Bachmann 32-819
British Rail Class 47/4 47814 "Totnes Castle" Virgin Trains West Coast Red & Black
Class & Prototype
- Class: British Rail Class 47/4
- Traction: Diesel
- Transmission: Electric
- Built: 1962-1987
- Total Built: -
The BR Class 47 or Brush Type 4 was Britain's most numerous mainline diesel locomotive, with 512 examples built between 1962-1968 by Brush Traction and BR Crewe Works. Powered by the reliable Sulzer 12LDA28C engine producing 2,580hp, these versatile Co-Co locomotives became the backbone of British Railways' mixed-traffic operations, equally capable of hauling InterCity expresses or heavy freight trains. Their distinctive angular bodywork and universal route availability made them ubiquitous across the entire BR network for over five decades. The class pioneered the TOPS sub-classification system with variants including 47/0 (steam heating), 47/3 (no heating), and 47/4 (electric heating). Despite modernisation, 76 locomotives still exist today with 32 preserved, while their success led to 33 being rebuilt as Class 57s. The Class 47 represents the ultimate achievement of pragmatic British diesel engineering - proving that reliability and versatility often triumph over complexity.
No prototype found.
Operator & Livery
- Operator: Virgin Trains West Coast
- Livery: Red & Black