Class 47 - The Understated Workhorse

Hello all! :D
Built to replace both steam and flawed early diesels from the Modernisation Plan, the Class 47s, despite their boxy dimensions, proved themselves to be among the most widespread classes of diesel locomotive ever employed on the UK railway network.
Throughout their over 60 year careers, these machines have powered top expresses, hauled the heaviest of freight consists, and even been the traction behind the prestigious Royal Train, demonstrating a versatility and performance that not only keeps various members of the fleet still in active duty today, but also made them the perfect candidates for a re-engineering program, that led to their heavily modified Class 57 cousins.
Chapters:
0:00 - Preamble
0:55 - Amending Early Mistakes
4:48 - Flying Falcon
6:43 - Introduction and Early Variants
9:54 - Widespread Range
11:14 - Passenger Sectors
14:17 - Freight and Parcels
17:04 - Retirements and Re-Engineering
18:45 - Bodysnatching
20:35 - Thunderbirds Are Go!
22:27 - Conclusion
All video content and images in this production have been provided with permission wherever possible. While I endeavour to ensure that all accreditations properly name the original creator, some of my sources do not list them as they are usually provided by other, unrelated KZbinrs. Therefore, if I have mistakenly put the accreditation of 'Unknown', and you are aware of the original creator, please send me a personal message at my Gmail (this is more effective than comments as I am often unable to read all of them): [e-mail]
The views and opinions expressed in this video are my personal appraisal and are not the views and opinions of any of these individuals or bodies who have kindly supplied me with footage and images.
If you enjoyed this video, why not leave a like, and consider subscribing for more great content coming soon.
Thanks again, everyone, and enjoy! :D
References:
- Key Model World (and their respective sources)
- Class 47.co.uk (and their respective sources)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

[@DDJP]

Do love 47s. Underrated in my opinion and often overlooked as 'boring'. But they did great work and were reliable in later years, and theres just something about them that I personally enjoy. Nice to see coverage on 'Falcon' as well. Also, shout out to Class 40 D208 near the beginning! A personal favourite!

[@LolLol-xy4rh]

Now hold on a second

[@gilbertporter4992]

Was it their looks & ascetic that looked boring? I mean most British locomotives have the same double cab smooth carbody look.

[@EASYTIGER10]

@@gilbertporter4992 Actually I think - of all the "workhorse" locos of the 50s and 60s - the 47 had a simple elegance and economy of design which I find very satisfying, a bit like the HSTs. They were nicely proportioned locos.

[@pathowgate2544]

Boring because they basically look the same as 56s, 57s, and 69s

[@user-gf4sn7jb4z]

@@pathowgate2544Go away prk

[@PeterYeadon-js7ou]

The class 47 was the Black Five of the diesel world. Understated yet, true classless work horses. Both superb locomotives.

[@sglenny001]

Couldn't put better myself

[@PeterYeadon-js7ou]

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated 👍

[@martinmargerrison2300]

Tart.

[@PeterYeadon-js7ou]

@@martinmargerrison2300 Why thank you, kind sir!

[@PeterYeadon-js7ou]

This channel puts alot of main stream TV docs to shame. So well researched and put together. One of my favourite KZbinr channels.

[@mattjones1992]

One of my favourite notifications is a new one of these videos.

[@TheElDoctoro24]

Every Saturday without fail

[@Tom-Lahaye]

This machine, and the class 37, addressed most of the issues the early diesels had, not without a reason some machines still run after 60 years of service.

[@1951GL]

From 1962 to well into the 1990s these machines were the Ford Cortinas of British Rail, excellent at nothing but good at everything. A couple of Stratford based locos were used experimentally on the WCML to Glasgow in 1963, totally out-performing the EE type 4. By 1966 they were on everything north of Crewe into Scotland, the EE type 4 being retained on Blackpool - Euston services and intermediate trains. D1848 was a regular on the Mid Day Scot. Excellent video and narrative-as usual.

