FGW 57/6 (and DRS 57/3)s Unreliability

[leomartin125]

This morning's 1A40 arrival from Penzance was 57603 on the front and 57310 at the rear if that may help explain anything about what's happening with the sleeper loco's...

 

[PHILIPE]

I think they should scrap the 57s, why waste time and money trying to fix them when they always fail? 68s or even the 67s should replace them.

This has been discussed at length already. If 67s or 68s were to be used, DRS would insist on their own drivers. GWR don't want this as it would also involve driver training.

 

[fgwrich]

This morning's 1A40 arrival from Penzance was 57603 on the front and 57310 at the rear if that may help explain anything about what's happening with the sleeper loco's...

That's tempting fate a bit! I've never found 603 to be the best of the GW ones, and to tag that heap that is 310 on the back. I'm surprised it's back as well, does that mean 303 has gone back to DRS again then?

Incidentally, despite the feeling of dred when I saw I had a DRS 57/3 last Friday to PZ, it did rather well and was only a -2 arrival into PZ. Not bad for the ex 47705.

 

[PHILIPE]

That's tempting fate a bit! I've never found 603 to be the best of the GW ones, and to tag that heap that is 310 on the back. I'm surprised it's back as well, does that mean 303 has gone back to DRS again then?

Incidentally, despite the feeling of dred when I saw I had a DRS 57/3 last Friday to PZ, it did rather well and was only a -2 arrival into PZ. Not bad for the ex 47705.

57303 is still about and has been involved all through.

 

[irish_rail]

That's tempting fate a bit! I've never found 603 to be the best of the GW ones, and to tag that heap that is 310 on the back. I'm surprised it's back as well, does that mean 303 has gone back to DRS again then?

Incidentally, despite the feeling of dred when I saw I had a DRS 57/3 last Friday to PZ, it did rather well and was only a -2 arrival into PZ. Not bad for the ex 47705.

Eh? 303 is one of the better ones! 604 is a pile of crap, but never had a problem with 603 either

 

[fgwrich]

Eh? 303 is one of the better ones! 604 is a pile of crap, but never had a problem with 603 either

That's what I thought! I.e with 310 coming back it seems, that the better 303 had been sent back! Pleased it's still around though.

Slightly surprised about 604, never had any issues when hauled behind that one. 603 seems to be the one that's never happy when I'm behind it, from no ETS from Taunton to PZ to some slipping and a second late arrival into PZ behind it.

Ultimately I'd rather have had the Shove Duff though

 

[CosherB]

Longer term, will GWR be looking for electric haulage between Bristol and London? Class 90? This will leave the 57s to look after the non-electrified sections in the south west.

 

[43096]

Longer term, will GWR be looking for electric haulage between Bristol and London? Class 90? This will leave the 57s to look after the non-electrified sections in the south west. ??????

No. It's just an increased cost. In any case the sleeper can run multiple ways between Reading and Taunton: via Box, via Bristol Parkway, direct via Newbury and Castle Cary, via Newbury and Bath, etc etc. Using an electric loco would be utterly pointless as you'd just reduce your diversionary options.

 

[221129]

Longer term, will GWR be looking for electric haulage between Bristol and London? Class 90? This will leave the 57s to look after the non-electrified sections in the south west.

 

[leomartin125]

No. As they often go via the B&H.

I say get Class 88's from DRS and hire them out to operate the service with electric mode between Paddington and Bristol TM and then on diesel mode from Bristol southwards. No issues either as these are brand new loco's. But will this happen? No.

Also if you need to divert via unelectrified track - no issue! Just switch power modes. Simple, no need to get another train involved. Surely that has to be efficient!

 

[causton]

I say get Class 88's from DRS and hire them out to operate the service with electric mode between Paddington and Bristol TM and then on diesel mode from Bristol southwards. No issues either as these are brand new loco's. But will this happen? No.

Also if you need to divert via unelectrified track - no issue! Just switch power modes. Simple, no need to get another train involved. Surely that has to be efficient!

To haul no passengers, as that would cost so much the fares would have to go up dramatically to cover it!!

 

[CosherB]

I say get Class 88's from DRS and hire them out to operate the service with electric mode between Paddington and Bristol TM and then on diesel mode from Bristol southwards. No issues either as these are brand new loco's. But will this happen? No.

Also if you need to divert via unelectrified track - no issue! Just switch power modes. Simple, no need to get another train involved. Surely that has to be efficient!

A Class 88 has a last mile diesel only, it's a 950 up unit. Hardly going to make brisk progress on a passenger train!

 

[bolli]

A Class 88 has a last mile diesel only, it's a 950 up unit. Hardly going to make brisk progress on a passenger train!

