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

[alexl92]

Can anyone explain why the Night Riviera fleet is so unreliable at the moment? I was under the impression that 57s were meant to be alright, but even the DRS example is failing regularly. Do FGW not maintain them properly?

 

[83G/84D]

FGW operate 57/6's but have leased in 57/3'S from DRS. Both versions are experiencing issues at the moment. Last I heard 3 FGW 57/6's are out of traffic.

 

[FQ]

Once the 67s are off the Chilterns, maybe send a couple of them over to FGW to work the sleepers. Hopefully they would be more reliable.

 

[CC 72100]

FGW operate 57/6's but have leased in 57/3'S from DRS. Both versions are experiencing issues at the moment. Last I heard 3 FGW 57/6's are out of traffic.

Which is the operational one? I still need the green one for haulage but won't be back down there until start/mid-Jan. Had one of the 57/3s in Virgin days, rest are required.

Why is it opportunities spring up when I'm not around?

 

[fgwrich]

FGW operate 57/6's but have leased in 57/3'S from DRS. Both versions are experiencing issues at the moment. Last I heard 3 FGW 57/6's are out of traffic.

At the moment and as it stands, the situation of the fleet is like this:
57602 & 605 are at RVEL Derby awaiting an overhauled set of bogies
57604 is at Old Oak with poor condition wheel sets - it has Wheelflats.
57310 has coolant issues which had limited it initially to OOC-Padd-OOC shuttles, this was apparently fixed but the fault has unfortunately reoccurred again, exasperated by the curves on the GW (sounds poor I know, but it doesn't seem to like the can't of the track around Exeter). It should have been exchanged with DRS by now as...
57303 moved down from Thunderbird duties on the WCML yesterday and managed to work last night down before having a DSD fault which will hopefully be fixed at Long Rock by now.
Leaving 57603 as the only FGW in traffic 57 at the moment. Last nights UP sleeper was worked was 2 HST power cars with 57310 providing ETS - still in emergency formation from its failure the night before at Exeter.

 

[Rich McLean]

Which is the operational one? I still need the green one for haulage but won't be back down there until start/mid-Jan. Had one of the 57/3s in Virgin days, rest are required.

Why is it opportunities spring up when I'm not around?

State of Play currently:

57 602 - RVEL, awaiting overhauled bogies from Wabtec.
57 603, in service.
57 604, restricted use, due to flats. For Pilot use only between Padd and OOC. Requires New Wheelsets
57 605, RVEL, under overhaul.

57310 - Currently in bits at OOC
57303 - Now on hire to FGW. Operating 1A40 this evening

 

[83G/84D]

At the moment and as it stands, the situation of the fleet is like this:
57602 & 605 are at RVEL Derby awaiting an overhauled set of bogies
57604 is at Old Oak with poor condition wheel sets - it has Wheelflats.
57310 has coolant issues which had limited it initially to OOC-Padd-OOC shuttles, this was apparently fixed but the fault has unfortunately reoccurred again, exasperated by the curves on the GW (sounds poor I know, but it doesn't seem to like the can't of the track around Exeter). It should have been exchanged with DRS by now as...
57303 moved down from Thunderbird duties on the WCML yesterday and managed to work last night down before having a DSD fault which will hopefully be fixed at Long Rock by now.
Leaving 57603 as the only FGW in traffic 57 at the moment. Last nights UP sleeper was worked was 2 HST power cars with 57310 providing ETS - still in emergency formation from its failure the night before at Exeter.

If the DSD fault on 57310 was on the leading cab on the way down it should be okay the other end to go back I would have thought. If it wasn't I thought some plans would be in place for tonight by now. I am at work and have not heard that 1A40 will be in doubt.

57310 has also had issues recently with power cutting out above notch 3 and all sorts of associated faults & alarms. I heard the plan is to change 310 for another one.

 

[Rich McLean]

If the DSD fault on 57310 was on the leading cab on the way down it should be okay the other end to go back I would have thought. If it wasn't I thought some plans would be in place for tonight by now. I am at work and have not heard that 1A40 will be in doubt.