[@yuxaredd]

Gotta be real I’m tired as hell right now and this video feels like it’s beaming directly into my subconscious to be cited in a conversation I’m not due to have for 9 years

[@22pcirish]

My basic engine when I trained as a driver and still my second favourite type of the 15 traction types I’ve operated. In fact the loco I got passed out on as a driver 47 639 is still about and working for West Coast Trains as 47 851! I might retire before she does and she’s a year older than me!

[@cedriclynch]

The locomotive in the police "jam sandwich" livery was so painted for use in a British Rail television commercial about the advantages of going by train rather than by car. It was shown pulling over a train for speeding.

[@SneakyZaku]

I think its a homage livery to that train, as the original locomotive was a class 37

[@nelson408.]

Yes, a 37 was used in the advert back in the 1980's. The 47 was used for an anti trespass and vandelism campaign.

[@SneakyZaku]

I see, In this case I was replying to the above post which confused the 47 for the 37 @@nelson408.

[@cedriclynch]

@@nelson408. Thank you for posting this. I thought I remembered the locomotive in the TV ad where it was shown pulling over a speeding train being a class 37 and that my memory was wrong. I did not know that two locomotives were painted in this way on different occasions.

[@dave1966red]

Very well researched, scripted, compiled, edited and produced piece of industrial rail videography. Particularly love the mix of sources to support the "real story" as no-one can have covered the career of such an impressive class of UK locomotive. Certainly growing up near to Crewe and being a frequent visitor to "The Works", Crewe Station and "The Shed" (Crewe Diesel Depot). My youth was packed with multiple memories of the "Brush 4" Class 47 in all its guises fulfilling virtually every discipline possible. They also became a familiar sight UK wide as I later travelled to various parts of the UK outside our Cheshire home range with my beloved Dad on our many, many "spotting" trips and adventures. He would have truly loved this piece of film and as a result I was reminded of many happy hours spent with him "shedding", "cabbing" and being pulled by these incredibly versatile "work horses" as you correctly describe the class. Happy to have Subscribed to your Channel and will know work my way through your catalogue of work. Well done for a very polished and professional piece of quality videography 👍🏻 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHO6fmR4epZ3fM0si=EeHb7KNMr0KlYgsY

[@DOCTORDROTT]

I worked on them for 40 years at Canton, good locos

[@stephendavies6949]

Hi. Do you recall the ratio of 37s to 47s at Canton? I seem to remember reading somewhere that at one time over a third of all 37s were to be found there.

[@DOCTORDROTT]

@@stephendavies6949 In the 1970's we had a lot of class 47's based there almost 50 /50 ratio with the 37's , in 1989 we had 101 x 37's and 20 x 47's . The most 47's were in 1976 when we had 67 x 47's . Most of the Paddington trains were worked by 47/4's from Landore.

[@stephendavies6949]

@DOCTORDROTT Ah, thanks for the info. Very interesting. Sounds like what I read was correct, as there were 309 37s in total. 47s stabled at Landore make sense to haul the Fishguard/Swansea to Paddington expresses. I do recall seeing 47s on the London trains, although being a Valleys Boy & miner's son with an interest in industrial stuff, 37s seem to be everywhere! I Landore closed now? I guess the 47s were based at Old Oak Common at the other end?

[@Busandtrain123]

@@stephendavies6949Landore TMD is still operational but sadly a few years ago Old Oak Common Closed for good.

[@martinbradshaw7877]

Certainly the most elegant of the 1960s diesel designs

[@MrSulzerboy]

My favourite class of loco too. I used to live in Kenilworth, the roller-coaster single line route between Coventry and Leamington Spa, and these locos were my staple diet. A great and very handsome locomotive and long may they live. I now live in Australia, and you know there's always something you miss when you go and live in another country, and for me, it was the class 47s. Thanks for sharing.

[@Dave_Sisson]

Ah, which state? If you're in Victoria, a vast number of the venerable T Class dating from the 1950s are still around, some in their original form, others rebuilt as H or P classes.

[@MrSulzerboy]

@@Dave_Sisson I'm in South Australia.

[@Dave_Sisson]

@@MrSulzerboy I should have realised that by the "Sulzer" in your name. S.A. doesn't have any huge classes of antique locomotives, even the smaller classes of old S.A.R. engines have sadly been retired. 😞

[@fredburley9512]

Always a lovely looking ubiquitous engine. Lots of character. Another example of how great BR were in producing trains.

