UK: Holyhead, Virgin Trains liveried Class57 (no.57302) departs on the 1320 to Manchester Piccadilly
UK: Virgin Trains liveried Class 57 (number 57302) is seen at Holyhead (North Wales) on a rake of air conditioned Mark 2 coaches forming the 1320 to Manchester Piccadilly. This train was regularly formed of a Class 57 and Mark 2 stock at that time to cover for a shortage of DMUs. Recorded 20th January 2006.
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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 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. In 2001, a prototype locomotive was converted with electric train heating, with a view to obtaining orders from passenger companies.
Direct Rail Services currently operate nine class 57/0s, comprising 57002-57003 and 57007-57012 leased from Porterbrook and 57004 purchased outright as an insurance replacement for 37515 in 2008. DRS took 57302, 57305 and 57309 from Porterbrook in April 2012 on a three-year lease. Since December 2012, Direct Rail Services have provided haulage for Virgin Trains. As part of the deal another three class 57/3s were leased. In July 2014, DRS took over the leases of the remaining six class 57/3s from Network Rail.
After the completion of the West Coast Main Line upgrade in 2008, Virgin's requirement for Class 57/3s decreased. The sixteen strong fleet found other work with Arriva Trains Wales and Colas Rail. In September 2010, six were placed in store at Eastleigh Works before being returned to Porterbrook and leased to Network Rail in September 2011. With the Arriva Trains Wales contract finishing, a further three were returned to Porterbrook and leased to Direct Rail Services in April 2012.
In December 2012, the remaining seven were returned with three being leased to Direct Rail Services and the remaining four sold to West Coast Railway Company.
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Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Isle of Anglesey in Wales. It is also a community and a major Irish Sea port, serving Ireland.
Despite being the largest town in the county, with a population of 11,431 at the 2011 census, it is neither the county town nor actually on the island of Anglesey. Holyhead is located on Holy Island, which has a population of 13,659 at the 2011 census. It was originally connected to Anglesey via Four Mile Bridge, so called because the bridge was four miles (6 km) from Holyhead on the old turnpike Road. In the mid 19th century, Lord Stanley, a local philanthropist, funded the building of a larger causeway, known locally as The Cobb, it now carries the A5 and the railway line. The A55 dual carriageway runs parallel to the Cobb on a modern causeway.
Holyhead's main industry was aluminium-based until September 2009, with Rio Tinto Group's Anglesey Aluminium subsidiary operating a massive aluminium smelter on the outskirts of the town, including a plant that refined bauxite. A large jetty in the harbour received ships from Jamaica and Australia, and their cargoes of bauxite and aluminium ores were transported on a cable belt rope driven conveyor belt that runs underneath the town to the plant. The jetty is now used by Anglesey County Council to dock cruise ships visiting from all over the world. The jetty is wide enough for coaches to travel down to collect and deliver passengers to the town and on local tours. The plant relied for its electricity supply on the island's nuclear power station at Wylfa, near Cemaes Bay. However, Wylfa is reaching the end of its life and has permission to generate only into 2012, and the ending of a low-cost electricity supply contract in 2009 impacted on the financial viability of the smelting plant. Continuing operations involve the remelting of aluminium scrap for re-use. The site is subject to proposals by a development company called Lateral Power.
Holyhead Port is a major employer, most of the jobs being linked to ferry services to the Republic of Ireland operated by Stena and Irish Ferries. Other significant industrial/transport sector employers in Holyhead include Holyhead Boatyard, Gwynedd Shipping, and Eaton Electrical, with the last of these having seen many job losses in 2009. New retail developments in recent years have been a major source of new job creation.
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