Class 47 Gallery
Images of Class 47 Locomotives taken in the Taunton Area.
The Class 47 has to be one of British Rail's most sensible investments. The British Built machines have certainly proved their worth since the initial locos rolled off the construction lines in 1964. No one could have predicted then, that a substantial number of the locomotives would still be working (albeit on lighter duties these days) in modern times. The Brush Type 4 was fitted with a Sulzer 12LDA28 double straight six unit producing 2,750 bhp, but de-rated in the late 1960's to 2,550 BHP due to cracks appearing within the crank case seem welds. The Class 47 has taken to just about any task asked of it, over the years it's been the subject of hundreds of improvements and modifications to allow the loco to evolve and adapt to the work that they have been asked to do. It's large plain body sides have made it a faculties locomotive to display just about any railway company livery with ease. Although in 2008 a significant amount of the Class are now dead and buried, a small fleet still solider on working weekend charters, and out of course movements. Some even engage in regular freight flows. There is no reason why the locomotives can't survive another 20 years, with the right care, regular and good quality maintenance the humble 'Duff' (as they were nicknamed) can easily perform to the highest standards required. The Brush Type 4 has been a regular visitor to Taunton since their birth nearly 45 years ago. This section aims to cover the sheer variety of workings, locomotives and most importantly .....liveries which have passed through the concrete platforms at Taunton.
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24th June 2026
Returning from an eventful and blisteringly hot day trip to Shrewsbury, passengers would be enjoying the speed of the air passing through the Mk1 coaches, as No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' powers them home. It's rare for a charter to gain a complete change of traction on a charter, but owing to mechanical issues with No.57302, it and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' were removed and replaced with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' and a pair of LSL Class 20 locomotives, No.20132 and No. 20118 'Saltburn by the Sea', for the return run to Devon. In the low evening sunlight, No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' powers past Allerford operating 1Z62 16:07 Shewsbury - Paignton.
(Photo: Russelly Ayre)
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7th June 2026
Rail Express Systems Class 47 No.47714 departs from Watchet on the 7th June 2026, complete with the 'Butlins Express' headboard. The loco was operating the 09:20 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service.
(Photo: Rob Sherwood)
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6th June 2026
Rail Express Systems liveried Class 47/7 No.47714 passes through Kenstford on the 6th June 2026, running during the Summer Diesel Festival. The loco was operating the 12:40 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard service coupled to the Quantock Belle stock.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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6th June 2026
Rail Express Systems liveried Class 47/7 No.47714 passes Woolsten Moor on Saturday 6th June 2026 during the Summer Diesel Festival. No.47714 was operating the 09:45 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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5th June 2026
Visiting RES Class 47/7 No.47714 is pictured at Minehead on Friday 5th June 2026, running around its train, ready to form the 16:21 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard service.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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5th June 2026
Rail Express Systems Class 47/7 No.47714 is pictured at Minehead on Friday 5th June 2026, having arrived with the 13:40 Norton Fitzwarren - Minehead service during the Summer Diesel Festival. In the background, A Locomotive lineup at Minehead No.33048 (D6566), Class 14 No.D9526, and Class 03 No.D2133 posed between duties.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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5th June 2026
Rail Express Systems liveried Class 47/7 No.47714 is pictured at Bishops Lydeard on Friday, 5th June 2026. No.47714 was operating the 13:40 from Norton Fitzwarren - Minehead during the Summer Diesel Festival at the West Somerset Railway.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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5th June 2026
Rail Express Systems liveried Class 47/7 No.47714 departs from Blue Anchor on Friday, 5th June 2026. The Class 47 visiting from the Wensleydale Railway was operating the 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead service during the Summer Diesel Festival.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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4th June 2026
Visiting the West Somerset Railway from the Wensleydale Railway, Rail Express Systems liveried Class 47/7 No.47714 arrives at Crowcombe Heathfield station on Thursday, 4th June 2026. The loco was operating on the first day of the Summer Diesel Festival with the 17:20 Minehead - Bishops Lydeard service.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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31st May 2026
A colourful combination of Scotrail and British Railways Blue passes Cogload Junction, Durston on Sunday 31st May 2026. Having uncoupled from The English Riviera Express the previous night, both No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' and LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' had returned to Bishops Lydeard overnight, before forming 5Z07 12:12 Bishops Lydeard - Crewe. The A4 was being returned to Crewe in preparation to attend the Doncaster Wabtec celebration event to mark 150 years since Sir Nigel Grelsey was born.
