The stricken sleeper is rescued from Highbridge Loop! 57301 triple header with failed 57605 + 57604!

Not to be outdone by the West Somerset Railways Triple headed Manors over the weekend    • Triple headed GW/BRW Manors at the West So...   GWR provided their own rendition in the form of modern traction today, for all the wrong reasons! On Tuesday, 57604 ‘Pendennis Castle’ had failed on the early morning sleeper service, and 57605 ‘Totnes Castle’ was tasked with rescuing the set and taking the ECS consist double headed back to Reading, a simple enough task, but apparently not. All was going to plan, I hadn't gone out for it as it was on time and scheduled to quickly pass through the region, but reports soon began to circulate on Tuesday afternoon that the 5Z50 had drifted into Highbridge loop, with 57605 ‘Totnes Castle’ suffering a complete loss of power, as the rescue engine had itself suffered a failure. And so the entire consist was left in Highbridge Loop overnight on Tuesday. A new 57 path was added into the system late on Tuesday evening ready for an early start on Wednesday morning, where we pick up the coverage as a light 0Z50 made its way down from Reading to meet the ill fated pair at Highbridge, and take the consist down to Devon. Sure enough 57301 arrived early this morning, and after a slight delay as commuter units passed, the entire ECS ensemble shamefully eased out of Highbridge Loop picking up a new 5Z50 path out of Highbridge heading for Laira, via a turning movement at St Philip’s Marsh, where we lastly see it passing Bridgwater heading South. Not a great look for Great Western, despite their efforts refurbishing the 57 fleet, it leaves us wondering whether they might reevaluate their choice of traction on the sleepers, given their track record for poor reliability issues... If you like what you've seen, please head over to Instagram   / brunelheritage   and Tik Tok   / brunel.heritage   for more and please feel free to leave comments, ratings, and subscribe to the channel. Enjoy the break and see you on the other side! #Tripleheader #Class57 #GWRSleeper #Locohauled #Diesel #locomotive #GWR #Sleeper #locomotives #rare #NetworkRail #Highbridge #shortestday #Triple #Bridgwater #BritishRailways #Somerset #Railways #Trains #raremove #May #2026