British Rail Class 57

The BR Class 57 was a class of thirty-three Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives produced between 1997 and 2004 by rebuilding withdrawn Class 47 bodyshells with reconditioned General Motors 645E3B prime movers at the Brush Traction facility in Loughborough. Not a new-build locomotive but a thorough rebuild, the Class 57 took the proven Class 47 body and running gear, stripped out the Sulzer engine, and installed the American GM engine long standard in North American heavy freight. The result was a reliable, mid-powered locomotive at a fraction of the cost of a new-build.

The rebuild programme produced three distinct subclasses. The 57/0 (57001–57012) was rebuilt for Freightliner as freight locomotives. The 57/3 (57301–57316) was built for Virgin Trains as ‘thunderbird’ rescue locomotives — based at strategic WCML locations to rescue failed Class 390 Pendolino and Voyager sets. The 57/6 (57601–57605) was produced for First Great Western and later GWR for the Night Riviera sleeper from London Paddington to Penzance.

As of 2026 the Class 57 fleet continues in active service. The GWR 57/6s work the Night Riviera. The 57/3 thunderbirds serve DB Cargo and charter operators. The class demonstrates that a well-executed rebuild can extend a locomotive's useful life by decades.