Inside & Out - BR Class 47 - 47579 'James Nightall GC'

As it’s our Diesel Gala this weekend we thought this would be a great opportunity to do another dive inside one of our fleet with our operations manager Richard!
Join us on this in-depth guided tour of 47579 including when it was under overhaul, allowing us rare access to look right into the beating heart of this magnificent machine.
www.watercressline.co.uk​​​​​​
Follow us on social media:
/ watercressline​​
/ watercress_line​​​​
/ thewatercressline
/ thewatercressline

[@uries15]

Mr Bentley once again showing not only that he knows stuff but that he can put it across to us mere mortals.

[@bobp6742]

Just out of interest up until late 70s the fire extinguishers used to be BCF but was then changed to Co2. As a driver I remember a fair few times having to go into the electric cubicles on 47s to manually throw the reverses to get out of sticky situations. The fire alarm test button was also used to signal the guard in the back cab that it was time to make a brew 🤣 Very difficult to overload a 47 as it has a self decompounding winding on the main generator.

[@AB-oe1sc]

Great video, hugely interesting for an retired engineer, love the detail and anecdotal comments. Love to see more of these.

[@ronaldmcmurray6274]

The guy knows his stuff. Great video, very informative.

[@jamesedwards7241]

I loco I well remember from Immingham and worked a number of trains with it, never let us down.

[@tiggy2756]

Due to our meticulous maintenance IMM TMD 😊 , good loco's but hell of a job keeping coolant in them

[@CT-pv9gu]

The knowledge of this man is amazing. He’s living the dream

[@PeteMcCrea]

Cracking video! Thanks for taking the time and effort to create it

[@dinmorejunctionmodelrailway]

Bloody marvellous video Will. Richard is a fountain of knowledge and a pleasure to listen to. I really need to visit again soon and look forward to enjoying the company of team Watercress.

[@marktyler6832]

This is an absolutely fantastic video - your knowledge sir is second to none. If i didn't live 10000 miles away in Adelaide I would come down and shake your hand. How i miss British trains LOL more of this gold please and thank you all for producing this quality work

[@bryjan51]

What an excellent insight to the workings of a 47 loco, thank you Richard 👍👍

[@danielbryan7378]

I had the pleasure of being shown around one of these as a kid with my dad and he remarked the cylinders were "like buckets and there's 12 of them!" For context the cylinders in the average car are about the size of 500 ml Coca Cola bottles and there only 4 of them. 😄 Fascinating the awesome power these things have,

[@stuartwright7829]

Great vid thanks , hope to see 579 out more.

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

As a Shunter, I worked with many of these 47s, the early ones with Steam heat, then ETH, Vacuum pipes plus main air and auxiliary. Enjoyed my time on BR.

[@theburrell4626]

We’re the steam boilers diesel heated?

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

@@theburrell4626 Thanks for replying, yes I believe they were. Back in the 70s/80s we had a Spanner station boiler at Pz, to heat the old vacuum braked Sleepers.

[@bobp6742]

​@@theburrell4626 There were 3 types, spanner, Clayton and stones all were small bore boilers which allowed them to run on untreated water and get up to steam quickly. They had a reputation of being unreliable but I never had any problems with them during my secondman years at saltley DD before transferring to crewe as a driver then it was all ETH.

[@scotsguy422]

@@bobp6742 Baby Spanners and Claytons. The Claytons were 50/50... had a few where the water pump had failed (seized) due to poor maintenance. Best boilers for us were the Stones on the Class 40's, very good steamers, followed by the Class 46/45's. The guide mentions about the boilers being removed and replaced with the long range internal tanks. However some Class 47's were fitted with a bespoke ETH unit where the boiler used to be. The Class 47/3 simply had a large concrete block to balance the weight of the missing boiler. Long range fuel tanks were later included where the boiler water tanks used to be - I think! It's now over 45 years ago when I did all that!

