SIX former Virgin Trains ‘Thunderbird’ Class 57/3s are set to transfer to GB Railfreight once Direct Rail Services returns them to Porterbrook.
Nos. 57301/303/305/306/310/312 will transfer to GBRf, leaving DRS with Nos. 57304/307-309, which are in the XHVT pool.
Currently, Nos. 57301/303/306 are stored, while No. 57305 is in the XHAC pool and 57310 is in the XHSO pool. They are expected to be used on multiple unit transfers and seasonal duties such as railhead treatment trains, as well as providing additional cover while Class 69s undergo modifications at Longport. One locomotive, currently No. 57312, will be used by Great Western Railway. This moved to GWR on March 14, replacing No. 57305, which was due an exam.
The six ‘57/3s’ will retain their translator equipment and modified drop down heads that were repositioned for working with standard height Dellner or Tightlock couplers on units during their previous career with Network Rail. This was notably the case with the locomotives sold to other operators, Nos. 57302/311 moving to Locomotive Services in 2021 and Nos. 57313-316 heading to West Coast Railways in 2013. These had to surrender their ‘390’ Pendolino and ‘220’/‘221’ Voyager-compatible couplers
