There is a possibility that 57312 will be painted green when the 57/6s are due repaint, however the blue paint on 312 is in pretty good condition.It's a shame we've moved on from FGW Blue, as ROG blue wasn't too dissimilar!
Furthermore, I've just realised that 312 will need some attention to it's drop head coupler - being of the modified Tightlock variety than the more useful Dellner variant.
Now there's a thought,i know 57601 went to Ft William a few years ago but 47s could only go up there with special restrictions, I would allow the 73s to be sent back South to work out of Tonbridge and im sure the 66/67s would be useful elsewhere, yeah this would make sense i suppose
To be fair, the restrictions on class 57s on the West Highland are fewer than those applying to the 67s that formerly operated the sleeper service, or those for class 66s for that matter (No extended 40mph limits north of the horseshoe curve for 57s, just the same speed restrictions over specific bridges). It'd be a sensible idea.
They already have 2 67s to do that where it matters, and a 73 is fine for Aberdeen. Not really sure where 67023 and 67027 would really be useful elsewhere, and presumably the 57s are being procured for something else in any case.
It's a while since it was discussed in detail here but from what I remember, the locomotives need more than a Dellner coupler to be able to couple to the mk5 stock as there is communication between the locomotive and the carriages:
Do the Class 73/9s have this electronic facility?
Yes that's right.
Just remembered this was mentioned on the thread.
57303 is now at Longport, we saw it yesterday from a passing train
Wonder what GBRf will do with these. Presume some ECS moves which the 50s and 56s are currently working.
East Anglian RHTT.
Hadn't considered that. Makes a whole lotta sense.
Didn't they loan one recently as a banker at Tuebrook?
It was 57003 on loan from LSL, late Autumn last year. Contrary to what people suggest re 'banker' it is actually the lead loco from the docks and the 'train' loco (to Drax) is the banker.
Reported to be Barrow Hill for bogie maintenance
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
From memory BR converted a handful of 47/4 to 47670-47677 especially for extra ETS supply on the Scottish sleepers. Could the kit on the 57/3 be similarly upgraded ?
The sleeper stock runs at the standard ETS voltage with the 73s and a higher voltage with the longer rakes behind the 92, it's explained here:
www.railforums.co.uk
