Class 47
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The Class 47s (or Brush Type 4s as they were originally known) were British Rail's most numerous main line diesel locomotives, with 512 built between 1962 and 1968.
The first appearance in Scotland was March 1963 when D1510 was sent to Haymarket Depot of crew training.
Haymarket got its own permanent allocation from October 1965 when nine new locomotives, D1968-76 (later 47268-274,516,517) were delivered to the depot. At first the locos were mainly used to supplement the Class 55s on the ECML workings.
Prior to electrification, Class 47s were also used on the WCML, but these were mostly LM region locos.
It was not until the mid 1970's that further class 47s were allocated to Scottish depots, with Eastfield and Inverness depots gaining allocations.
A fleet of 12 class 47/7 locos converted for Push-pull working with 'DBSO' driving trailers was introduced to service between Edinburgh & Glasgow Queen Street in 1979. Five more locos were later converted to for push-pull services to Aberdeen.
By the mid 1980s class 47s had become the most numerous locos in Scotland and were used on all the mainline passenger routes:
The Inverness and Aberdeen Sleepers reverted to 47 haulage in 1995, initially using locos based at Crewe, but a dedicated pool was established by EWS at Motherwell Depot? from 1998 to 2002.
Class 67s started to be used on the Sleeper duties from April 2001, and took over both portions in June 2002. EWS withdrew its remaining class 47 locomotives in 2004.
In British Rail days, Class 47s were banned from the West Highland Line. The class made its first known visit on 09/11/2002, with 47798 and 47799 on the Royal Train (top and tail), taking Prince Philip to Spean Bridge, and continuing to Fort William before returning south to Wolverton.
The start of regular working on the West Highland Line did not come until 06/08/2005, with 47826 and 47854 (top and tail) on an SRPS railtour from Dundee to Mallaig, which they worked throughout.
However, the use of 47749 on the 1Y11 0450 Edinburgh - Fort William Caledonian Sleeper service on Monday 23/10/2017 was the first on a public service on the line.
Visits of Class 47s to Kyle of Lochalsh are known to have occurred in 1979, but regular operation on this route started with a special run of The Royal Scotsman hauled by 47854 on 13/10/05.
WCRC class 47 locos are used on Charter trains, and empty stock movements. They were used on the The Royal Scotsman from 2004 to 2015. WCRC have a few locos fitted with Miniature Snow Ploughs (MSPs) and these are often deployed on snow clearance duties in the Winter months.
West Coast Class 47 fleet in 2017
Freightliner used to have a small pool of 47's available for rolling stock transfer duties. The 47's were stood down due to have no OTMR fitted and are stored at Crewe Basford Hall or Barrow Hill. However, 47811 was seen moving around Crewe under its own power in May 2013.
As of 2016, 47830 is the only class 47 operational. normally used for stock movements but it was stored in 2017.
The 47's consisted of: 47811, 47816, 47830
47501, 47790, 47802, 47805, 47810, 47813, 47818, 47828, 47832, 47841 and 47853
DRS 47's are currently being used on the Stobart Pullman railtours unfortunetely in the middle of July 2008 DRS pulled the plug on the Stobart Pullman business and this forced the locomotives into store at Crewe Gresty Bridge (GB). They are mostly used on charters like the northern belle and the cruise saver express.
As of 2017, DRS no longer own any class 47s
FM Rail was a short lived operator launched in 2005. It went into administration in December 2006. It had 47709 & 47712 repainted in 'Blue Pullman livery' early in 2006 for use on its charter trains.
47635 Jimmy Milne at Aberdeen, 17th June 1990 Photo by Westerncelt
The first appearance in Scotland was March 1963 when D1510 was sent to Haymarket Depot of crew training.
Haymarket got its own permanent allocation from October 1965 when nine new locomotives, D1968-76 (later 47268-274,516,517) were delivered to the depot. At first the locos were mainly used to supplement the Class 55s on the ECML workings.
Prior to electrification, Class 47s were also used on the WCML, but these were mostly LM region locos.
It was not until the mid 1970's that further class 47s were allocated to Scottish depots, with Eastfield and Inverness depots gaining allocations.
A fleet of 12 class 47/7 locos converted for Push-pull working with 'DBSO' driving trailers was introduced to service between Edinburgh & Glasgow Queen Street in 1979. Five more locos were later converted to for push-pull services to Aberdeen.
