- DRS are the largest operator of class '57s' with nine class 57/0s (all acquired from Freightliner), six class 57/3s (all Virgin Trains '57s' acquired from Porterbrook) and another six class 57/3s (all acquired from Network Rail) bringing the total to 15 class '57s'.
- West Coast Railway company are the only operator to include all three sub-classes of '57s' in their fleet, 57601 (57/6), 57313-316 (57/3) and 57001 (57/0).
- 57605 was the first class '57' to be repainted into the new GWR colour scheme, 57604 is in celebrity Brunswick Green.
- 57312 and 57305 are both in Northern Belle livery.
- West Coast Railway company are the only operator to include all three sub-classes of '57s' in their fleet, 57601 (57/6), 57313-316 (57/3) and 57001 (57/0).
- 57605 was the first class '57' to be repainted into the new GWR colour scheme, 57604 is in celebrity Brunswick Green.
- 57312 and 57305 are both in Northern Belle livery.
Network Rail '57s'
Network Rail's 57310 works the 5L75 Chart Leacon to Ilford Unit drag...
Network Rail's 57310 hauls 375609 as the 5L75 Chart Leacon to Ilford via Sevington loop, approaching Paddock Wood near Tonbridge on the 2nd August 2013. The consist was running 124 minutes late after 57310 was experiencing difficulties the morning prior to departing Tonbridge as 0Z57 for Chart Leacon to be in position to work the train.
On the 28th January 2012, four of the six Network Rail class '57s' were present in Tonbridge yard. In this particular illustration, Network Rail's 57306 (nearest the camera) and 57312 top-and-tail four new Ice and Snow control wagons (7095940026, 7095940042, 7095940125 and 7095940018) and are sandwiched between snowplough wagons 7095920010 (nearest the camera) and 7095920069. The bizarre train made a quiet outing to Ashford and return under the headcode 7z99. Shortly after returning to Tonbridge, the consist is phoographed settling in one of the far sidings in Tonbridge yard. 57301 and 57310 are at Eastleigh, whilst 57303 worked as the 0Z57 Eastleigh yard to Tonbridge yard and 57305 was already stabled at Tonbridge yard infront of 73141. (See below):
WCRC Class '57s'
WCRC are the only operator to include a fleet of all the class 57 sub-fleet, e.g. 57/6 (57601), 57/0 (57001/5/6) and 57/3 (57313/14/15/16).
WCRC liveried 57001 nears Muir of Ord hauling the 1H81 Kyle of Lochalsh to Carrbridge Royal Scotsman on the 29th May 2011.
WCRC liveried 57001 nears Muir of Ord hauling the 1H81 Kyle of Lochalsh to Carrbridge Royal Scotsman on the 29/05/2011.
57006 & 47237 work the Grand Tour of Great Britain Royal Scotsman...
West Coast Railway's 57006 leads 47237 (both formerly Advenza locos) working the 1Z68 05:08 Gloucester to Bath Spa Royal Scotsman Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day four) at Damery near Charfield on the 9th July 2013.
West Coast Railway Company's 57315 leads Black '5' no. 45407 at Abergavenny working as the 5Z35 Carnforth to Bristol Kingsland Road ECS on the 28th June 2014. The ECS was for the Royal Duchy charter from Bristol Temple Meads to Par and return on Sunday. 45407 has made its journey south from Fort William this week. This is not the only Empty coaching stock movement scheduled to Bristol this weekend, as 47847 should haul a 5Z10 Bescot to Bristol Barton Hill ECS on the 29th June 2014, with the ECS for the Torbay Express.
Virgin '57s' appear on FGW Loco-hauled Diagrams
The Class '57s' worked from the 14th December 2009 to the 2nd July 2010 on the FGW Taunton to Cardiffs Loco-hauled diagram (. Sadly due to poor reliability, the '57s' were replaced from the 5th July by DB Schenker '67s'. On the 29th June 2010, Virgin 57308 Tin Tin leads the 2U14 Taunton to Cardiff Central solo through Bishton.
At the start of the diagram in 2009, the train was mostly occupied by the two of the four class '57s' designated to the Arriva Train Wales loco-hauled WAG Express. It seemed that 57313 and 57316 would be the two locos for the FGW diagram and 57315 and 57314 would be the two locos for the WAG. However this didn't prove to be the case and extradionary '11' different class 57/3s out of the 16 were used. Infact in 2010, it became rare for one of the four blue '57s' to work on the diagram. On the 28th January 2010, Plain Blue 57316 leads team-mate ATW branded 57315 on the 2U14 11:02 Taunton to Cardiff Central FGW service at a snowy Undy.
Left: On June 22nd 2010, Virgin's 57303 and 57309 worked the 2U24 16:16 Taunton to Cardiff Central FGW service at Undy running several minutes late. Due to signalling problems, services were routed via the relief lines.
Click here to view all of my photographs of the FGW-Loco Hauled services with every class '57' that worked the train.
Below: Virgin's 57306 Jeff Tracey leads 57308 Tin Tin on the 2U14 11:02 Taunton to Cardiff Central service at Magor. The stock was usually formed of four Anglia MK2s.
Click here to view all of my photographs of the FGW-Loco Hauled services with every class '57' that worked the train.
Below: Virgin's 57306 Jeff Tracey leads 57308 Tin Tin on the 2U14 11:02 Taunton to Cardiff Central service at Magor. The stock was usually formed of four Anglia MK2s.
