 57314 is potentially surplus to requirements once the West Coast Thunderbird duties pass over to Direct Rail Services.

57315 IWCA Converted from 47234. 57315 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast . 57315 is potentially surplus to requirements once the West Coast Thunderbird duties pass over to Direct Rail Services.

57316 IWCA Converted from 47290. 57316 is currently in use with Virgin Trains, West Coast . 57316 is potentially surplus to requirements once the West Coast Thunderbird duties pass over to Direct Rail Services.

57601 MBDL Converted from 47825. 57601 is currently in traffic with West Coast Railway.

57602 EFOO Converted from 47337. 57602 is currently in traffic with FGW.

57603 EFOO Converted from 47349. 57603 is currently in traffic with FGW.

57604 EFOO Converted from 47209. 57604 is currently in traffic with FGW.

57605 EFOO Converted from 47206. 57605 is currently in traffic with FGW.

 

[SprinterMan]

They will be transfering, with visits booked to the Eastleigh Works paintshop on the cards, except for the 4 Ex ATW 57/3s.

From WNXX.

Oh, so the 3 remaining VT liveried 57s are being transferred to DRS and are being repainted, while presumably the 4 ex-ATW 57s are just going off lease. I hope DRS or WCRC take them, they are only about 10 years old (since the rebuild).

Adam

 

[tonytat]

I hope drs keep them is shame about 57307 I love that one be nice let drs keep the nameplates on it

 

[fgwrich]

I hope drs keep them is shame about 57307 I love that one be nice let drs keep the nameplates on it

Doubt it. The nameplates & Thunderbirds Branding were exclusively licensed to Virgin Trains & Bachmann under license from both companies. Even Heljan got their fingers nearly burnt when they produced a model of the 57s - The models had to be released without the nameplates, due to the complex and no doubt expensive licensing of the Thunrderbirds brand.

 

[tonytat]

I know that's why it's a shame virgin always keep lady p clean and well mantained be sad too see her not in virgin colours

 

[fgwrich]

I hope drs keep them is shame about 57307 I love that one be nice let drs keep the nameplates on it

Going today to Eastleigh Works in tandem with 57002 for both a repaint & overhaul (both locos).

 

[tonytat]

Are they which two are foing

 

[Boothby97]

Are they which two are foing

57307 hauled 57002 down to Eastleigh as the 05:05 Gresty Bridge-Sudbury Jc (and onwards to Eastleigh)

Hope this helps, Sam

 

[SprinterMan]

They will be transfering, with visits booked to the Eastleigh Works paintshop on the cards, except for the 4 Ex ATW 57/3s.

From WNXX.

Can you please link me to this page, as I can't find it. Have the 57s transferred yet?

Adam

 

[sprinterguy]

Can you please link me to this page, as I can't find it. Have the 57s transferred yet?

Adam

This page has something similar, if you select the Class 50-59 tab at the base of the page:
http://www.wnxx.com/fleetstatus/Fleet_files/sheet006.htm

57307 and 57002 have moved to Eastleigh now. The remaining three class 57s to transfer to DRS are expected to make the same move next week.

 

[SprinterMan]

This page has something similar, if you select the Class 50-59 tab at the base of the page:
http://www.wnxx.com/fleetstatus/Fleet_files/sheet006.htm

57307 and 57002 have moved to Eastleigh now. The remaining three class 57s to transfer to DRS are expected to make the same move next week.

Which 3 would these be?
57308, 57311 and which other?
Thanks for the link

Adam

 

[sprinterguy]

Which 3 would these be?
57308, 57311 and which other?
Thanks for the link

Adam

Ah, sorry, I think that I've confused myself with the idea of there being three more.

 

[SprinterMan]

Ah, sorry, I think that I've confused myself with the idea of there being three more.

Oh right, so 57307, 308 and 311 are going to DRS, with 313-316 going off-lease then.

Adam

 

[crewmeal]

FGW should have a couple so that they can improve their reliability record for their sleepers.

 

[D365]

They already use 57s?

 

[Big Chris]

Yes. FGW have a fleet of four 57/6's which haul the Night Riviera sleeper and act as Thunderbirds as well.

 

[tonytat]

Yeah fgw have used a few virgin 57's in the past

 

[ainsworth74]

They already use 57s?

Yes. FGW have a fleet of four 57/6's which haul the Night Riviera sleeper and act as Thunderbirds as well.

I think crewmeal was suggesting they should have a couple more to try and improve service reliability as it's fairly atrocious on occasion (and I think there's often at least one our of commission).

 

[tonytat]

They have hired them in when the 57/6 have been out of service lady p was used a few times

 

[crewmeal]

I think crewmeal was suggesting they should have a couple more to try and improve service reliability as it's fairly atrocious on occasion (and I think there's often at least one our of commission).

Yes quite right. FGW 57's are notorious for breaking down and either cancelling or terminating the sleepers services. A couple more in the fleet would help.

 

[tonytat]

Yeah there prob the most unreliable four out of all the various 57 that were made think virgin at least looked after there's

 

[Wath Yard]

I don't think FGW would agree Virgin looked after theirs, although it was actually Alstom who maintained them. When they hired them for the Cardiff - Taunton services their reliability was pretty poor. Having spoken to a couple of people at the DRS open day they also stated that the 57/3s they took on were in a poor condition.

 

[SprinterMan]

I don't think FGW would agree Virgin looked after theirs, although it was actually Alstom who maintained them. When they hired them for the Cardiff - Taunton services their reliability was pretty poor. Having spoken to a couple of people at the DRS open day they also stated that the 57/3s they took on were in a poor condition.

I agree with this. From what I hear, ETS-fitted 57s are unreliable locomotives however you look at it, but VT's are certainly not well looked after. Since the WCML upgrade was finished they haven't really had much to do so have seemed to rot away a little. WCRC's 57601 is the exception to this, as it seems to be very reliable. FGW take note

Adam

 

[tonytat]

Yeah they seem unreliable from what I have heard its mostly the ets that's at fault when they fail too do the pendo drag its cause they can't talk the 57 virgin have let some of them go that I will admit that's prob why they keep the three there now giving to drs and the four x arriva ones
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
They seemed to be the best of the fleet

 

[DarloRich]

virgin at least looked after there's

Yeah they seem unreliable from what I have heard its mostly the ets that's at fault when they fail too do the pendo drag its cause they can't talk the 57 virgin have let some of them go that I will admit that's prob why they keep the three there now giving to drs and the four x arriva ones
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
They seemed to be the best of the fleet

seems to be something of a contradiction here! Make you mind up either Virgin looked after them or they didnt

The Network Rail ones seem ok - Does the ETS get used on those ones?

 

[tonytat]

what i was saying is the ets seemed to cause most of the problems the loco themselves work that too look at them they were not in to bad condition thats what i have read. iam not sure about the network rail ones i know they did some trails pulling a class 350 a while back

 

[Boothby97]

57311 is no longer named by the way
Thanks, Sam

 

[tonytat]

Wow thanks I saw a picture of lady p pulling 57002 she still had them on then