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.

28th January 2026 West Coast Railway Co dispatched former western reigon stalwart Brush Type 4 No.47832 from Southall to the South Devon Railway to collect four Mk1 coaches on 28th January 2026. The empty coaching stock movement was captured at Norton Fitzwarren running as the 5Z47 12:10 Totnes to Carnforth Steamtown. The train was running 72 minutes ahead of schedule at this point. The consist comprised of Mk1 coaches 5032, 4960, 4905 & 4940. (Photo: S A Ginn)

28th January 2026 West Coast Railways Class 47 No.47832 became the first locomotive to cross the Somerset Levels after lines were closed due to flooding the previous day. No.47832 (formerly operated by First Great Western and once a regular sight at Taunton) operated 0Z47 05:08 Southall - Totnes to collect a rake of hired Mk1 coaching stock from the South Devon Railway. The locomotive is pictured arriving into Taunton at 08:23. (Photo: Matt Powell)

14th October 2025 Operating the final railtour of 2025 passing Taunton on the 14th October 2025, The Cornish Riviera Statesman passes Taunton with LSL Class 47 locomtovies No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' operating a 1Z31 05:34 Dorridge - Penzance with the Statesman dining charter set in tow. (Photo: Paul Clarke)

13th September 2025 Owing to the non-availibilty of any servicable steam locomotives, West Coast Railways were forced again to provide heritage diesel traction for an advertised steam charter by The Railway Touring Company. No.47802 and No.47812 top and tail 'The West Somerset Steam Express' charter through Silk Mills before crossing over to the West Somerset Railway. The 1Z25 07:13 London Paddington - Minehead charter was re-timed to remove water stops meaning the train was much earlier than originally planned through the Taunton area. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

6th September 2025 Scotrail liveried Class 47/7 No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' passes Cogload Junction Saturday 8th September 2025 hauling 'The English Riviera Express' 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe- Kingswear in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers'. The Class 47 then handed over to No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' at Taunton for the steam lef through to Devon. (Photo: Shaun Mockridge)

6th September 2025 LSL Scotrail Class 47 No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' operates in top and tail formation with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' on Shphos Trains 'English Riviera Express'. The charter operated on Saturday 6th September 2025 as 1Z49 05:44 High Wycombe - Kingswear. At Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced with No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the steam leg through to Devon. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

23rd August 2025 Looking respladant painted in its new Intercity Executive livery LSL Class 47 No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' crosses the Somerset Levels at Wick on Saturday 23rd August 2025. The loco was operating Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter with partner No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' in top and tail formation. The gleaming locomotive No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' was operating as 1Z60 07:10 Slough - Kingswear. Upon arrival at Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced by No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' for the steam leg through to Kingswear. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

23rd August 2025 Looking stunning after its recent repaint into Intercity Excecutive livery, Saphos Trains charter 'The English Riviera Express' charter is pictured at Cogload Junction on Saturday 23rd August 2025. No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' and No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' oprated the diesel leg of 1Z60 07:10 Slough - Kingswear before handing over to No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' at Taunton. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

23rd August 2025 Catching the stunning golden light at Fairwater Yard on Saturday 23rd August 2025, Saphos Trains charter 'The English Riviera Express' sets off after a locomotive swap. No. 47593 'Galloway Princess' departs in top and tail formation with No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' having taken over from No. 5029 'Nunney Castle', which had hauled the steam leg from Kingswear as 1Z62 16:35 Kingswear - Slough. (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

9th August 2025 Loocmotive Services Ltd 'Steam Dreams' charter with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' leading the train is pictured at Taunton on the 9th August 2025. No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' and No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' top and tailed the Steam Dreams 'Paignton and Kingswear' charter as 1Z72 06:11 Colchester - Kingswear. Having been travelling since 05:50 Taunton was the first stop where passengers were able to stretch their legs and see the heritage locomotive which has been hauling them and witness the change from Diesel to Steam locos. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

