Class 67 for the Night Riviera

[158722]

Neither - I would expect a contract where DBS are responsible for providing sufficient locomotives for the service. This doesn't mean dedicatedd locos per se, although this a perfect excuse for DBS to replace four silver 67's in favour of blue (more so because of the AAR mentioned by 158) ..... although DBS have a bit of history with the wrong shade of blue on 67's! lol

Indeed, would expect it to be a contract provision - note that the locos are not DBS's to sell... They are leased from Angel.

All bar 67004-007, 009, 011, 019, 021, 024 & 026 are reportedly fitted with the fire protection kit, with 003, 008, 010, 012-015, 017, 018, 020, 023, 025, 027, 028 & 029 also fitted with ETH & door control kit, which I'm not sure would be required or not. Those which have been on Chiltern duties for a while, will no doubt be considerably higher on hours than the others, so perm a pool of say 5 locos to cover the 4 duties from the others would be my guess. Note 003 has been barred from ATW duties due to an ETH fault, 012 & 015 both removed from Chiltern turns because of various faults, though 015 now in the ATW pool ironically...

 

[MarkyT]

The suggestion is that it will be top and tail with the coaches through wired for AAR. As such, this would suggest that those locos fitted with remote fire protection equipment will be required, thus finding a use for the locos displaced from Chiltern turns.

That makes sense. The AAR through wiring can be added during the sleeper refurbishment work. With the Scottish sleeper fleet being renewed there could be some additional Mk3 vehicles available soon to extend the sets if the refreshed operation proves a great success and perhaps even allow a Plymouth portion to be reintroduced.

 

[Suraggu]

Some people do get carried away on here don't they.... Naming locos that are a rumour currently...
Anyway FGW MD Mark Hopwood stated if a business case could be drummed up to rewire the Mk.3 Sleeper rakes to 3 phase supply he would rather use Class 43 Power cars.

 

[CosherB]

Some people do get carried away on here don't they.... Naming locos that are a rumour currently...
Anyway FGW MD Mark Hopwood stated if a business case could be drummed up to rewire the Mk.3 Sleeper rakes to 3 phase supply he would rather use Class 43 Power cars.

.... which is fine, so the 57/6's have to limp on for another 4-5 years. i'd have thought that a business case would have been known by now as it would be 43's cascaded by FGW IEP that would likely be used.

 

[Chester025]

Indeed, would expect it to be a contract provision - note that the locos are not DBS's to sell... They are leased from Angel.

All bar 67004-007, 009, 011, 019, 021, 024 & 026 are reportedly fitted with the fire protection kit, with 003, 008, 010, 012-015, 017, 018, 020, 023, 025, 027, 028 & 029 also fitted with ETH & door control kit, which I'm not sure would be required or not. Those which have been on Chiltern duties for a while, will no doubt be considerably higher on hours than the others, so perm a pool of say 5 locos to cover the 4 duties from the others would be my guess. Note 003 has been barred from ATW duties due to an ETH fault, 012 & 015 both removed from Chiltern turns because of various faults, though 015 now in the ATW pool ironically...

67028 has not got fire or door mods.

 

[158722]

67028 has not got fire or door mods.

Ta... List updated...

 

[Rich McLean]

It appears that no-one at FGW is aware of this, even those in senior roles. It seems to have been a rumour, and at the moment, it appears to come from DBS HQ and Chinese whispers through various different people . Even if there is discussion about this, senior management at FGW are not happy bunnies with this news getting out.

So for me, this is BS until were told otherwise by FGW Management

 

[Aictos]

Some people do get carried away on here don't they.... Naming locos that are a rumour currently...
Anyway FGW MD Mark Hopwood stated if a business case could be drummed up to rewire the Mk.3 Sleeper rakes to 3 phase supply he would rather use Class 43 Power cars.

If they used HST power cars instead, I guess it would remove the need for the various loco runarounds that happen ie Paddington and Penzance.

 

[83G/84D]

It appears that no-one at FGW is aware of this, even those in senior roles. It seems to have been a rumour, and at the moment, it appears to come from DBS HQ and Chinese whispers through various different people . Even if there is discussion about this, senior management at FGW are not happy bunnies with this news getting out.

So for me, this is BS until were told otherwise by FGW Management

Why are FGW "not happy bunnies" if it is not true? Send out a statement denying the story is true, ends the speculation and rumours if that is what they are.

 

[37038]

The Class 57's will go to Freightliner for use as "super shunters" imo.

That's what they're using UKRL 56s for

 

[richw]

senior management at FGW are not happy bunnies with this news getting out.

If it wasn't true they would not have any news to be unhappy about.

I posted originally having read on 2 other forums threads started by FGW drivers, and then verified by other drivers. Said posters are known drivers using pseudonyms.

 

[PHILIPE]

If they used HST power cars instead, I guess it would remove the need for the various loco runarounds that happen ie Paddington and Penzance.