[@eddieking7736]

Thank you for another well researched and informative video. The 47s are one of my favourite diesels. In the old two tone green livery they looked absolutely stunning.

[@michaelmoran1964]

I'm 60 and remember as a kid seeing them at Freightliner Garston,they had Purple tinted glass and always looked Grimy,great Loco though,thanks for video

[@Midtable1881]

I always loved seeing the thunderbirds parked up in the sidings at the likes of Willesden Junction, Rugby and Crewe.

[@richardbaker3216]

I remember well the 47's on the Exeter to Waterloo service. Which I used on a semi-regular basis in the early 90's. To be fair to them. I can remember only one instance where the train broke down and required rescue by another engine.

[@barneyward6448]

As a big fan of the original Thunderbirds show, learning that several of these locos were named after characters or model props in the show warms my heart so much.

[@markstott6689]

My 10th birthday present included a Class 47 locomotive along with a freightliner terminal. As a result I've always had a soft spot for them. 😊❤❤❤😊

[@jonathanbutson1385]

I take it you were given a model, not a real 47....................🤣

[@00Zy99]

@@jonathanbutson1385 I should certainly think so, given the freightliner terminal. A Class 47, I can understand-those can fit in ones garage (if it is a bit on the larger side). But a freightliner terminal? Where on Earth would one put that?

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

Top quality content, no bloody ads, absolutely beautiful. :D

[@benzinapaul7416]

Just shows how the use of the railways declined under BR in the 1980s - 3 car units replacing 9 to 11 carriage loco hauled trains. I remember the BR service being awful in the 1980s, I was a frequent user and I have no rose tinted view of this era in terms of the service but the motive power variety was indeed superb but could hardly have been efficient. The railways are here for the users not the workers or enthusiasts and certainly not the unions who have bled them dry for the last 50 years. I realise my comment will no doubt attract much hate! Great video as always

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

3-car units replaced longer trains in some places because the loading density, ie the number of occupied seats, in the longer trains could not be justified in regard to maintenance costs. A Mi1 TSO with 64 seats 8 bays of 8 seats around 2 tables was no longer seen as an efficient use of space with many passengers travelling solo. And with the Mk1s and early Mk2s coming to the end of their working lives (30 years was seen as a good working life for coaching stock before replacement) BR decided to reduce the numbers of tabies and increase the number of "airline" seats. This simple change allowed a greater passenger density in a much shorter train.

[@TheMisterB2u]

Can't be underrated,proof being how many were produced.

[@ianpark1906]

Another great video 👍 One on Kestrel and Falcon would be welcome 😁

[@tremensdelirious]

Enjoyed that. Thinking back They were so boring on Huddersfield line after Peaks and Deltics. Btw Silent d in Standedge .

[@josephkarl2061]

I never realised the Thunderbird locos were actually named the way they were. That is awesome 😀

[@zoomer1979]

Yes, a big missed fact was the de-rating of the engines from 2750hp to 2580hp meaning the lightweight body was the only thing that made them barely better than Peaks in terms of power/weight.

[@thegeforce6625]

Why where the engines de-rated?

[@zoomer1979]

@@thegeforce6625 reliability, there were failures early on. Maximum rpm set to 750 as opposed to 800.

[@dodgy1954]

Excellent historical record of a great locomotive. I have to agree with the many supportive and praising comments of this channel. A lot of work and careful research on display here.. Thank you.

[@ekparatrooperfilms9668]

I was waiting for a video on these beautiful workhorses

[@bobp6742]

I was a driver at saltley and crewe and the 47s were my favourite diesel loco, totally reliable and any fault could be fixed with insulation tape and a hammer. I remember doing my training on them and the instructor going on about the decompounding winding in the main generator, the useless things that stick in your head 😂

[@DKS225]

My favourite Class 47 is the one preserved and repainted along with a DBSO MK II set into The former Scotrail Intercity colours. And also some that were painted into The Raspberry Ripple Intercity colours.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

That locomotive is 47712 "Lady Diana Spencer"! I have her on my layout, but in parcels sector red livery. I do have a push pull set, train loco being 47708 "Waverley"!