Arriva Train Wales Class '57s' on the WAG express
There are four class '57/3s' designated to the Arriva Trains Wales services, these are 57315 and 57314 (both in Arriva Train Wales branded livery) and 57316 and 57313 (both in Arriva Trains Wales plain blue livery). The two services are the 1V31 05:32 Holyhead to Cardiff Central WAG express and the returning 1W91 16:18 Cardiff Central to Holyhead WAG express. In March 2012, it was expected for Class '67s' to replace the '57s' on the working.
Above: 57316 tnt 57313 leads the 1V31 Holyhead to Cardiff Central WAG express in a blizzard approaching Newport on the 5th February 2010.
Right: 57316 leads 57313 at Ponthir powering the 1V31 Holyhead to Cardiff Central WAG express on the 6th February 2010.
Above: 57316 tnt 57313 leads the 1V31 Holyhead to Cardiff Central WAG express in a blizzard approaching Newport on the 5th February 2010.
Right: 57316 leads 57313 at Ponthir powering the 1V31 Holyhead to Cardiff Central WAG express on the 6th February 2010.
Above: On June 3rd 2011, Arriva Train Wales 57315 leads 57313 at Ponthir powering the 1W91 16:18 Cardiff Central to Holyhead.
FGW '57s' on the Night Sleepers
When hit by reliability issues, First Great Western have often hired in a class '57/3' from Virgin Trains or a Cotswold Rail class '47' (47813 and 47828 have both made appearances). Below, Virgin 57308 is captured in the early hours of the morning at Taunton with the 1C99 London Paddington to Penzance sleeper on the 26th September 2009. In mid-2014, First Great Western hired in Network Rail's 57305
57605 was the first 'class 57' to lose its gold stripe in favour of FGW blue
On the 12th April 2008, First Great Western 57605 awaits departure from London Paddington with the ECS back to Old Oak Common after 57604 had worked the overnight 1A40 from Penzance.
Below Left: 57604 glides through Treleigh near Truro with the 1C99 Paddington to Penzance sleeper on the 27th July 2007.
Below Middle: Several minutes later on the same day, 57604 rounds the curve at Marazion nearing its destination with the 1C99 from London Paddington.
Below Right: On the 2nd August 2007, 57602 arrives into Penzance working the 1C99 Paddinton to Penzance.
Below Left: 57604 glides through Treleigh near Truro with the 1C99 Paddington to Penzance sleeper on the 27th July 2007.
Below Middle: Several minutes later on the same day, 57604 rounds the curve at Marazion nearing its destination with the 1C99 from London Paddington.
Below Right: On the 2nd August 2007, 57602 arrives into Penzance working the 1C99 Paddinton to Penzance.
Advenza freight Class '57s'
57006 on the 6V95 Stockton to Cardiff Tidal loaded Advenza scrap thru Undy on the 23rd June 2009.
Left: On the 24th May 2008, Advenza freight liveried 57006 leads the 6Z72 01:00 Tyne Dock to Cardiff Tidal loaded scrap. The train speeds through Magor on the main.
Bottom Left Photograph: 57005 leads the 5Z77 St Phillips Marsh to Laira at Brean on
the 19th August 2008. Bottom Right Photograph: 57005 leads the 43124 on the 5Z37 Landore to Old Oak Common
on the 2nd March 2008.
Bottom Left Photograph: 57005 leads the 5Z77 St Phillips Marsh to Laira at Brean on
the 19th August 2008. Bottom Right Photograph: 57005 leads the 43124 on the 5Z37 Landore to Old Oak Common
on the 2nd March 2008.
On February 17th 2009, Advenza freight 57006 powers the 6Z75 1110 Eastleigh to Gloucester yard through Freshford.
Freightliner Class '57s'
DRS Class '57s'...
DRS 57008 in ex-works condition leads 57010 on the 4M44 Mossend to Daventry, sounding and looking tremendous at Grendon (just south of Polesworth) on the 19th June 2013. Unfortunately 57010 failed at Daventry and so the returning 4S45 was worked solo by 57008 as far as Crewe where 37402 and 37405 took over. 57002/3/4/7/8/9/10/11/12 are in traffic with DRS.
DRS 57010 leads 57008 on the 6U77 Mountsorrel to Crewe Basford Hall loaded ballast stone at Barrow upon Trent on the Castle Donnington branch on the 11th February 2014.
DRS 57009 leads classmate 57002 on the 6U76 08:59 Crewe Basford Hall to Mountsorrel empty ballast boxes at Narborough near Leicester on the 3rd February 2013. DRS now have the contract for the 6U76/6U77 services which were previously held by freightliner. As the train is too heavy for a single class 66/4 hence why the train under freightliner control was either hauled by class 66/6 or class 70. The service was hauled by a pair of DRS Class '57s'. This was the maiden working of the train under DRS operation and was the first time class 57s have featured on this train. The train at this point was only a few minutes down following 170638 on the Leicester service, however the returning 6U77 departed Mountsorrel 87 late.
DRS 57004 leads 57007 on the 6M67 Bridgwater to Crewe Nuclear flasks at Coaley, Cam and Dursley on the 14th February 2012.
Direct Rail Services Northern Belle coloured class '57/3' no. 57305 worked the 6Z96 Crewe Basford Hall to Toton yard civil engineers at Chellaston east of Stenson junction on the 2nd February 2015.
DRS 57306 hauls 375306 at Cossington working as the 5Z58 06:40 Derby Litchurch Lane to Ramsgate on the 6th June 2015.
