Class 47 Profile and Models
47474 at Birmingham New Street in April 1987. ©Steve Jones
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The British Rail Class 47 is a class of diesel-electric locomotives that were developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, in Loughborough, between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British mainline diesel locomotive. They were fitted with the Sulzer 12LDA28C twin-bank twelve-cylinder unit producing 2,750 bhp (2,050 kW) - though this was later derated to 2,580 bhp (1,920 kW) to improve reliability - and have been used on both passenger and freight trains on Britain's railways for over 50 years. Despite the introduction of more modern types of traction, a significant number are still in use, both on the mainline and on heritage railways. |
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|
Type of Locomotive |
Diesel-Electric |
|
Builder |
Brush Traction British Rail Crewe Works |
|
Build Dates |
1962 to 1968 |
|
Total Built |
512 |
|
Tractive Effort |
55,000 to 60,000 lbf |
|
Power Output |
2,750 hp (Later derated to 2,580 hp) |
|
Top Speed |
75 or 95 mph |
|
Wheel Configuration |
Co-Co |
|
Operated By |
British Rail Advenza Freight Anglia Caledonian Sleeper Colas Rail Cotswold Rail Direct Rail Services EWS First Great Western FM Rail Fragonset Freightliner GB Railfreight Harry Needle Railroad Co. ONE Porterbrook Rail Operations Group Riviera Trains Victa Westlink Rail Virgin Trains Waterman Railways West Coast Railway Co. |
|
Main Duties |
Mixed Traffic |
|
In Service Until |
Present |
|
Surviving Examples |
83 (A further 33 also converted to Class 57) |
GWR green
MR - Midland Railway
Royal Train
Pullman
LNER green
BR non-standard
BR green with late crest
BR blue
Freightliner (BR)
Eddie Stobart
BR large logo blue
Intercity
Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe)
ScotRail (BR)
Police
NSE - Network SouthEast
Provincial
Railfreight 'Sector' triple grey
Departmental grey
Parcels sector
Infrastructure
Civil Engineers 'Dutch'
RES - Rail Express Systems
Railfreight Distribution (RFD)
Central Services
Waterman Railways
DRS - Direct Rail Services
Freightliner PLC
Great Western Trains
EWS - English Welsh and Scottish
Porterbrook
Virgin Cross Country
Fragonset
Anglia Railways
Virgin West Coast
WCRC - West Coast Railway Company
First Great Western
Cotswold Rail
GBRf - GB Railfreight
Advenza Freight
Riviera Trains
One Anglia
Colas Rail
Rail Operations Group
Caledonian Sleeper
Freelance
Unpainted
Products awaiting categorisation
| Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N Gauge | CJM |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
47974 View |
Class 47 47974 "The Permanent way Institution" in BR departmental yellow and grey livery. | Infrastructure |
| N Gauge | CJM |
|
Not set | Not set |
CJM-47114 View |
Class 47 47114 Freightliner Bulk in BR Green | BR green with early emblem |
| N Gauge | CJM |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
CJM-47301 View |
Class 47 47301 "Red Stripe" | Railfreight grey (inc. Red Stripe) |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | DJH Model Railway Kits |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
K321A View |
Class 47 locomotive kit (Serck radiator shutters) | Unpainted |