Working the famous 'Northern Belle', Pullman style train, Direct Rail Services 57303 'Pride of Carlisle' navigates out of Sheffield, working 1Z85 Derby to Derby via. York and Scarborough. On the rear was 57312 'Solway Princess'. This was the last Northern Belle service to be operated by DRS. 11/03/2018.

Taken on my Sony RX100 and edited in Lightroom to emphasise the dramatic sky

57313 approaches Rugeley whilst hauling 1Z10, 0514 Liverpool Lime Street - Bristol Temple Meads charter train, 5 June 2021.

57313 is working top and tail with 57601.

* Drone shot

57303 is seen parked up on the back of an Allelys low loader at Junction 24 of the M1 at Kegworth on the evening of the 27th July 2023 as it makes its way from Longport to Barrow Hill. (pole)

Another night shot catches GBRf 'Shed' 66793 approaching Leicester with the 5.14pm Sinfin - Grain Oil Terminal (6O77), discharged petroleum tanks.

Nicely floodlit on the right, and occupying the site of the old British Rail stabling point, is the facility belonging to UK Rail Leasing Ltd (UKRL) - a company offering locomotive leasing and rolling stock engineering services to various train operating companies.

There seemed to be no shortage of activity there either with locos coming and going, and being moved around the site daily. The loco in plain view here is one-time Brush 4 long since converted into a class 57, unit 57303. To its left, and almost hidden in the dark, is what looks like a class 27 awaiting attention. Other units on site included several withdrawn class 60s, an active class 37, a class 47, and no doubt a few others hidden around the back and in the buildings.

Have to say part of the attraction for this shot was the array of colour light signals glinting off the track, and tanks.

Canon EOS 5DMkIII, 24-105mm lens, 20000asa, 1/160s @ F5.6

7.53pm, 12th November 2024

BR Large Logo 37402 'Stephen Middlemore 22.12.1954 - 8.6.2013' (37409 'Lord Hinton' behind' , DRS 57303' Pride of Carlisle' and Greater Anglia 170204 are seen at Norwich awaiting their next duties.

A sign of things to come. A change of traction on the South-West RHTT circuit this year will see GB Railfreight 57/3's at the helm, transitioning over from DB Cargo 66's after well over a decade of being the staple. The other key change is that the set will be stationed in Taunton as opposed to St Blazey after DB's recent disposal of the Cornish depot has left it unoccupied.

On an 'empty' RHTT run and while still devoid of dirt and grime, 57305 and 57303 along with 57310 trailing take the 6Z58 09.16 Eastleigh East Yard-Taunton Goods Reception via Bristol through Creech St Michael, nearing their destination.

This is a rare photo taken by my back-up Canon 77D, which is my stand-in camera while the trusty 6D is away for repair and a service.

Autumn weathered GB Railfreight 57303 and 57310 "UK Railtours" pass through Charlton in a lucky sun burst, shortly after traversing Cogload Junction, with the 3S13 08.46 Westbury-Fairwater Yard via Salisbury Railhead Treatment Train (RHTT), the bodysnatchers running over an hour ahead of time.

Taken with the assistance of a pole.

57303 passes St Alkmunds Church at Duffield hauling the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby E.C.S. driver training move on May 1st 2025.

57303 passes Offord Cluny (between Huntingdon and St. Neots) with "Electrostar" EMUs 379006 and 379004, working 5Q81 Worksop Up Yard - Hornsey EMU Depot. [Pole, 5/6 sections (~6.8m)]

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The 5Q35 10.34 Ilford EMU depot to Barton Under Needwood depot ECS move crosses Uppingham Brook.

The track bed of the former Seaton to Uppingham branch features strongly in the photo. It passes under the viaduct alongside the brook before taking a 180 degree curve towards Seaton Station which was on the Rugby to Stamford line and closed in 1960.

57303 powers through Duffield hauling the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby E.C.S. working on April 29th 2025.

Well this was a bit of a surprise. 57303 left Yarmouth Carriage sidings hauling a rake of coaches for the shuttles in connection with the Greatest Gathering exhibition in Derby. However, it seemed to have gained three locos on the front by the time it passed the small gathering at Hasland. 66750, 66314 and 69009 lead 5Z31, booked off Yarmouth at 12.10 and heading for Barrow Hill. The contrast in livery detail on the first two locos I thought interesting too. 31/7/2025

57303 passes St Alkmunds Church at Duffield hauling the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby driver training E.C.S. move on May 9th 2025.

57303 leaves Wingfield Tunnel and passes through a vey summery looking Wingfield Park hauling thr Derby to Doncaster Down Decoy driver training E.C.S. working on May 1st 2025.

Another day, another go at 57303, better luck this time, with the fast moving cloud, that was just about to swamp the scene - fortunately just a minor tweak in PS required to sort..

5Z50 0850 Doncaster Decoy-Derby, 14/05/25 (running 75 mins late).

