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

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CosherB

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The DRS "57/3 bogey" is now afflicting 305 .... see related thread! :roll:

Maybe DRS will get the ex-Network Rail locos sorted once they've been through a decent overhaul. I know a number of 57/0's went through Eastleigh last year for F exams .....
 

fgwrich

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The DRS "57/3 bogey" is now afflicting 305 .... see related thread! :roll:

Maybe DRS will get the ex-Network Rail locos sorted once they've been through a decent overhaul. I know a number of 57/0's went through Eastleigh last year for F exams .....

The irony in what you've said though is that they should have had a good overhaul already though! NR Spent a lot of money on those things, before rather stupidly not using them for the intended roles they should have been used for - Thunderbird Duties for the Southern was one of them (and probably would have made the recent incident between Clapham Junct and Victoria more bearable and reduced!) In fact, a few of them spent more time in storage in Eastleigh Works under NRs operation of the fleet than any other 57/3/6 Fleet. A situation not helped when 312 went bang shortly after it's naming, then became stored allegedly after the NR Accountants saw how much it was costing them to fix & lease! It now, touch wood, seems to be doing fairly OK as one of the Northern Belle locos.

305 Bursting however is a bit of a surprise - It was one of the most reliable of the /3s - must have been something to do with it being the former 47822, while 303 wasn't too bad either - Ex Scottish & NSE Shove Duff Beast 47705. As this is on longer term loan, I wonder if this has been signed off from the main DRS fleet and will become the promised extra 57 that has been mooted then?

It would however be interesting to see a comparison between the reliability of all the 57/3 Operators though - WCRC, DRS, VT / ATW & FGW. And a comparison of the reliability of all of the Class 57 conversion batches - The FL ones being mostly relatively tired ex FL locos, The /3s being a mix of ex XC 47/8s and as with FGWs, Ex FL 47s.
 

PHILIPE

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57604 shut down on Largin Bank on 1A40 Up Sleeper last night due electrical fire. Pair of HST Power Cars ex Laira to rescue and on arrival Plymouth a "Wakey, Wakey" call and passengers transferred to HST now 150L. As usual made up time and arrival Paddington 50L. This provision Of HST resulted in cancellation of 07 12 Taunton to Paddington this morning.
 

superalbs

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57605 left RVEL Derby this morning to Old Oak Common

In a very dark version of the GWR livery. Apparently it got repainted twice while up there, due to the original being too bright...sadly, no black band has been applied yet, I wonder when it will be.
 

PHILIPE

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1A40 in trouble again last night but believed to be loss of lighting in stock. Loco 57303. Forward from Plymouth as HST 62L and arrival Paddington 14E. As a result no HST for 07 12 Taunton to Paddington but ran as far as Bristol Parkway to make connections and formed 2 Cars (DMU)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


5A40 left Plymouth for O.O.Common at 07 35 so should be OK for1C99 tonight
 
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DEE-DE

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Anyone know what the reason for the delay on the 1A40 was on Monday night (dep Penzance 20/07/)? We were up to 56 mins late but due to the long wait at Reading this was reduced to 27 mins or so in Paddington. FGW journey check claimed a train fault.
 

PHILIPE

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Anyone know what the reason for the delay on the 1A40 was on Monday night (dep Penzance 20/07/)? We were up to 56 mins late but due to the long wait at Reading this was reduced to 27 mins or so in Paddington. FGW journey check claimed a train fault.

Driving Control problem in cab of 57603. Detached at Plymouth and turned via Triangle at Laira so good cab leading.
 

Rich McLean

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1A40 in trouble again last night but believed to be loss of lighting in stock. Loco 57303. Forward from Plymouth as HST 62L and arrival Paddington 14E. As a result no HST for 07 12 Taunton to Paddington but ran as far as Bristol Parkway to make connections and formed 2 Cars (DMU)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


5A40 left Plymouth for O.O.Common at 07 35 so should be OK for1C99 tonight

The driver of last nights 1A40 (TSM on WNXX) said it was ETS issues. Despite several attempts to get it to work, no success was had. LA Fitters were even puzzled and scratching their heads before control made the decision to wake all the passengers and transfer them to a HST
 

ARoo21

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The driver of last nights 1A40 (TSM on WNXX) said it was ETS issues. Despite several attempts to get it to work, no success was had. LA Fitters were even puzzled and scratching their heads before control made the decision to wake all the passengers and transfer them to a HST

Seems as if FGW not having much luck - fingers crossed for tonight!
 

455driver

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The driver of last nights 1A40 (TSM on WNXX) said it was ETS issues. Despite several attempts to get it to work, no success was had. LA Fitters were even puzzled and scratching their heads before control made the decision to wake all the passengers and transfer them to a HST

No ETS means the fire/smoke detection equipment on the coaches will be running on battery power and 2 hours is the limit due to the chances of the equipment failing to detect when its most needed, so although it might seem a bit silly to turf everyone off it is actually the right decision.
 

Rich McLean

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No ETS means the fire/smoke detection equipment on the coaches will be running on battery power and 2 hours is the limit due to the chances of the equipment failing to detect when its most needed, so although it might seem a bit silly to turf everyone off it is actually the right decision.