Whilst supplying ETH!

 

[co-tr-paul]

57s are here until new franchise commitments announced AT LEAST with DRS as the standby contractor. We cant wait to get them as the first mainline traction allocated to PZ since steam when depot improvements finished and OC closes..... !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And summer weekends often see t&t as routine.

 

[PHILIPE]

After a fairly trouble free period, 1A40 last night (Thurs 19th) in the wars:-

03:30 Westbury Panel advised 1A40 2145 (ThO) Penzance to Paddington is at a stand in the Bruton area, driver having problems with loco 57605.
03:33 Westbury signaller advised driver has declared loco a failure and assistance required from the front. Loco has lost oil and coolant which has been deposited along side of train.
03:40 Noted 6V14 just arrived at Westbury. GBRF contacted and asked to check if their driver would have route knowledge to assist 1A40 from Bruton.
04:17 DB Cargo confirmed 66175 will be the assisting engine from Whatley.
05:20 Agreed with all concerned, once 1A40 on the move train will terminate at Westbury where passengers will detrain to 1K71 0518 Bristol TM to Paddington. The DB Cargo loco will cut off the stock and the Class 57 from London will take ECS to Old Oak Common in suitable margin. Westbury Panel aware and will try to arrange cross platform transfer between 1A40 and 1K71.

57303 ran from OOC to take Demic to OOCommon

 

[irish_rail]

And to add to the above, we left Penzance 90 late as a faulty coach had to be swapped at Long Rock. Bad night all round, feel for the passengers who I told theyd probably be on time by Paddington silly me! :roll:

 

[co-tr-paul]

605 on first round trip since back from REVL repaint following bad nose/tree. normally the most reliable of the fleet...... . Main auxillary failed on SLEP 10601 and swapped for 10563, freshly repainted.

And I was going to post that now we have the fleet back to strength, we can be rid of 310...... !

 

[richw]

I've used the night Riviera 10 times in the last month, have only had the pleasure of 57303 and 57604 all trouble free.

 

[CosherB]

As a side issue, what's the total ETS demand for the CNR?

 

[Parallel]

I used the Night Riviera service for the first time a few months ago. 57603 as on it and was fine!

 

[PHILIPE]

Strange one last night. 1C99 came down Monday night with 57603 on the front and 57303 on rear, the latter also developed a Compressor fault. 1A40 last night (24th) delayed 77 mins at Truro due to the Compressor fault on 57303 being realised and having to run the locos round. Somehow, a failure to run round at Penzance resulted in a defective 57303 leading. While this was happening at Truro the following 2C80 2210 XC Penzance to Plymouth was delayed 65 minutes. 1A40 was just 2 minutes late in Paddington, last night's route being the Berks and Hants.

 

[deepblueN96]

Last night the down sleeper left Paddington at 311am according to realtimetrains. ( GWR app says 100am though!) Another loco failure?

 

[sd0733]

Is showing as 01:00 on national rail app too. But has a passing time at acton of 03:19. Currently 46 late from Truro but non stop to Penzance now.

 

[43096]

Last night the down sleeper left Paddington at 311am according to realtimetrains. ( GWR app says 100am though!) Another loco failure?

Stated elsewhere as issue with SLEP 10563 which meant stock had to go back to the Oak to have the demic car cut out.

 

[PHILIPE]

The other way round:-

57605 had to be scrambled from Penzance today to rescue failed XC HST on Newquay Branch. The thread is here:-

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=131083

 

[richw]

The other way round:-

57605 had to be scrambled from Penzance today to rescue failed XC HST on Newquay Branch. The thread is here:-

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=131083

That hst working has failed twice in the last 3 weeks. The middle week it was replaced by a voyager due to engineering up the line, so a 100% failure rate for the xc Newquay hst on Sunday morning this year!

 

[CosherB]

57309 was released from Eastleigh Works on the 6th July but failed on its way to Willesden Brent and had to be recovered by a Freightliner 66!

 

[Harbornite]

I should add that 57303 is no longer down south, to my knowledge. I saw it recently in the Birmingham area on a Berkeley to Crewe light engine move.

 

[PHILIPE]

I should add that 57303 is no longer down south, to my knowledge. I saw it recently in the Birmingham area on a Berkeley to Crewe light engine move.

History. Please see:-

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=127881&page=8

 

[Harbornite]

History. Please see:-

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=127881&page=8

I see that you mentioned it was on a flask working. Recently there have been a handful of light engine moves from Berkeley, although regular traffic from there ceased a few months ago as part of the decommissioning of the power station. Anyway, this is a bit OT.