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

[83G/84D]

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.

It was initially shown as 57605 then changed to 57602, working empty to Long Rock late afternoon.

 

[richw]

Totnes castle was the failure last night, photos on facebook confirm to be the newly repainted loco that matches the Green carriages.

 

[PHILIPE]

Totnes castle was the failure last night, photos on facebook confirm to be the newly repainted loco that matches the Green carriages.

Green in the face as well !!!

 

[gazthomas]

Time to get 67's on the job at the very least.

 

[PHILIPE]

Time to get 67's on the job at the very least.

If you read back through the thread, it has been mentioned several times why 67s won't work it.

 

[83G/84D]

Two Castle's on the sleeper ECS - Totnes & Restormel double headed.

 

[CosherB]

Maybe GBRf could lend a pair of 73/9's to FGW for 'commissioning purposes' prior to their introduction on the Caledonian Sleeper.

 

[fgwrich]

Time to get 67's on the job at the very least.

Not trying to dig this one up again but the reasons have been explained time and time again. And... What makes you think 67s will be more reliable? As proved by both the DBS examples in Scotland - where west coasts 37s have ended up working the sleeper, or DBS using 2 to work it, ATW - Non ETH 003 for example, or on Chiltern where failures with the locos where common. Now with the 68s, the few and far failures have been with the stock...

67s arnt the wonder loco people seem to think they are - 57s may be be a mixed bag of a fleet, when they work they work. But when one has a failure, because there's so few of them it gets reported more.

 

[455driver]

Because it's such a small fleet one loco playing up ruins the reliability figures, nbut ow that Old Oak has got to grips with them again (after the normal staff moved on) things should keep improving although there will obviously still be the odd problem.

Edit-
Just seen Rich's post sating the same thing.

 

[ARoo21]

Probably an electrical fault with 57 605.

 

[LateThanNever]

Not trying to dig this one up again but the reasons have been explained time and time again. And... What makes you think 67s will be more reliable? As proved by both the DBS examples in Scotland - where west coasts 37s have ended up working the sleeper, or DBS using 2 to work it, ATW - Non ETH 003 for example, or on Chiltern where failures with the locos where common. Now with the 68s, the few and far failures have been with the stock...

67s arnt the wonder loco people seem to think they are - 57s may be be a mixed bag of a fleet, when they work they work. But when one has a failure, because there's so few of them it gets reported more.

This may be true but I can't believe the passengers/sleepers feel wild about getting out of their sleeper! As they are old locomotives couldn't they be double headed to give redundancy?

 

[PHILIPE]

1C99 (Friday) failed in Speritt Tunnel between Liskeard and Bodmin Rd with various bells ringing. Forward 40 mph to Par where passengers conveyed forward by taxi, apart from 2 who were seen to be making off across the fields. Loco 57604 which had broken the recent sequence, replacing 57303.
Rescued from Par by 2x HST PCs and the Saturday LHCS as a result. 17 53 Exeter to Penzance not cancelled at this stage, so could be DMU. Incidentally, 57303 failed at Paddington after working ECS and had to be dragged back to OOC by HST.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


13 35 Plymouth to Exeter ran with DMU.

 

[superalbs]

13 35 Plymouth to Exeter ran with DMU.

150221 to be exact.

 

[83G/84D]

57303 currently in trouble at St Austell on 1C99 with brake problems.

 

[59CosG95]

57303 currently in trouble at St Austell on 1C99 with brake problems.

Pretty sure that's the DRS hire-in.

 

[PHILIPE]

Pretty sure that's the DRS hire-in.

It is. Usually pretty reliable. Brake problems and now 108L Camborne

 

[richw]

57303 currently in trouble at St Austell on 1C99 with brake problems.

Went over Redruth viaduct just after 0900 as I was driving under on my way to work.

 

[83G/84D]

57603 was low on power on the down 1C99 sleeper thus morning. Following an assessment at Long Rock, 57605 despatched from Old Oak Common to Penzance to assist on the up working tonight.

 

[bnm]

An additional Class 57 is to be added to the Night Riviera fleet on a permanent basis to improve reliability. Later this year or early next.

 

[59CosG95]

An additional Class 57 is to be added to the Night Riviera fleet on a permanent basis to improve reliability. Later this year or early next.

Most likely 601, as it has a lot in common w/ GWR's other 4.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Most likely 601, as it has a lot in common w/ GWR's other 4.

I thought it was non standard in relation to 602-605, and bar ets was more on a par with the 57/0 fleet?

 

[455driver]

I thought it was non standard in relation to 602-605, and bar ets was more on a par with the 57/0 fleet?

It is very different from all the other ETS 57s, non standard would sum it up nicely, that's why they got rid of it in the first place.

 

[59CosG95]

It is very different from all the other ETS 57s, non standard would sum it up nicely, that's why they got rid of it in the first place.

Shows how good I am at wibbling then!

 

[CosherB]

I wonder if DRS have asked if they could take over 57602 - 605 as part of providing leased locos to GWR for the Night Riviera......

 

[PHILIPE]

1C99 left Paddington 72L last night with 2 Back to Back HST Power Cars topping 57303 which failed due to traction Motor Blower Contactor failure.
Right Time arrival Penzance

 

[fgwrich]

1C99 left Paddington 72L last night with 2 Back to Back HST Power Cars topping 57303 which failed due to traction Motor Blower Contactor failure.
Right Time arrival Penzance

Was that right time arrival at PZ with another loco? I thought back to back HST PCs+57 were not permitted over the Tamar Bridge.

 

[PHILIPE]

Was that right time arrival at PZ with another loco? I thought back to back HST PCs+57 were not permitted over the Tamar Bridge.

Unable to find any reference in the Sectional Appendix but large document to wade through so could have missed something. This was the consist reported at Truro on Yahoo Group

 

[BestWestern]

Power cars hauled through to PZ, I've seen a photo. 43056 (leading) & 43161.

 

[Murph]

Was that right time arrival at PZ with another loco? I thought back to back HST PCs+57 were not permitted over the Tamar Bridge.

Assuming you mean the Royal Albert Bridge, the sectional appendix specifically allows 2xRA5 + 1xRA6. 43s are RA5, 57s are RA6.
Western Route Sectional Appendix Module WR1 (page 41)

Special conditions for the line between St. Budeaux and Saltash (Royal Albert Bridge)
1. When running light or being hauled ‘dead’, not more than five locomotives coupled together are permitted.
When hauling a train, not more than two locomotives (or three Class 253/4 power cars) coupled together are permitted,
except when the formation can consist of:
a. Three locomotives of RA5 or less.
b. Two locomotives of RA5 or less, plus one locomotive of RA6.
A formation consisting of locomotives as 2. above but with locomotives at both ends of a train is permitted, provided the train between them consists of:
c. A minimum of 6 bogie vehicles or
d. A minimum of 12 non-bogie vehicles.
Extra locomotives to the numbers above must not be used to clear a failed train.

 

[irish_rail]

Right Time arrival Penzance

Not bad looking at the weather / track conditions this morning..... Top man at the controls lol .

For those interested, 161+056 to haul 57303 on tonights up sleepers.....