It was the right decision, I wasn't implying anything different, just echoing the version of events :)
 

Aictos

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With the ongoing issues with the Class 57 fleet, I do wonder if they've made any enquiries to using Class 67s instead seeing as Chiltern use mostly Class 68s these days so DB have spare Class 67s to hire out.

The other question I have as there is a lack of need to shunt the sleeper around like they have with the Scottish sleepers, could they not run it with a Class 67 at one end and a DVT at the other end? It would decrease the operating costs of running 4 locos too.
 

455driver

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It was the right decision, I wasn't implying anything different, just echoing the version of events :)

Sorry if you thought I was 'having a go' at you, I wasn't, I was merely posting it to prevent any of the usual suspects posting their drivel about 'back in my day blah blah blah' rubbish.
 

87015

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Sorry if you thought I was 'having a go' at you, I wasn't, I was merely posting it to prevent any of the usual suspects posting their drivel about 'back in my day blah blah blah' rubbish.
Scotland has managed it this year when 37516 worked? At least a couple of trips didn't have a half-busted 67 for ethel purposes. A spare HST seems the sensible decision, but the two hour "rule" can't be that solid.
 

455driver

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Scotland has managed it this year when 37516 worked? At least a couple of trips didn't have a half-busted 67 for ethel purposes. A spare HST seems the sensible decision, but the two hour "rule" can't be that solid.

Maybe they should have just run it then, it isn't likely that there would be a problem is there <cough Taunton cough>.

just because one company has a work around doesn't mean it is universally available!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
With the ongoing issues with the Class 57 fleet, I do wonder if they've made any enquiries to using Class 67s instead seeing as Chiltern use mostly Class 68s these days so DB have spare Class 67s to hire out.

The other question I have as there is a lack of need to shunt the sleeper around like they have with the Scottish sleepers, could they not run it with a Class 67 at one end and a DVT at the other end? It would decrease the operating costs of running 4 locos too.

As has been posted about 10 times, yes use of 67s was looked into but an agreement on drivers couldn't be reached, DBS wanted to supply the locos and drivers, FGW only wanted the locos.

As for using DVTs, why would they want to go through all the modification, type approval, training just to save one loco?
 
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richw

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Newly painted 57605 was on the down last night. In GWR livery to match the 3 newly painted coaches.

Possibly wrong thread as it didn't break down, but of interest to some that it will be on the up tonight.
 

455driver

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Newly painted 57605 was on the down last night. In GWR livery to match the 3 newly painted coaches.

Possibly wrong thread as it didn't break down, but of interest to some that it will be on the up tonight.

It is showing 57303 on the up tonight, 57605 is not allocated!

57602 is on the down, nothing showing for the ECS loco.
 

richw

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It is showing 57303 on the up tonight, 57605 is not allocated!

57602 is on the down, nothing showing for the ECS loco.

I was initially told 57303 and 57605 doubling up on the up tonight, but now been told 57605 is staying in long rock for the weekend. Both worked last night down.
 

PHILIPE

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The opposite way round last night. 1C99 terminated Par and 57303 sent to Truro to clear failed Golden Hind HST 05 05 Penzance to Paddington clear of running line. 1C99 stock ran ECS Par to Penzance 11 30.
Something interesting also, 07 41 Penzance to Paddington Cape due to smashed Windscreen . ECS ran to Plymouth at 11+13 timed as "280mph HST"
 
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GM228

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Maybe they should have just run it then, it isn't likely that there would be a problem is there <cough Taunton cough>.

just because one company has a work around doesn't mean it is universally available!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


As has been posted about 10 times, yes use of 67s was looked into but an agreement on drivers couldn't be reached, DBS wanted to supply the locos and drivers, FGW only wanted the locos.

As for using DVTs, why would they want to go through all the modification, type approval, training just to save one loco?

I would of thought that DBS would be only too happy to hire the 67s only, after all they have lost so much business lost with the coals gone and all the lost lease contracts they had.
 

CosherB

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I would of thought that DBS would be only too happy to hire the 67s only, after all they have lost so much business lost with the coals gone and all the lost lease contracts they had.

I suggest you scroll through previous threads that explain why 67's nearly made it onto the Night Riviera .... but not quite.
 

PHILIPE

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After a virtually problem free period, 1C99 went no further than Newton Abbot last night when 57605 sat down. Passengers bussed forward to Penzance.
Said 2 HST Power Cars assisting ECS to Laira but nothing showing on RTT.
 

455driver

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After a virtually problem free period, 1C99 went no further than Newton Abbot last night when 57605 sat down. Passengers bussed forward to Penzance.
Said 2 HST Power Cars assisting ECS to Laira but nothing showing on RTT.

The train was stopped at Newton Abbot due to display problems at Exeter powerbox, the up XC ECS checked the line was clear and then once confirmed clear the sleepers were unable to get going again.
 
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Ash Bridge

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The train was stopped at Newton Abbot due to display problems at Exeter powerbox, the up XC ECS checked the line was clear and then once confirmed clear the sleepers were unable to get going again.

Is that virtually 100% reliability up to now for the 57s since mid July? If so then I would consider that pretty impressive, who needs 67s;)
 
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