'Along These Tracks' Train Photos Site : 2020-04-12

Class 57316 Diesel 'Thunderbird' Fab1 Locomotive

virgin trains class 57316 thunderbird uk diesel loco fab 1 photographed in bay platform at rugby station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Photographed in a bay platform at Rugby station, Virgin Trains UK Thunderbird diesel locomotive Class 57316 'Fab 1' was built in March 1966 as a basic Class 47 at either Brush Traction, Loughborough, or BR Crewe Works; one of a total of 512 produced.

The loco did not become a named engine until the 20th December 2004, whereupon it bore the name 'Fab 1 - Thunderbirds' as in the photo above.
It lost its name five years later in January 2009.

57316 is a re-engineered diesel loco rebuilt by Brush Traction, Loughborough, using parts from redundant Class 47 locos.
The Class 57s were fitted with a refurbished EMD engine and a re-conditioned alternator which greatly improved performance and reliability.

Before conversion to a Class 57,this former Class 47 was numbered, 47290.

After fifty-six years on the rails, diesel locomotive Class 57316 continues in service operated by West Coast Railways bearing the company's maroon livery.


'Fab 1' Class 57316 Loco Nameplate Photo: Charles Moorhen

Class 57316 on YouTube:
Class 57316 shunts to connect to 390093 Pendolino.
Class 57316 departs Crewe pulling a Pendolino.
Class 57316 at Lawrence Hill.

Class 57316 couples to 390052 Pendolino.

Class 57316 pulls DVT 82126 and coaches at Crewe.

512 Class 47s were built, of which 30 have passed into preservation and can be found (at time of blog-page publication) at the following locations, though this may be subject to change for various reasons.

D1524 47004 - Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway.

D1693 47105 - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

D1705 47117 'Sparrowhawk' - Great Central Railway.

D1842 47192 - Crewe Heritage Centre.

D1855 47205/47395 - Northampton & Lamport Railway.

D1994 47292 - Great Central Railway Nottingham.

D1787 47306 'The Sapper' - Bodmin & Wenford Railway.

D1886 47367 - Mid Norfolk Railway.

D1895 47376 'Freightliner 1995' - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

D1500 47401 'North Eastern' - Midland Railway Butterley.

D1501 47402 - East Lancashire Railway.

D1516 47417 - Midland Railway Butterley.