[@Andy-From-England]

I do love the 47 it a good looking machine.. i remember going train spotting one night at Doncaster I remember it well because it was night before live aid 😊

[@jameschapman5143]

They looked splendid in the NSE and Intercity liveries! One of my first Hornby models was NSE 47 called 'London Evening Standard'. Soft spot for the old Stratford TMD

[@michaelsusens1214]

Never knew that some of class 57's received names from the show Thunderbirds. Very informative!

[@jameswingrove7421]

I recently signed these. Lovely engines to drive.

[@mikeuk4130]

Class 57s do have 2-stroke EMD 645 power units, although it should be noted that these are 12- and not 16-cylinder versions. Power outputs range from 2,300 to 2,800 hp and top speeds from 75 to 95 mph, making most of them broadly equivalent to Classic 47, at least on paper. Naturally, they don’t sound as good as Sulzers, however.

[@officialmcdeath]

Solid stuff, thank you - there was a whole variety of liveries, my favourite being Stratford Works' blue with silver roof and a large full-height Union Jack for the Silver Jubilee \m/

[@jonathanbutson1385]

When I was working as the Waterloo to Exeter power controller in 1992-1993 the 47/7s were my locos allocated to haul these trains. They were terrible! They were unreliable, always need new brake blocks and every night it was a struggle to get enough locos available to haul the next days trains. I had great fun arranging alternative motive power, usually 33s, but a lot of 47/4s, and no heat 47s had to be begged borrowed or stolen to cover the next days diagrams. I even managed to replace a 47/7 with a 37 once, but only from Exeter to Salisbury, the driver who knew 37s was due to be replaced and after a rest break work back to Exeter. The driver who took the train forward to Waterloo didn't know 37s. So anyone who calls 47s reliable probably hasn't had to work with them.

[@tonyhowell9203]

One of the Toton fitters told me they had the same issues with class 45/1 fleet on the midland mainline , running on full power all day knocks them about , also having narrow brake blocks fitted is not the best outcome

[@arthurmatthews9321]

The first Batch of prototype 47s D1500 to D1519 were slightly different to the production 47s. They were fitted with steam heat and ETH equipment. The ETH came from a DC auxiliary generator. Under the TOPS system they were numbered 47401 to 47420. And were known as the generator 47s.

[@marksinthehouse1968]

My all time favourite diesel ,the last ones were delivered in 1968 😊😊

[@hammeredbassman88]

From a standing start, no load, light engine, could practically guarantee it, a tower of jet black spewing from it's top. Loved it as a kid growing up seeing these monsters and still do 😀

[@justandy333]

Another great video! I was always curious about their transformation into the class 57. But personally I wasn't a particular fan of these. Especially in recent times, I once travelled all the way to Devon to see a Steam hauled train, I think it was Tornado or Tangmere. They was supposed to rendezvous with a class 47 at Bristol Temple Meads and continue onto Plymouth with Steam power. However the 47 that was hauling the coaching stock to Bristol failed, despite seeing it working earlier in the day. The whole show had to be cancelled. But at this point, I had already travelled 4 hours to Whiteball summit. Spent 2 hours hanging around before a passerby informed me of the situation. So yea, the unreliability of the 47's certainly left a bitter taste.

[@ashfaq1999]

Great video of one of the most important diesel engines of its era 👏

[@dav1dbone]

Was stuck on a 47 for 30 years, must have gone thousands of miles, one time we had a bad shunt in the yard and most of the carriages derailed, very strong smell of burning. Fortunately we still had 6 volts on the Hornby power supply and once the boggeys were placed back on the tracks it went round again, dad said the brushes might need renewing soon🎉

[@diabolicalartificer]

Great video. Never took to the 47's, they had no character unlike Class 20's or 37's say. They were the vanila ice cream, the Cheddar cheese of the train world.

[@maninacave]

Whilst I liked them personally, I agree they were ubiquitous. Like the Black 5 of the diesel era.