[@christopherhulse8385]

Did my apprenticeship on these locos in the 80s, and personally I rate them as one of the greatest locos ever designed and built.

[@Chucklesrailarchive]

Send her back to Mangapps so I can have a drive again!! One big memory I have of the 47's was when I started my footplate career and was a second man at Kings Cross in the the early seventies and working a freight liner one winter night to Doncaster. As was the way in those days the driver would put the second man in the chair (drivers seat) to take over the driving. (thats the way you learnt then) Less than 5 mins after I took over we were approaching Offord on the down main line at a point the track runs alongside the river Nene an area where it was often foggy and this night it was thick. All of a sudden there was a loud bang from the engine room and a huge air leak all the brakes came on and we came to a grinding stop. The driver went back in the engine room but nothing he could do would stop the leak. As no radio comms in those days it was my job to walk to the signal box which was still quite some way ahead to arrange assistance. As I said we were on the down main line and on the left was the down slow on the right was the up main and up slow lines. So as to stay safe I (as I mentioned it was thick fog) did not want to cross an active line so walked in the "four foot" of our line. I can tell you was a very scary experience with trains running at 100 miles an hour on the track right next me when it's pitch dark and thick fog when you can hear a train coming but cant see it till the last moment. Think I was on duty for about 17 hours that night!

[@sharris9267]

You got the wrong River, the River Nene runs under the ECML just south of Peterborough Station. It's the River Ouse (or Great Ouse to give it It's correct full name) that runs alongside the ECML at the Offords.

[@mikeslipper1779]

Very very interesting. First time I've seen inside a main line diesel. Thank you...Mid Hants.

[@davidberlanny3308]

What a great video. Superbly presented by Richard everything very clearly explained. Very interesting to get into the heart of the engine and also to understand the interlocking on the cab controls. Well done!! Good luck from Spain!!

[@davidcurrie8564]

What an exciting and thorough in depth look at my favorite Diesel Locomotive the class 47 thank you for this not forgetting the chap who took us through the Guts of the workings of this Mammoth! FANTASTIC!!!

[@alyciamarrison2916]

Liked that! Could even understand most of it for a mere mortal!

[@OliverWoodphotography]

I was taken through the engine room of a 47 in Manchester Piccadilly when I was a lad. The loco was running (idling) at the head of the Harwich boat train. The driver was trying to explain what everything was but I couldn't hear a word he was saying - I remember it being an extremely loud, hot, and dark environment :)

[@peteheptinstall9818]

A very interesting video, brought back a lot of memories of working on 47s including this one from when I was a fitter at Stratford.

[@davidcoleman6032]

Brilliant video, well explained. I really admire the engineers and designers who concieved these loco's in the first place. Mind blowing! Well done to everyone putting it back together aswell!

[@patmoore1875]

Excellent Tutorial from Mr. Bentley as usual 😎

[@Cobnapint]

I'll tell you what that video was - bloody interesting! Bravo

[@CustomiZe_]

Absolutely fantastic, thanks Will & Richard great work 👍

[@davekirwin]

Excellent, fascinating and comprehensive explaination from Mr B. Thank you!

[@lzappa9109]

11/10. Really really appreciated, thank you to every one who contributed. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Eccellento! Grazie Mille.

[@paulmoore6345]

Good video, well explained. I drove 47s with BR and Freightliner right up to the end. We had a pool of locos which had sanders fitted which used the button on the power handle to deliver a shot of sand. Worked very well and enabled them to haul type 5 loads.

