57601 Twerton (Bath) 27th March 2002
57601 leaves Twerton Tunnel, (Bath) with 1C50, the 15:42 London Paddington - Exeter St. David's services on 27th March 2002.
Built at the Brush Falcon Works at Loughborough as D1759 it was new to traffic on 25th August 1964 and initially sent to Tinsley depot. Becoming 47174 in February 1974 it stayed an Eastern Region machine until transfer to Glasgow's Eastfield in November 1980. By June 1981 it was reallocated to Bescot and a visit to BREL Crewe works in 1983 saw ETH fitment and its next identity of 47590. Now a dedicated passenger machine it was fitted with twin fuel tanks in the mid 90's and another new number, this time 47825 and allocated to Bristol Bath Road and Crewe over the next few years. Its highlight was being named "Thomas Telford" on 15th October 1983.
By early 2000 it was overdue an overhaul and stored but instead of the usual trip to the scrap man it was chosen by Porterbrook Leasing to become a Class 57 ETH test bed. After a return to Brush it was out shopped in April 2001 with its refurbished GM 12-645E3 engine and painted into the purple and silver livery as in the photo. It was soon on hire to First Great Western for testing which was obviously successful as they ordered 4 for their sleeper services. After the trial the loco was sold on to West Coast Trains at Carnforth who use it on charter trains all over the country.
Mamiya 645 Slide Scan
© Neil Higson
57601 Twerton (Bath) 27th March 2002
57601 leaves Twerton Tunnel, (Bath) with 1C50, the 15:42 London Paddington - Exeter St. David's services on 27th March 2002.
Built at the Brush Falcon Works at Loughborough as D1759 it was new to traffic on 25th August 1964 and initially sent to Tinsley depot. Becoming 47174 in February 1974 it stayed an Eastern Region machine until transfer to Glasgow's Eastfield in November 1980. By June 1981 it was reallocated to Bescot and a visit to BREL Crewe works in 1983 saw ETH fitment and its next identity of 47590. Now a dedicated passenger machine it was fitted with twin fuel tanks in the mid 90's and another new number, this time 47825 and allocated to Bristol Bath Road and Crewe over the next few years. Its highlight was being named "Thomas Telford" on 15th October 1983.
By early 2000 it was overdue an overhaul and stored but instead of the usual trip to the scrap man it was chosen by Porterbrook Leasing to become a Class 57 ETH test bed. After a return to Brush it was out shopped in April 2001 with its refurbished GM 12-645E3 engine and painted into the purple and silver livery as in the photo. It was soon on hire to First Great Western for testing which was obviously successful as they ordered 4 for their sleeper services. After the trial the loco was sold on to West Coast Trains at Carnforth who use it on charter trains all over the country.
Mamiya 645 Slide Scan
© Neil Higson