68001 Evolution is at the head of 1Z45 17.27 Derby - Chesterfield (which ran via Toton and the Erewash Valley), pictured at Hasland on the southern approach to Chesterfield. 57303 is on the rear (to provide ETS to the coaches). [Pole, 4/6 sections (~5.4m)]

This was the final leg of the Branch Line Society's "The Greatest Gathering Shuttle No. 4", the second of today's "shuttles" running in a figure of eight from Derby to Derby but either starting or finishing at Chesterfield. This one had started in Derby, and run via Toton, the Erewash Valley, Chesterfield, Dore and Sheffield to Barrow Hill Sidings where the leading loco was changed; it then ran back south direct to Derby where passengers could alight, before travelling back north to Chesterfield for the second time, via Toton and the Erewash Valley. It terminated at platform 3 at Chesterfield, from where the train ran empty direct to Barrow Hill for overnight stabling.

I'd photographed the southbound run about an hour and a half earlier at Tapton Jn. (see here, which also details the six BLS specials which ran over the three days). All the trains were operated by GBRf, using locos from several operators and Eastern Rail Services coaches.

Since the clearance of the bankside, you can obtain photos here looking south without any additional height, simply by poking your camera lens through the palisade fencing. But using the pole allowed me to stand wider and also made the train more diagonal in the frame. My first test shot was with the pole extended by one more section to this, with a "Meridian" DEMU on the second track from the right. But I realised that only extending the pole by three sections meant it was easier to include the colourful Rosebay Willowherb in the foreground.

Although I'd briefly looked at this spot just over four years ago, I'd never taken any pictures here. I was surprised to be joined by only one other person.

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26th October 2003

Before fitment of the retractable Dellner coupler 57303 drags 87025 with the diverted 10:20 Northampton - Preston past Wingates, just north of Lostock Junction

Dedicated to and in memory of Mr. Nigel Gibbs.

GBRf 57303 passes through Oakley along the down slow working 5F60 Northampton EMD - Kettering Stabling Sidings with East Midland Railways 360111 forming the consist.

Since my first visit to Wingfield Park to photograph 57303 a couple of weeks ago the May Blossom had bloomed all along the trackside from Wingfield Tunnel so another go was needed :-)

57303 begins its climb of Parkstone bank while passing Poole boating lake on a showery December morning.

This was my second attempt at this local shot in recent weeks: a few weeks earlier traffic problems and early running saw the train passing as I walked to the location.

This time traffic, train times and weather all combined to produce a rare, sunny shot of a non-EMU working on the Bournemouth line.

The previous day the locomotive had delivered a refurbished class 458 unit to Bournemouth depot. This working, the penultimate one with only one more unit to be delivered, returned barrier coaches to their temporary base at Leicester.

Taken with a pole-mounted camera.

GBRF 57305 & 57303 top & tail 57310 pass Wick Road, Hewish working 6Z58 09.16 Eastleigh East Yard to Taunton Goods Reception RHTT wagon move. Monday 22nd September 2025.

57303 is about to pass under Bennerley Viaduct at Awsworth hauling the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby driver training E.C.S. on May 16th 2025.

57303 passes beneath Bennerley Viaduct at Awsworth hauling the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby driver training E.C.S. working on May 6th 2025.

57303 and Great Northern "Electrostar" EMU 387101 pass Cossington, working 5Q42 14.19 Hornsey EMU Depot - Derby Litchurch Lane.

I have no idea why 387101 was going to Litchurch Lane, but it is the one fitted with ETCS and had only been back at Hornsey for about four weeks after extensive testing at Melton RIDC.

This was, of course, the second EMU drag I'd photographed today. There had been a third in the system, from Eastleigh to Derby, which was booked around here at about the same time (albeit on the Fast Line), but it had been cancelled (and I'd guessed it might be when 69009 ran to Leicester the previous evening rather than returning to Eastleigh, when the 701 move from Bicester was cancelled).

Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.

Carrying DRS plain blue but adorning GB Railfreight branding, 57303 approaches Loughborough with the 5Q42 14.19 Hornsey Depot-Derby Litchurch Lane empty stock move, moving ETCS signalling fitted 387101 (leased to Great Northern) for further works.

57303 is seen just south of Loughborough dragging Great Northern unit 387101 with the 5Q42 1429 Hornsey EMU depot - Derby Litchurch lane 13/8/25.

GBRf 57303 speeds through Walcott Green, north of Diss, on Friday 5th September 2025. The well presented 'Bodysnatcher' leads Eastern Rail Services MK3 charter set from ERS' Great Yarmouth base to Wembley Reception Sidings. The consist would work the UK Railtours 'The Industria Ditat' rail tour the following day alongside 60087. With the Class 57 locomotive departing Great Yarmouth 30 minutes late, I made the late decision to head further north along the GEML from my original location of Stowmarket. I was thankfully in luck, even with the clouds increasing and the sun dipping lower. (Photo taken with drone)

Direct Rail Services (DRS) 57303 'Pride Of Carlisle' passes Ely West Junction working the 0L46 1445 Derby North Doc Sidings to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings. Taken from Clayway foot crossing.