[@bobp6742]

Could of done with sanders on them when I used to take the MGR to ironbridge power station, especially if you were the first up the bank on a wet cold morning and the poor old guard walking in front of you dropping coal dust on the rail for grip 🤣

[@marktyler6832]

@@bobp6742 oh that brings back memories - did you work the littleton -> ironbridge before they built the oxley chord when they used to run around at fowlers park (the old stafford road depot) and push a full load up the hill at full power - those were the days showed the real power of these beasts. i was a kid then and rode with my dad many times on that run - thanks for the memories

[@bobp6742]

@@marktyler6832 I left the railway in 1985 to pursue a totally different career. I did runs to ironbridge and didcot when I was at saltley DD then I transferred to crewe. I remember picking up MGRs at basford hall i also remember picking up loaded MGRs at Silverdale colliery. I loved the ironbridge run great scenery especially the token single track run down to the power station and they had a great subsidised canteen where you could get a good feed cheap.

[@marktyler6832]

@@bobp6742 Those were the days mate - all changed now - your comment brought back good memories for me of times long gone. Madley Junction was the turn off for ironbridge fantastic scenery. I live in australia now and i bloody miss the old british trains - nothing compares over here LOL

[@bobp6742]

@@marktyler6832 Aye, Madley jct 🤣 I was a box lad for 2 years at crewe south, always busy even on a Sunday there was always something going on. There's a live feed at crewe north, I used to go and watch the stream and I'm surprised just how quiet it is now, hardly any movement. And crewe works has gone its all houses and shops now and that place was huge. The railway has definitely changed, I certainly don't recognise it.

[@Taxidriver1957]

What a fantastic video from a very knowledgeable man, very detailed explanation

[@FENCYCLIST]

Great video I went to the naming ceremony of 47579 James Night Hall GC and 47577 Benjamin Gimbert GC, I live in the fens and been over the the Memorial in Soham several times.

[@stephenchecksfield632]

Excellent insight to the internal workings of the class 47

[@riggers6214]

What a wonderfully interesting and informative video. Thanks for posting. Need to go back and view the Class 20 video and look forward to seeing future content.

[@tomdoherty4759]

Fantastic video, nice to see inside for a change.

[@rydermike33]

A fascinating look around a '47'. Many thanks.

[@hoofie2002]

Cracking video ! Thanks very much

[@knopflerfan7110]

Nice video for anyone who doesn't know too much about the greatest Diesel Electric locomotive! Ps '579 has a Sulzer 12LDA28-C power unit & don't forget Stone-Vapor boilers either!

[@simonosmotherly7418]

Excellent informative video. Would love to have a go on a Brush Type 4 again after learning Them as My basic traction back in the mid 80s.

[@paulcatley2224]

brilliant video, very very informitive 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@iosson]

Really interesting. Weird to think of needing a fireman sitting managing the steam boiler.

[@CT-pv9gu]

Also, the amount of effort it took to build one of these is incredible. Hats off to those men

[@user-wv3sw3tp4j]

Wow, had no idea the Sulzer 12 was a U-engine... great overview👍

[@stretchedits]

Thank you for a really great educational video. Richard really does explain everything so well, not forgetting even those round water filler access hatches in the body side for filling the steam heat boiler. I always wondered why 47's had that round thing near the engine room door, and steps up the side. The explanation of the brake gauges and how the brakes work was fascinating too. I mess around a bit with Train SIm, and it was interesting to see the real thing explained, now I can see if the sim works properly or not!! The construction of the engine was something else, what a complex engine block casting those locos have. Great stuff and thanks again. I really hope you feel up to making more episodes, all the best with the Diesel Gala, and thanks again, Dave.

[@calvingrondahl1011]

Amazing opportunity is see inside. “Chamber of horrors” disassembled motor undergoing repairs. What a challenge to keep the 47579 operational for those that love the historic Class 47. Salute from Union Pacific country in Ogden, Utah, USA. 😊👍

[@GreyDawgh]

Amazing video, and commentary. Please, more videos like this and the 20.

[@davidadderson2100]

As much use as a hand brake on a canoe. That’s a new one for me!

[@johnkeepin7527]

Well put together. It was all in working order the other day (15th July this year) when I attended the Diesel Gala on that day. Some footage about it on my channel now.