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Awesome video as always love the in depth info you give on your channel always a joy to watch your content

[@daystatesniper01]

Cracking video and a true workhorse ,still remember as a kid the thrill if one of the rare WR named ones came through as they very rarely strayed .

[@CT-pv9gu]

They still look good after all these years. They still look modern. They don’t make much noise but who cares? They do the job!

[@AVFCAM]

Huge fan of these videos, excellent and informative…unsure what’s happened with the narration this time though, it was a bit robotic in places, lacked the usual smooth cadence. Excellent video nonetheless. Edit. Clears up by the middle of the video.

[@matthewstageman2399]

Love all your videos look forward to the next one

[@staticaudio6961]

Great vid well done

[@MikeyJG]

Yes!! Been waiting for this one thank you!!!

[@JetDom767]

They are very understated machines

[@scofab]

Your videos are always fascinating... thank you very much once again.

[@daveparker4138]

First shot at old Leyland Station? A genuine treat.

[@johnyoungieyoung123]

Your documentaries are all brilliant.

[@Desiro360]

Excellent video of the superb iconic Class 47. 😀

[@carnebidwell9508]

Another brilliantly informative video 👍

[@swanvictor887]

excellent video, thanks. Beautiful shot at 2:45s of that wasteland site outside Waterloo (?) with a lovely collection of classic vehicles to be seen. I always found those kind of sites fascinating, you know, the places the Lorry-drivers and Bus Drivers parked their vehicles. Note the beautiful seemingly all-White Bristol K-series double decker parked there, along with a Bristol MW single-decker in resplendent Green, parked on the left.

[@michaeloreilly657]

Some wonderful examples of your own work in this video, in particular the rescue shot. I can almost smell them.

[@davidoswald9253]

Excellent and very informative from the history point of view.

[@gavin18787]

Excellent, i have been waiting for a class 47 video in your series 😊 Great watch as always keep it up ❤

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

That was an excellent video

[@GoldM4official]

These are one of my favourite british locos, keep it up! ❤

[@stephendavies6949]

I'd put 37s, 20s, 52s & 55s ahead of them on my personal list, but there's no doubt as to their significance in the history of UK locomotive development.

[@Coloribus2004]

I am addicted to Class 47’s right now, so this was nice to see.

[@p1366]

Thank-you this video, you are making a truly valuable body of work on this interesting topic.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

Great video. As a young boy growing up in the 1980s, the 47 became my favourite diesel loco, and indeed my layout is set in Lanarkshire in 1989-90! 47s dominate my layout, along with a class 08 shunter, and a class 60. Otherwise, at the time I wrote this reply, I have 28 class 47s, and by the end of 2024 it'll be 30 class 47s, in various liveries! These include the unique 47475 in trans pennine livery, the three GWR green 47/4s, 47359 in dutch livery, large logo blue, 47599 in metals, 47708 and 47461 in Scotrail blue stripe, three in NSE, and some in Intercity! Actually, I'm obsessed with the 47 in the sectorisation period! I can't pick a favourite though lol!

[@stephenthomas3085]

Great video as usual I have been waiting for one dedicated to this particular locomotive; the one I most remember on UK railways. Clearly a well designed, reliable and capable machine.

[@TheCastleMarch]

I was waiting for this video!

[@Pmjs]

The Class 47&57 are my all-time favourite Locomotives. Have a few models of them.

[@eleanorheptinstall5354]

thumbs up for that first shot from Leyland Railway station (I caught many a train there in the noughties and 2010's

[@davidcrook5511]

Yet another great documentary and what reliable, dependable machines the 47s were/are! Underrated indeed by many and as soon as they started to be withdrawn in earnest, what happens? Yes, enthusiasts start chasing them, often with photographic or video equipment of some kind! Like they did with the HSTs just recently; still doing, in fact because there are still one or two Castle sets about! any way, great video and another Like for this channel! 😀😃😄😁

[@michellebell5092]

Surely the most successful locomotive ever to run on Britains railway.

[@jameschapman5143]

37s would like a word

[@rbgerald2469]

The Tractor Vs. the Toaster

[@paulrerrie75]

4:59 looks like the line through Monsal Dale.

