Class 57/3 question - may be stupid

[cj_1985]

As per the title... this may be stupid, and it's just something ive not notice for months...

But, how long have the WCRC 57/3s had the seller couplers refitted for...?

I noticed it on the example that attended the Greatet Gathering, and it struck me as strange, as for whenever I've seen a WCRC, since they bought them, they've never had the couplers....

So, do travel they decided to pay to have the couplers fitted (or NR paid) to better equip them for use recovering the likes of 180s, 800s, 801s and 802s on the ECML?

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance

 

[DBS92042]

57314 had it's dellner couplers refitted in late June 2025 AFAIK. Not sure if 57313/315/316 have been reunited with theirs yet though.

I'm led to believe it's to do with dragging 390s on the WCML (the DRS thunderbird contract ends in December and it was mentioned by an Avanti driver at The Greatest Gathering that 57307 may not have a future with DRS after December...)

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Pendolinos and Voyagers (and possibly Meridians?) have the Dellner at a non-standard height, and the sixteen 57/3s also had the coupler at this height. Six of them (the ones with Network Rail for a while, then DRS and now with GBRF) were modified to standard height, but the four still with DRS are as originally converted, and the four with WCRC appear to have just had the coupler head removed. From the photos of 57314 it looks like it's just had the head added again, so only likely to be of use in moving Pendolinos (Voyagers can generally move themselves) - seems likely that whatever the purpose of putting a coupler head back on, it involves Pendolinos in some way.

The WCRC ones wouldn't be able to couple to 180s or 80x as the coupler height is different.

 

[Carnforth_24]

There are no silly questions, just the occasional silly answers.

 

[cj_1985]

Pendolinos and Voyagers (and possibly Meridians?) have the Dellner at a non-standard height, and the sixteen 57/3s also had the coupler at this height. Six of them (the ones with Network Rail for a while, then DRS and now with GBRF) were modified to standard height, but the four still with DRS are as originally converted, and the four with WCRC appear to have just had the coupler head removed. From the photos of 57314 it looks like it's just had the head added again, so only likely to be of use in moving Pendolinos (Voyagers can generally move themselves) - seems likely that whatever the purpose of putting a coupler head back on, it involves Pendolinos in some way.

The WCRC ones wouldn't be able to couple to 180s or 80x as the coupler height is different.

All trains, classed as high speed, by the EU/UIC have their couplers at a different height than regular stock, ie. Electrostars... so the 57/3s if they have a head fitted to work with a pendolino, should be able to couple to a 180, 222, 800, 801, 802, 803, 397

 

[Yorkshire09876]

All trains, classed as high speed, by the EU/UIC have their couplers at a different height than regular stock, ie. Electrostars... so the 57/3s if they have a head fitted to work with a pendolino, should be able to couple to a 180, 222, 800, 801, 802, 803, 397

It's been quoted in many places that the Pendolinos / Voyagers (and hence the 57/3s) have their couplers at a non-standard height. Have you got any evidence that this isn't the case?

 

[cj_1985]

It's been quoted in many places that the Pendolinos / Voyagers (and hence the 57/3s) have their couplers at a non-standard height. Have you got any evidence that this isn't the case?

To hand, no.
However these coupler heights, for the Voyagers and Pendolinos etc, are set by UIC.

The heights for DMUs and EMUs (sub 100mph stock) are not set by those same requirements.

Your assumption of 57/3s having the dellners set at non standard heights was cemented in most people's minds when NR borrowed/hired one from VT to test with electrostars South of the river... but that was when the height difference between HS & Sub HS stock couplers became more common knowledge to the normal enthusiast. The fact that the 57/3s had the dellners fitted for compatibility with pendolino's and, to a lesser degree, Voyagers.... that's why most place focus solely on those fleets as having the couplers being at a non standard height.

 

[irish_rail]

57314 had it's dellner couplers refitted in late June 2025 AFAIK. Not sure if 57313/315/316 have been reunited with theirs yet though.

I'm led to believe it's to do with dragging 390s on the WCML (the DRS thunderbird contract ends in December and it was mentioned by an Avanti driver at The Greatest Gathering that 57307 may not have a future with DRS after December...)

Hmmmm, that's when GWR are supposed to be stabling a set at Laira or Plymouth for assistance purposes. Maybe 307s future lies on the Western! Here's hoping, as it's one of the 57/3s required for driving still!