Branchline [OO] 32-754A Class 57/0 57009 DRS Compass (Original)

Class 57/0 No. 57009 DRS Compass (Original) livery.

Fitted with a driver and featuring directional lighting, the model is also ready to accept a speaker and has a 21 Pin DCC Decoder socket for those wishing to equip their model for use on DCC.

(Also available with SOUND FITTED (Item No. 32-754SF)

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 9
• Pristine DRS (Original) Livery 
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Sprung Buffers
• Interior Cab Lighting
• Directional Lighting
• Speaker Ready
• Fitted with a Driver
• Equipped with a 21 Pin DCC Decoder Socket ? recommended Decoder item No. 36-557
• Length 265mm (over couplings)

CLASS 57 HISTORY

The British Rail Class 57 is a re-engineered locomotive, rebuilt by Brush Traction in Loughborough from redundant Class 47 locomotives between 1997-2004.They are fitted with a refurbished General Motors engine and a reconditioned alternator to improve reliability and performance. Enthusiasts have nicknamed the locomotives 'Bodysnatchers' because the body of the Class 47 has been stripped, rewired and re-engined. In 1997, Freightliner placed an order for six Class 57/0 locomotives, with the first being released to traffic in 1998. Twelve named locomotives were built and finished in the company?s green/yellow livery.

In 2002 Virgin Trains ordered 12 units classified as 57/3, with a revised power unit delivering 2,750hp enabling a top speed of 95mph. They were painted in the company's distinctive livery of red, white and silver and as their primary function was to act as emergency rescue locomotives, they were named after the characters in the 1960s TV series Thunderbirds. The order was increased to a total of 16 and all the locomotives were modified with automatic Delner coupling devices for use with 'Voyager' and 'Pendolino' units.

Brush Engineering developed a passenger demonstrator locomotive, a type 57/6 for the leasing company Porterbrook, which carried a very distinctive silver and purple livery. The locomotive was later purchased by the West Coast Railway Co and was painted in a plain maroon livery with black stripe. In 2003, First Great Western took delivery of four Class 57/6 locomotives, all named after castles, to work the Paddington to Penzance sleeper service.

In 2007, half of the Freightliner fleet was re-leased by Porterbrook to Direct Rail Services. Arriva Trains Wales obtained 3 of Virgin's Class 57/3 locomotives in 2008 and Advenza Freight purchased two ex-Freightliner locomotives, painted in the Advenza Freight livery.