[@eddieking7736]

Great video of my favourite class of BR diesel loco, especially enjoyed the technical information which was very well explained. Big thumbs up 👍

[@kennethhume8628]

Thoroughly fascinating video , very well explained . Top work .

[@coopertrooper87]

That was an absolutely exceptional video! What an interesting and informative tour around a class 47! Yer man absolutely knows his oats inside and out! Excellent! Highly entertaining!

[@johnavery15]

Fascinating. I learnt so much. Thanks!

[@jeremyrichards8327]

I wasn't aware it was a marine engine and the comment regarding the problems due to the varied loading when rail mounted reminded me of similar issues with the Deltics which had engines designed for use in Royal Navy minesweepers.

[@adriangiddins6065]

Brilliant.... so well explained...I've learnt a lot !

[@Mike-kc8rl]

Very nostalgic for me personally as I worked on these as a fitter at Crewe in the early 80s and I think I worked on 579 ? But there were so many and it's a long time ago! I had forgotten how much equipment was in there though! Great video can you do one on the class 50 please! In fact all the diesels would I'm sure be most appreciated?

[@tonybarfield5148]

Thank you for making this video on the inside workings of a Brush type 4 Class 47. Interesting you show 47 579 with its engine in bits. Can I assume the running video at the end of video was after the engine rebuild.

[@johnselekta]

Superb video, now I'm old enough to know engines, it's awesome to see how my childhood faves were actually working 👌

[@rmw6151]

Superb video and kudos to Richard for sharing with us his in-depth knowledge of the class 47. My only wish would be a similar video for the 37, 56, 59,60 and 66!

[@tiggy2756]

We had lots of problems with transition bush's leaking as well as liner seals do they still have that nylon anti fret band on liners , next to liner seals ? was a bugger to fit and made it difficult to get liners in . We also had problems with crankshaft wedges causing main bearing caps to come loose ( was due to someone grinding them to fit ) Oh and that awful triple pump

[@dave24884]

Very enjoyable and informative 👍

[@axldelticwalton1238]

Brilliant video Thank you. Good luck with the engine work ;)

[@dfishpool7052]

Very interesting presentation - many thanks - it was a revelation of what is inside that big blue box on wheels!!!

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Thanks for a riveting 40 minutes 👍

[@steamengineerPMW]

Excellent piece of film. Especially showing the 'guts' of the diesel engine in stripped down for overhaul state. Any chance of a similar feature on the BR(S) BRCW class 33 Crompton's? Would be interested to see the details of train working, change ends and how AWS and TPWS is operated when multiple diesel locomotives are used either top-n-tail or in multiple together at the head of a train....

[@simoncee9011]

Excellent, thank you.

[@train4905]

I really enjoyed that ,thankyou

[@user-gu9pv7ck1i]

Fantastic.

[@petermcgarrymusicandflying]

Excellent !

[@LemonDrizzleGang]

Superb thank you

[@andrewoverton5170]

Absolutely fascinating and very well put across.

[@johnbrown9092]

Great video, great loco. 😊

[@Thunderer0872]

I came on half way when it was streamed, at the end I was wondering how he took power with the engine stripped down, But that was in the edit before release of the video.

[@BobbinsB]

Great Video, well presented you missed your way you should have been a Diesel Instructor, certainly more interesting and engaging than the ones on BR (LMR) at the time. Did "train" on Boilers but as it was the early 80's they were on the way out and I only ever "ran one up" on the Shed during Second Man Training. Did Class 47's as base Traction during the MP12 course to be a Driver so this was. good "refresher" for me although haven't "turned a wheel" on the Rails for a good many years. Yes your right they were good for a 100mph with out "breaking a sweat," so they tell me. Slowing down for the 70 at Church Fenton, then opening up again you can be doing a "Ton" passing Colton Jcn on the Down Leeds (lines) with 7-8 "Bogies" on with a "good un." Again so they tell me 😉nice one

[@arthurmatthews9321]

Brush always used that load regulator card system . I notice that non of the 47s were fitted with multiple running equipment from new. Some were later fitted with a electro Pneumatic System , similar to a 56. And some had that propelling control rch cables on the front. Liner seals were also a problem on the 6 LDA engines , the nymr has just carried out a top end rebuild on their class 25, it had the same problem,the engine oil turned into salad cream.