(Photo: Kian Westlake)
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30th May 2026
LSL Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' (D1935) and No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' top and tail the 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton to Kingswear ‘English Riviera Express’ Saphos Trains charter through Fordgate on Saturday 30th May 2026. On arrival at Taunton, No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' was removed from the train and replaced with LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' for the steam leg onward to the English Riviera.
(Photo: S A Ginn)
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30th May 2026
Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter operated on Saturday, 30th May 2026. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' operating in top and tail formation with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' is pictured passing Cogload Junction. The 1Z07 06:31 Wolverhampton - Kingswear charter handed over to LNER A1 Pacific No. 60007 'The Spirit of Tom Kendell' for the steam leg into Devon with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' remaining on the rear of the train.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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30th May 2026
Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter returns north through Cogload Junction on the 30th May 2026. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' returned 1Z08 16:35 Kingswear - Wolverhampton solo from Taunton after both LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' and No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' remained at Taunton (as they would return the next day to Crewe). This shot (taken on a camera pole) provides a rare shot of a Saphos charter with a complete matching Mk1 rake and no rear locomotive in the traditional fashion.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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2nd May 2026
The Railway Touring Company's Atlantic Explorer charter operated through Taunton on the 2nd May 2026. No.47813 and No.47812 from West Coast Railways operated in top and tail formation throughout. The 1Z47 05:46 Dorridge - Newquay charter is pictured passing Allerford near Victory Crossing.
(Photo: Adam Hiscock)
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2nd May 2026
The Railway Touring Company operated 'The Atlantic Voyager' charter on Saturday, 2nd May 2026, using classic Class 47 traction from West Coast Railways. No.47813 and No.47812 operated in 'top and tail' formation as 1Z47 05:46 Dorridge - Newquay and are pictured storming through the centre road at 40 Steps, Taunton, passing The Britannic Explorer in Platform 2
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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2nd May 2026
As LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' pulls away from a signal stop at Silk Mills on Saturday, 2nd May 2026. Intercity liveried Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' is pictured on the rear of the Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter 1Z61 06:10 Crewe - Kingswear.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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17th April 2026
Having completed a visit to Windsor, Eaton & Riverside on the previous day, Locomotive Services Ltd moved The Statesman stock back to Crewe on Friday 17th April 2026. Sadly, operating in a band on rain No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' leads No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' (Dead in Train), passing Bradford on Tone. The movement operated as 5Z24 13:56 Goodrington - Crewe passing Taunton at 15:27.
(Photo: Brian Garrett)
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16th April 2026
Statesman Rail operated 'The Royal Windsor Statesman' charter on Thursday, 16th April 2026. No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' top and tailed the dining charter from Paington to Windsor & Eton Riverside, pausing at Taunton to pick up at 07:35. After spending a relaxing afternoon on the Windsor Estate, the charter returned south to Devon, also taking an unscheduled diversion via Swindon and Melksham due to a failed freight train near Hungerford. No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' are pictured returning south, passing Cogload Junction, operating as 1Z22 15:04 Windsor & Eton Riverside to Taunton.
(Photo: Kian Westlake)
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15th April 2026
Stateman Rail operated an empty stock movement on Wednesday, 15th April 2026, in preparation for the first charter of 2026. Locomotive Services Ltd Class 47 locomotives No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' and No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' top and tailed 5Z19 08:40 Crewe - Goodrington in preparation for 'The Royal Windsor Statesman' charter, which would depart Paignton the next morning. In rather inclement conditions, No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' is pictured passing Taunton Station.
(Photo: Matt Powell)
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28th January 2026
West Coast Railways Class 47 No.47832 powers through Taunton Station on 28th January 2026, having collected four Mk1 coaches from hire to the South Devon Railway. The loco was operating 5Z47 12:10 Totnes - Carnforth Steamtown running 71 minutes ahead of schedule.
(Photo: Matt Powell)
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