There is more wrong with it than just a faulty DSD. That's one of many of problems. Oil mixing with coolant is the other issue apparantly

 

[83G/84D]

There is more wrong with it than just a faulty DSD. That's one of many of problems. Oil mixing with coolant is the other issue apparantly

Sorry meant 57303 not 310.

 

[Rich McLean]

Sorry meant 57303 not 310.

The DSD issue is all fixed on 303

 

[Ash Bridge]

This is purely a question and not an opinion. So to those involved with, or in the know, are there any advantages with a 57 over an unrebuilt 47/8 regarding performance, plus is the 47/8 a better bet as far as reliability is concerned? Just wondered why the prestigious Northern Belle for example is still entrusted to such vintage machines rather than 57s?

 

[PHILIPE]

57s got kicked off ATW/Welsh Government Cardiff to Holyhead and FGWs Cardiff to Taunton services when loco hauled and replaced by 67s.

 

[fgwrich]

This is purely a question and not an opinion. So to those involved with, or in the know, are there any advantages with a 57 over an unrebuilt 47/8 regarding performance, plus is the 47/8 a better bet as far as reliability is concerned? Just wondered why the prestigious Northern Belle for example is still entrusted to such vintage machines rather than 57s?

Not quite sure at the moment without checking over some items on my computer but the Northern Belle contract has now had its locos switched over to DRS 57/3s - 305 & 312 - 305 was the rather reliable /3 which spent its summer on hire to FGW while 604 was in Derby. As soon as 604 came back, DRS whisked it off to Eastleigh before making its debut recently on the NB.
As for the NB 47s, I think it seems to depend loco by loco, 47790 always seemed to be the reliable one, 832 now finding its way over to WCRC after Electrical issues (wasn't charging amongst other things) and the NR 57/3s renderd it surplus.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

57s got kicked off ATW/Welsh Government Cardiff to Holyhead and FGWs Cardiff to Taunton services when loco hauled and replaced by 67s.

Apart from occasional issues with the 57/3s, I think DB politics caused the replacement of the Then on hire Virgin 57s with out of work 67s, along with the practicalities presented by the Chiltern Railways Sets, modified of course to work with AAR fitted DVTs to remove the reversal en route.


A similar situation could possibly work out for FGW - removing the need for the 3 BFOs (replaced with standard Mk3 FO) and a generator fitted in the DVT to either provide or act as a back up ETS supplier?

 

[455driver]

How many of the DRS 57s have had any sort of overhaul since DRS took them on, going by the state of 310 while it looks lovely, inside its a bag of spanners!

 

[fgwrich]

How many of the DRS 57s have had any sort of overhaul since DRS took them on, going by the state of 310 while it looks lovely, inside its a bag of spanners!

As far as I'm aware of, it was mostly a quick paint job and tidy up during their transfer from Virgin & NR to DRS. Usual exams applying, but no form of proper mechanical overhaul, their last was quite probably during their Virgin Trains ownership days.

With the exception of 312 which despite being named, became NRs parts donor for a while after a *I think* mechanical issue with rendered it a failure.

 

[455driver]

As far as I'm aware of, it was mostly a quick paint job and tidy up during their transfer from Virgin & NR to DRS. Usual exams applying, but no form of proper mechanical overhaul, their last was quite probably during their Virgin Trains ownership days.

With the exception of 312 which despite being named, became NRs parts donor for a while after a *I think* mechanical issue with rendered it a failure.

So basically they are shiny turds!

 

[Rich McLean]

So basically they are shiny turds!

According to the EX78 man last night, 303 was went quite well. TRI's on it all week however, just in case

 

[CC 72100]

State of Play currently:

57 602 - RVEL, awaiting overhauled bogies from Wabtec.
57 603, in service.
57 604, restricted use, due to flats. For Pilot use only between Padd and OOC. Requires New Wheelsets
57 605, RVEL, under overhaul.