GBRf 57303 crosses the A1075 at Croxton, Thetford on Thursday 31st July 2025. The Class 57 locomotive, now sporting large orange numbering and GBRf lettering, heads west along the Breckland Line with the 5Z31 1210 Yarmouth C.H.S. to Barrow Hill L.I.P. empty coaching stock movement. ERS are supplying charter sets for The Greatest Gathering event taking place this weekend in Derby. (Photo taken with drone)

After heavy rain early morning instead of the forecast for dry weather we got a heavy drizzle today. DRS 57303 comes over Cattawade bridge hauling GA DVT 82107 from Bounds Green to Norwich

57303 passes through Stanton Gate hauling the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby driver training E.C.S. move on May 12th 2025.

DRS 57303 runs along the coast at Dawlish on 12/Sept/2015 with 5Z40 09.20 Penzance T&RSMD to Paddington empty sleeper stock

57304 returns 57303 and 57002 to Crewe

37419 had dragged them from Eastleigh to Wembley 57304 came from Crewe to take them onto Crewe

GB Railfreight Class 57 diesel locomotive 57303 hauls 8 Eastern Rail Services mark 3 carriages and 2 Mark 2 carriages towards Trowell Junction running as 5Z50 Doncaster Down Decoy Yard to Derby,

66750/66314/69009/57303 5Z31 12.10 Yarmouth C.H.S - Barrow Hill L.I.P ECS at Hasland on 31.07.2025

The train on the left is 170 207, the 12.20 service to Cambridge.

57303 'Alan Tracy' with 87035 'Robert Burns' with the diverted 1210 Euston - Liverpool Lime St taken at Ordsall Lane Junction 18/10/03.

57303 passes through Sawmills hauling 5Z51 10:57 Derby - Doncaster Down Decoy ecs on a sunny 30th April 2025 (pole)

57303 approaches Melton Mowbray on 31st March 2025 with the 5Q39 10:34 Ilford E.M.U. Depot to Barton-under-Needwood T&RSMD (Central Rivers). It was hauling Abellio Greater Anglia 'Aventra' unit 720117, one of a number of such units that visited Central Rivers for tyre turning earlier this year.

57303 brings 57305 and Translator coach 6344 back from overhaul at Eastleigh works to Derby RTC with 57312 on the rear

On hire to Europhoenix from GB Railfreight, unbranded blue 57303 (the former 'Pride of Carlisle and 'Alan Tracy') leads 321308 and 321306 through Daresbury working 5Q05 Walton Old Jn MSC Sidings to Newport Docks Simms Group. The units along with some other classmates, have been in storage for one of the ROSCOs, who now have pulled the plug. 8/4/25

Direct Rail Services Class 68 locomotive 68007 "Valiant" leads 57303 "Pride of Carlisle", 37407 "Blackpool Tower, 37028 and 37218

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0Z39 0912 Eastleigh Works BRML Head Quarters to Crewe Gresty Bridge DRS

Lichfield Trent Valley, Staffordshire

37409 hauls 57303, 20107 and 20096 plus 5 mark 2 coaches recovered from Harry Needle, previously stored at Worksop for future use by Locomotive Services Limited. 5Z63 12:49 Worksop Down Yard to Crewe Holding Sidings.

To the left the dualing of the Hope Valley line continues with the construction of a new platform at Dore & Totley station and a new footbridge.

60087'Ingleborough' puts the power on from the speed restriction across Northwich Viaduct at Hunt's Lock with the BLS tour 'The Industria Ditat' tour which had 57303 on the rear out of sight. Saturday 6 September 2025.

The 515Y 13.16 Old Dalby to Leicester L.I.P. pulls out of the goods loop at Melton Mowbray and passes wrong line through the station before crossing to the down main. 47813 was on the rear.

57303 approaches the newly restored Wingfield Station in charge of the Doncaster Down Decoy to Derby driver training E.C.S. trip on May 16th 2025.

The early slightly-yellowish sun is just starting to gain strength as I manage to open my RHTT account for 2017. On Saturday the 21st of October 57303 'Pride of Carlisle' leads 57306 'Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate' through Bentley as it heads for Witham, Clacton and various other destinations with the 3S60 09:02 Stowmarket to Stowmarket.

60087 "Ingleborough" is seen approaching Hall Nook Crossing, Penketh along with 57303 on the rear working the UK Railtours "The Industria Ditat" 1Z16 11:45 Widnes Transport Tech to Llandudno Jn Tc Gbrf on the 6th September 2025.

Stock :- 11095, 11078, 11090, 10229, 10413, 12091, 12064, 12021, 9525.

© Andy Parkinson 2025 - No Unauthorised Use Please.