By the mid 1980s class 47s had become the most numerous locos in Scotland and were used on all the mainline passenger routes:
- Edinburgh - Glasgow QS (Push-pull)
- Glasgow QS - Aberdeen (Push-pull)
- Edinburgh - Aberdeen (some Push-pull)
- Edinburgh/Glasgow QS - Inverness
- Inverness - Aberdeen
- Glasgow Central - Stranraer
- Glasgow Central - Dumfries - Carlisle
- Carstairs - Edinburgh
- Edinburgh - London KX (Sleepers)
The Inverness and Aberdeen Sleepers reverted to 47 haulage in 1995, initially using locos based at Crewe, but a dedicated pool was established by EWS at Motherwell Depot? from 1998 to 2002.
Class 67s started to be used on the Sleeper duties from April 2001, and took over both portions in June 2002. EWS withdrew its remaining class 47 locomotives in 2004.
In British Rail days, Class 47s were banned from the West Highland Line. The class made its first known visit on 09/11/2002, with 47798 and 47799 on the Royal Train (top and tail), taking Prince Philip to Spean Bridge, and continuing to Fort William before returning south to Wolverton.
The start of regular working on the West Highland Line did not come until 06/08/2005, with 47826 and 47854 (top and tail) on an SRPS railtour from Dundee to Mallaig, which they worked throughout.
However, the use of 47749 on the 1Y11 0450 Edinburgh - Fort William Caledonian Sleeper service on Monday 23/10/2017 was the first on a public service on the line.
Visits of Class 47s to Kyle of Lochalsh are known to have occurred in 1979, but regular operation on this route started with a special run of The Royal Scotsman hauled by 47854 on 13/10/05.
Current Operators
West Coast Railway Company
47854 Diamond Jubilee at Stirling on 1Z26 0742 Whitehaven to Perth excursion train, on 26/9/15 Photo by 40072
WCRC class 47 locos are used on Charter trains, and empty stock movements. They were used on the The Royal Scotsman from 2004 to 2015. WCRC have a few locos fitted with Miniature Snow Ploughs (MSPs) and these are often deployed on snow clearance duties in the Winter months.
West Coast Class 47 fleet in 2017
| Previous numbers | Current Number | Livery | Pool | Notes / Names |
| 47237 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | (no ETH) | |
| D1922 47245 | 47245 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | (MSP fitted, no ETH) |
| 47270 | BR Blue | AWCA | Swift (no ETH) | |
| 47580 | BR Blue with UK flag | MBDL | County of Essex | |
| 47746 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | Chris Fudge | |
| D1617 47036 47562 47672 47760 | 47760 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | (MSP fitted) |
| D1965 47265 47591 47804 47792 47804 | 47804 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | |
| D1976 47274 47637 47826 | 47826 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | |
| 47832 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | ||
| D1648 47064 47639 47851 | 47851 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | |
| D1972 47271 47604 47674 47854 | 47854 | WCRC Maroon with WCRC logo | AWCA | Diamond Jubilee (MSP fitted) |
Colas Rail
47739 ON 4Z47 ยป 47739 COLAS RAIL ON 4Z47 AT COATBRIDGE CENTRAL ON 11TH MAY 2011 Photo by IANMILLAR
GB Railfreight
47812 & 47847 arrived at Glasgow central with the Lowlander sleeper (diverted via Dumfries) on 16.01.2016 Photo by kingrail
Previous Operators in the Post-BR era:
Freightliner
Freightliner used to have a small pool of 47's available for rolling stock transfer duties. The 47's were stood down due to have no OTMR fitted and are stored at Crewe Basford Hall or Barrow Hill. However, 47811 was seen moving around Crewe under its own power in May 2013.
As of 2016, 47830 is the only class 47 operational. normally used for stock movements but it was stored in 2017.
The 47's consisted of: 47811, 47816, 47830
DRS
47501, 47790, 47802, 47805, 47810, 47813, 47818, 47828, 47832, 47841 and 47853
DRS 47's are currently being used on the Stobart Pullman railtours unfortunetely in the middle of July 2008 DRS pulled the plug on the Stobart Pullman business and this forced the locomotives into store at Crewe Gresty Bridge (GB). They are mostly used on charters like the northern belle and the cruise saver express.
As of 2017, DRS no longer own any class 47s
FM Rail
47145, 47355, 47703, 47709, 47712, 47832FM Rail was a short lived operator launched in 2005. It went into administration in December 2006. It had 47709 & 47712 repainted in 'Blue Pullman livery' early in 2006 for use on its charter trains.
Locos Preservation
47643 at Boness in December 2010 Photo by fragglerock
See also
External Links
- The 47s database of class 47 info
- The Class 47 List (news)
- BR Class 47 on Wikipedia
- West Coast Railways on Wikipedia
- FM Rail on Wikipedia