10_GB_17_Day_3_57314_28_4_2025.jpg (159542 bytes)

GB_17_Day_3_57314. Day 3 for the GB17 train was planned for 45212 to go from Cardiff, via the Welsh border line, through Hereford and Shrewsbury, to Chester and from there to Warrington and the West Coast Main Line (WCML), to Carnforth. Plans had to be drastically changed though, when 45212 was found to have run a hot tender axle box and the Welsh border line was blocked by a culvert collapse. So, Brush diesel 57314 took the train from Cardiff, via Gloucester, Birmingham and Wolverhampton, to Crewe and the WCML. 57314 was delivered in August 1965 as D1891, being converted to Class 57 when the original Sulzer diesel engine was replaced by an EMD model, thereby prolonging the loco’s already long life. The locomotive bears the name of the north Welsh CONWY CASTLE (CONWAY in English). 28th April 2025. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

57313.jpg (150521 bytes)

57313 at Carlisle on 24/05/14 Photo John Turner e-mail johnturner16@yahoo.co.uk

57601.jpg (105898 bytes)

57601 seen passing the site of the old Bolton Percy station on 22/06/10. Photo johnturner16@yahoo.co.uk

CARLISLE0002.jpg (152808 bytes)

57601 photographed at Carlisle on 16/06/12 operator West Coast Railways Photo John Turner E-mailo johnturner16@yahoo.co.uk

Preston_-_West_Coast_57601.jpg (158060 bytes)

West Coast Railway Company 57601 "Windsor Castle" at Preston station with the "Northern Belle" excursion train on 19 December 2019. Photo by David Simpson (samnodes@gmail.com)

UK_57601.jpg (75094 bytes)

57601. Derby, July 2005 Kostas Katsanakis [kostaskatsanakis@yahoo.com]

ga-57601-strat-a-jp.jpg (44172 bytes)

Now this is a FIRST at Stratford. 57601 is now part of the West Coast Rail Company fleet having previously been a Porterbrook loco operating First Great Western Services. This is the first time we have seen the loco in this livery...remind you another one maybe...and is a 'nice one' to get on our 'local patch'. In its previous life it was 47825 'Thomas Telford' and for a while it was based at Norwich as a 'thunderbird' loco which we saw once in this role. This 'video still' was taken on the 12th May 2004 as the loco with its accompanying observation coach approaches the station from the east. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

ga-57601-strat-b-jp.jpg (123680 bytes)

West Coast Railway Company's 57601 makes its first appearence at Stratford E.London in its new maroon livery. Hauling an observation coach in LMS, this is certainly one of the more unusual sightings we have seen recently. The date was 12th May 2004. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

11_GB_17_Day_3_Crewe_57314+Avanti_28_4_2025.jpg (137239 bytes)

11 GB_17_Day_3_Crewe_57314_Avanti. To fit in the revised route timing for the GB17 there was a long stop at Crewe station, where 57314 posed alongside an Avanti West Coast Class 805 EMU, with an express for Holyhead. 28th April 2025. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com