Heljan 5706 Class 57 Virgin Silver/Red 57302 Virgil Tracy Diesel Locomotive - Weathered

The Class 57 is a re-engineered locomotive, rebuilt by Brush Traction, Loughborough, from redundant Class 47 locomotives. The locomotives are fitted with a refurbished EMD engine and a re-conditioned alternator, improving reliability and performance. Three variants exist, one for freight (57/0) and two for passenger operations. Each cost £300,000, about one-third that of a new-build locomotive.

The class has its origins in 1997 when Freightliner ordered an initial six locomotives. A further six were ordered in 1999, making a total of twelve class 57/0 freight locomotives; five class 57/6 variants were built between 2000 and 2003, and twelve class 57/3 locomotives were ordered in 2002 (extended by four in 2003) making a total of twenty-one passenger units. One prototype class 57/0 was converted with electric train heatng in 2001, with a view to obtaining orders from passenger companies.

In 2000, Porterbrook placed an order for a prototype passenger locomotive fitted with electric train heating. This locomotive, 57601, was leased to First Great Western in June 2001, First Great Western were looking for a replacement for its elderly Class 47 locomotives. It hauled Mark 2 stock on day services from London Paddington to Plymouth and Penzance - until these ceased in September 2002 - and on the Night Riviera sleeper service. After an evaluation period, First Great Western agreed to lease three production Class 57/6s from Porterbrook in May 2002, with the first delivered in November 2003.

As the prototype locomotive was non-standard, it was decided to order a fourth Class 57/6 in 2003 and return 57601 to Porterbrook. This occurred in December 2003 after the first production Class 57/6 was delivered, with 57601 sold to West Coast Railways. Eventually, our Class 57/6s ended up in the hands of First Great Western. The First Great Western fleet were originally painted green with a gold bodyside band to match the Night Riviera stock, with cast name and numberplates. All four locomotives were named after castles in Devon and Cornwall, and operate mainly on the Night Riviera sleeper service, with the occasional stock move.

From March 2008, the fleet started to receive First Great Western blue livery, with 57605 the first repainted. In June 2010, 57604 received a repaint into lined Brunswick green livery, to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway.

DETAILS

Featuring a chassis upgrade with LED lighting and a 21-pin DCC decoder interface, the models cover a wide range of colourful and popular liveries. While some have been seen on the HELJAN OO model before others are offered for the first time, including the more recent versions of FGW/GWR livery, West Coast Railways 'Northern Belle' red/cream and Network Rail yellow.

Standard features include a heavy die-cast chassis for superb pulling power and smooth running, four-axle drive with floating centre axles on each bogie for reliable operation, sprung buffers and NEM coupler pockets. There is also plenty of space internally or in the fuel tanks for a DCC sound speaker.

FEATURES

• 21 Pin DCC Ready
• Highly Detailed Body and Chassis Design
• NEM Couplings
• Working Lights
• Sprung Buffers
• Sound Ready
• Interior Lighting
• Finely printed livery details
• Smooth Running Motor
• All Wheel Pickup
• Upgraded Chassis

MEASUREMENTS

• OPERATOR Virgin Trains
• CLASS Class 57
• RUNNING NUMBER 57 302
• NAME 'Virgil Tracy'
• LIVERY Silver/Red