[@bigmanjaffers]

Legit searched for this if it existed 8 hours ago when I couldn’t relax before work so lol ty ❤

[@bigmanjaffers]

I love the design and uses found for the 47, always use it in some games lol

[@bigmanjaffers]

(stellar detailed yet concise video)

[@duncancurtis5108]

Quiet for speed were the Duffs. We got plenty of them over the years.

[@martinmargerrison2300]

From what I can gather, The Royal Family were very keen on these locomotives . Particularly Prince Andrew.. Apparently if he had a word with the driver you could visit the Royal Train private compartments and recommended the helmet purple livery.

[@oldfatbastad6053]

they had to go in for minor repairs quite a bit

[@saintuk70]

Metal Thrashing goodness.... that's the 47

[@railpunk25]

Great video yet again,you should cover Thomas Hill from start and then going into RFS

[@Pmjs]

I used to couple the 47s on&off trains,worked the E&G Push Pulls, 47 loco hauled passenger's,sleepers and parcel&postal.

[@PJWey]

Brilliant that these are now used tailing steam hauled trains 😊

[@thetbird69]

I worked at the old Freeman's warehouse in Peterborough a few years ago right next to the mainline and station used to see all sorts coming through from the tornado to flying Scotsman but my favourite was seeing the 57s and 37s coming through

[@davidparry1968]

There was (and still is!!) something about a 47 when the vents open and that throaty Sulzer starts its slow move from a standing start.

[@brianwillson9567]

The big Brush. The 'lightweight peak' and the ultimate type 4, still going after 60 years.

[@maverick76er83]

The Best British Diesel Locomotive

[@Shipwright1918]

A 47 is like the Black 5 of diesels. Go anywhere, do just about anything. Practical, no frills.

[@AndrewG1989]

I have seen them out and about. The Class 47s are still the best locomotives on British railways. With most of them now retired and some used on heritage railways.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

That’s why I still see the 47s out and about

[@davehanson7764]

A good workhorse was the 47 and still is in certain places , my Grandad who was a former blacksmith / boilersmith and engineer at Derby works didn't like them , then again he didn't like many Diesels as he was steam through and through , he did favour 2 though HS4000 Kestrel and the Class 56 as he admitted once he liked big V16 engines and said the 47s engine problems were down to Sulzer changing the original cylinder heads to a lighter version to reduce weight which eventually caused the power unit to be permanently de - rated to 2580 bhp .

[@stephendavies6949]

They were such an obvious step up from the Peaks in all aspects (apart possibly from an asthetics viewpoint). It was a shame - but nonetheless inevitable - that their introduction would hasten the demise of the hydraulics. Liked the passing shot of the class 15 (or was it 16?). A truly hopeless loco.

[@shinvelcro]

I like the look of the 37 way more, as it was the first big loco I got for my little layout, It still looks great in network south east livery.

[@hunty28]

In the daily routine of Peaks and BR type 2s on the Midland main line in the 70s the appearance of a Brush 4 on the evening Freightliner and Thames Clyde Express was always slightly exciting😀

[@stephendavies6949]

Yes. They were definitely a step up from those types.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

I remember 47 437. We called it "The Shiverer' because it always used to shake under power! Weirdly, it was usually one of the best 47's for reliability otherwise.

[@8r1tK1Dtia]

Great vid. Could you also cover the Overground lines (unless Jago Hazzard has already done that)?

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

That thumbnail is literally perfect. An NSE class 47. Peak British Rail for me. (Aside from the literal Peaks lmao)

[@6yjjk]

Surprised to see no mention of 47522's little mishap at Forteviot in 1982. Can't believe they repaired it after that!

[@lewiss626]

You can still very regularly see class 47 at newark north gate station acting as the ECML thunderbird.

[@ramblingrob4693]

My Dad drove them in the 70s an loved them

[@JohnSmith-qv3ll]

Great vid as always minor edit pcv on railnet were ex class 307 from wypye and nse not class 306

[@Saismee]

oh thats awesome, im super early for once!