Before you suggest this, do you think there would be HST Power Cars available. You would require 4.

 

[fgwrich]

If it wasn't true they would not have any news to be unhappy about.

I posted originally having read on 2 other forums threads started by FGW drivers, and then verified by other drivers. Said posters are known drivers using pseudonyms.

My industry contacts have also told me too, one is also a driver within a TOC too. And given that most of DBS's Skip fleet will also very soon nearly be out of work, at least 4 at quite some considerable knock down price would seem fairly logical. Also of note is the September date mooted - September was when the DRS hire in Contract began last year, so logic could indicate that as being a yearly contract.

But, on the other hand, Long Rock depot is soon about to be expanded to take on the Night Riviera & 'Western Region HST' Work from OOC and that work is currently being designed with the 57s in mind.

So who knows? If it's a rumour, it's got some weight to it. If it's not, it's a surprisingly weighty load of b*ll@cks. What is ironic, is that since the 3 of 4 FGW 57/6s have returned to the sleeper, it has become reliable again. Proving that the main recent issue with the 57s is the quality of the fleet supplied by that of Direct Rail Services!

 

[richw]

I also had previously posted my observations about the new found reliability since their own 57s have returned.
I had a trip behind 57604 on Sunday night up to Paddington. went well and arrived about 15 early into Paddington,

 

[CosherB]

Even if this story is a load of tosh, hopefully it'll light a fire under DRS (and other spot hire TOCs) and maybe they'll focus a bit more on investing in maintenance of the internals of a locomotive, rather than their typical dash to paint everything blue asap.

 

[JonathanH]

My industry contacts have also told me too, one is also a driver within a TOC too. And given that most of DBS's Skip fleet will also very soon nearly be out of work, at least 4 at quite some considerable knock down price would seem fairly logical. Also of note is the September date mooted - September was when the DRS hire in Contract began last year, so logic could indicate that as being a yearly contract.

But, on the other hand, Long Rock depot is soon about to be expanded to take on the Night Riviera & 'Western Region HST' Work from OOC and that work is currently being designed with the 57s in mind.

So who knows? If it's a rumour, it's got some weight to it. If it's not, it's a surprisingly weighty load of b*ll@cks. What is ironic, is that since the 3 of 4 FGW 57/6s have returned to the sleeper, it has become reliable again. Proving that the main recent issue with the 57s is the quality of the fleet supplied by that of Direct Rail Services!

While it may have mainly been the DRS 57s that have caused failures, 57303 seems to have done fairly well and didn't FGW's own 57603 have a pretty major failure before the recent spell of good performance.

What is 57306 now up to? Presumably it hasn't been trusted since its failure at Reading a few weeks ago?

 

[Rich McLean]

Ok. My last post claiming it was BS, was due to the fact most FGW staff have not been told, its all been kept hush hush, and whoever leaked the information in the first place, well, go figure.

There is something to this story, but I can't add any more until its allowed to go public and full details are known and confirmed. Not even the relevant crews and maintenance staff have been told any official details yet, let along any training details.

For Clarity, FGW 57/6s go off lease on the 20/09/15.

Once we (FGW staff) have been told it can be spoken about it more detail in public, no more will be said from me.

 

[spark001uk]

What is 57306 now up to? Presumably it hasn't been trusted since its failure at Reading a few weeks ago?

Last time I saw 306 it was wearing Northern Belle paint.

 

[alexl92]

What will happen to the 57s?

VTEC thunderbirds, rumour has it the contract is due for renewal.

Maybe West Coast will want them or maybe GBRF will want them when they find out those other body snatchers don't work very well either

Who would bet against DRS taking them on for use on the two Fife Circle diagrams?

VTEC have agreed a new contract for 67s as Thunderbirds.
I've heard that DRS would definitely be interested in 57s if they became available... WCR too until their recent ban.

 

[455driver]

No 67s for the sleepers now, crewing could not be agreed.

 

[JonathanH]

Last time I saw 306 it was wearing Northern Belle paint.

You have bumped an old thread.

57305 and 57312 are the 57s in Northern Belle colours. 57306 is in DRS livery.

To answer my original question 57306 did a few turns on the Night Riviera but has now gone north again without a replacement. 57303 seems to be doing well with FGW working alongside the other 57s.

 

[Steve14]

Perhaps a bit premature just yet, but I wonder if they will receive FGW blue livery, and be bestowed with the names currently carried by the 57/6 fleet?

Very doubtful bud, the new livery and refurb is due to commence from Sept so it makes sense to introduce them in the new livery

 

[CosherB]

You have bumped an old thread.

57305 and 57312 are the 57s in Northern Belle colours. 57306 is in DRS livery.

To answer my original question 57306 did a few turns on the Night Riviera but has now gone north again without a replacement. 57303 seems to be doing well with FGW working alongside the other 57s.

Thank goodness DRS seems to have found some reliability with the 57s used on the Night Riviera. Let's hope it continues. This post will no doubt put the mockers on that!