[@richardsargent1643]

I think you will find that it's a 12LDA28C sulzer engine fitted.

[@bryjan51]

Are there records of a class 47's total mileage from new? Or maybe a guesstamate of this loco🤔

[@ewanfawkes2708]

Question: Will the Mid Hants be adopting one of DRS's Class 37s that they've put up for sale?

[@matttann5590]

This would be epic but would be way to expensive still I imagine

[@petersmith4455]

hi, great video and very interesting,someone must have got a massive bill for the repairs.do Sulzer still do spares for these engines ? and who own this loco now ?

[@arthurrytis6010]

The chamber of horrors ! These were nothing compared to the engine room on a Deltic !

[@shidzngigglez]

Be gr8 to see a fifty

[@stuartharris2165]

Didn't 47579 spend some time on the West of England route around the time the 50s were being withdrawn and before the 47/7s took over?

[@knopflerfan7110]

April 90 - 579 was allocated to OC and worked on the West of England and then March 93 - 579 was allocated to EH...

[@jackjones-er1ts]

how often were the liner seals changed during BR days?

[@TCMontyDibs]

My basic traction on MP12 and probably drove this when i was based at Cambridge depot

[@sharris9267]

I may of met you when I was a young lad as I used to practically live on Cambridge station when I wasn't at school ! Hopefully you'll remember Fred House RIP, George Roley RIP, Driver Cutmore etc

[@TCMontyDibs]

@@sharris9267 Fred never forget big Fred ,George Rowley what a lovely man to work with.We got one of our kittens off him Roy Cutmore ,what a character,all made work a pleasure 🙂

[@sharris9267]

Indeed. I got a cab ride off of George and Big Fred. A no no nowadays, but great at the time. Never got a cab ride from Roy as he was a stickler for rules I was led to believe. But he was always in the Railway Club on a Saturday night for the bands/dances. I used to hang around 'Harold', Brian? Wilson and 'Metal Mickey' on the ticket barrier. Sadly all but memories now as Cambridge (like everywhere else) is predominantly DMU/EMU. No soul unlike the 31's, 37's and 47's we used to have.

[@graham76man]

Great video. What's the miles to the gallon on these loco's?

[@bobdews3693]

Working on full power the diesel used was/is about 4 gallons per mile at 90 mph

[@moelSiabod14334]

Fuel "flow" test figures were around 2 gallons / min. at about 20 Psi. Anything less and it was fuel starved, it does not convert directly to M P G. as loco can be costing for long periods so only a guide, better to compare gallons used / work done,( Kw h ). The weight and speed of the train will make a big difference to it all as well , slow heavy work / fast high-speed stuff will use lots of fuel. Careful driving using the gradients and route knowledge could save a lot of fuel .

[@TR5Q3]

What fired the steam boiler that was originally fitted?

[@tiggy2756]

Diesel fuel

[@sharris9267]

Really good video only spoilt by the fact that the deadmans peddle sound isn't original. As I had a cab ride in 579 when I was a young lad and the driver (a family friend) explained everything including the peddle which sounded a one tone very loud horn (looking back now I'm guessing it was the same horn as the AWS horn). At least now that I'm older I can actually understand the gauges better, as it all kinda went over my 12 year old head at the time !!

[@user-og9mf5ql4q]

好棒好喜欢好漂亮快乐好好👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️🏆💯💯💯💐💐💐👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🙏🙏🙏

[@GBPaddling]

Seatbelt though.........ha ha.

[@wagrtrains]

1st

[@Tubecraft1]

I couldn’t watch it till the end because the word “basically” was used so much it drove me demented. Other than that thanks interesting