57310 - Currently in bits at OOC
57303 - Now on hire to FGW. Operating 1A40 this evening

Thanks for that - it would be 604 and the two 57/3s that I'd be looking out for

 

[Rich McLean]

Thanks for that - it would be 604 and the two 57/3s that I'd be looking out for

Don't bank on 604 piloting every night, as sometimes a Gronk is used instead

 

[CC 72100]

Don't bank on 604 piloting every night, as sometimes a Gronk is used instead

I'd be approaching things from the Devon end - I don't anticipate going to Old Oak Common and trying to get haulage off the ECS!

 

[455driver]

According to the EX78 man last night, 303 was went quite well. TRI's on it all week however, just in case

I see it left Reading RT but arrived Paddington 58 late!

 

[fgwrich]

So basically they are shiny turds!

Shhh. Surely you should know by now the magical effects of a new paint job? Especially when it comes to Class 57s.

Does anyone know how 603 is coping this week? I know it's been suffering from low power issues (no surprise for 603!) recently.

 

[83G/84D]

I see it left Reading RT but arrived Paddington 58 late!

That was an issue with over running engineering works between Ladbroke Grove & Paddington.

 

[Temple Meads]

Does anyone know how 603 is coping this week? I know it's been suffering from low power issues (no surprise for 603!) recently.

Seemed okay on Monday morning, perhaps a bit slow off the mark (or the driver was being gentle with it!).

 

[CosherB]

surely now, with the 47's in serious decline and heading into the domain of the smaller tour operators, the 57's won't be that far behind. with the 57's based on a refurb of what was, in 1998, a 30-odd year old loco with a refurbed engine and a refurbed alternator, they were only a short to medium term stop gap. DRS are now dealing with kit that is basically 50 years old, so small wonder they're investing in the 68's. the 37's seem to be soldiering on manfully, but surely the 67's and 68's are now looking like the future of reliable, diesel engined mixed traffic traction for the longer term, unless DRS can justify throwing money at a life extension programme. i'm amazed DRS had to think about leasing a further 10 68's above the original order of 15 - no brainer!

 

[Crawley Ben]

This is purely a question and not an opinion. So to those involved with, or in the know, are there any advantages with a 57 over an unrebuilt 47/8 regarding performance, plus is the 47/8 a better bet as far as reliability is concerned? Just wondered why the prestigious Northern Belle for example is still entrusted to such vintage machines rather than 57s?

2x DRS (ex Virgin 57/3's) are now part of a pool of 3 loco's (inc 1x 47) for the prestigious Northern Belle Operation now unless I'm very much mistaken?

Ben

 

[Ash Bridge]

2x DRS (ex Virgin 57/3's) are now part of a pool of 3 loco's (inc 1x 47) for the prestigious Northern Belle Operation now unless I'm very much mistaken?

Ben

Just as I was typing my post yesterday evening, what should pass by our house? Yes you guessed it, the NB! In the hands of 47818, with 47790 in Northern Belle livery at the tail end. But yes surely now the 68s are coming on stream (one passed here the other week with the NB stock on a test run) sadly the future for the 47s & perhaps the 57s? dosen't look to rosy does it?

 

[alexl92]

The NB previously had two Class 47s dedicated specifically to it in NB livery. One, 47832, has been sold to WCRC. The other, 47790 remains in NB livery and has recently been joined in that livery by two 57/3s which have also been given appropriate names.

I doubt that they'll be binning them in the near future.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The NB previously had two Class 47s dedicated specifically to it in NB livery. One, 47832, has been sold to WCRC. The other, 47790 remains in NB livery and has recently been joined in that livery by two 57/3s which have also been given appropriate names.

I doubt that they'll be binning them in the near future.

Well let's hope not. 818 sounded in fine fettle when it roared by here last night!

 

[alexl92]

47s have higher RA anyway don't they? It'd surely be to their advantage to keep them on.