9th August 2025 On the 9th August 2025, having been removed from the Steam Dreams charter at Taunton Station. No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' (running as No.47711 & No.47709 on opposite sides) wades its way back through the buddleia to stable at Taunton Station for the day. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

2nd August 2025 ScotRail liveried Class 47/7 No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' storms past Cogload Junction with the 1Z64 16:35 Kingswear - Wolverhampton “English Riviera Express” on Saturday 2nd August 2025, having just relieved ex-GWR ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' at Taunton. Class 57/3 No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' ‘The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ is visible attached at the rear of the formation. (Photo: Russell Ayre)

2nd August 2025 Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter is pictured having arrived at Taunton with No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' leading 1Z82 05:39 Wolverhampton - Kingswear charter with No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' (out of sight at the rear) on Saturday 2nd August 2025. Upon arrival at Taunton the Class 47 was removed from the train for No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' to take over for the steam leg through Kingswear. The Scotrail Class 47 currently carries the identities of two former classmates No.47709 'The Lord Provost' on one side and No.47711 'Greyfriars Bobby'. (Photo: Chris Shewy)

28th May 2025 Working the 'Welsh Marches Express' charter on Wednesday 28th May 2025, Class 47 locomotives No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot', respectively are captured running northbound through Banklands. Running as the 1Z47 06:16 Paignton to Shrewsbury the tour would change to steam haulage from Bristol onwards. SR 'Rebuilt’ West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 'Braunton' had already run ahead of the main train from Bishops Lydeard to Bristol some 99 minutes earlier. (Photo: S A Ginn)

24th May 2025 The diesel leg of Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' charter passes Creech St Michael on Saturday 24th May 2025. Two-tone green Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' and black-liveried Class 57 No. 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' top and tailed the diesel leg of the 1Z82 06:43 Shrewsbury - Kingswear charter. At Taunton the Class 47 was removed and replaced with LSL steam locomotive No. 34046 'Braunton' for the steam leg into Devon. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

16th January 2025 GWR Class 57/6 No. 57605 'Totnes Castle' is pictured in Platform 2 having been declared a failure while working the GWR 'Night Riviera' 1C50 23:45 London Paddington - Penzance sleeper service in the early hours of the 16th January 2025. West Coast Railways Class 47 No.47832 and No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' (out of sight) are pictured in Platform 3 having arrived back from East Somerset Junction. (Photo: James Smyth)

16th January 2025 While partner locomotive No. 57601 'Windsor Castle' rescued the GWR Night Riviera service on the 16th January 2025, No.47832 remained at Taunton stabled in Platform 4 while it waited for its partner to return. (Photo: James Smyth)

9th January 2025 West Coast Railways collected four Mk1 coaches from their use on the South Devon Railway on the 9th January 2025. No.47848 had operated light engine south during he day from the West Coast outpost at Southall. Having collected the coaching stock from the South Devon Railway No.47848 returned north as 5Z47 18:10 Totnes - Carnforth. The loco is pictured at Taunton paused for a pathing stop prior to continuing through the night back to Carnforth arirving at 01:45 the next day. (Photo: Adam Snow)

9th October 2024 'Peek a boo' - Locomotive Services Class 47 No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' is pictured stabled in Platform 1 at Taunton on the 9th October 2023. The locomotives had hauled the 'Golden Hind' charter 1Z60 05:30 Worcester Shrub Hill - Plymouth as far as Taunton in top and tail formation with No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot'. No. 47805 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 ' was then stabled at Taunton for the day while LNER B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' operated its final steam leg of the year to Plymouth and back. The extent of vegetation growth on the UK network in the past two years is extensive and this buddleia plant growing from the disused platform now prevents access to the rest of Platform 1 at Taunton. This artistic viewpoint was taken by award winning photographer Jack Boskett. (Photo: Jack Boskett)

24th July 2024 Locomotive Services Ltd Class 47 locomotives double-head the ‘Cornish Riviera Statesman’ dining charter on Wednesday 24th July 2024. No. 47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' leads No. 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' east at speed passing the small hamlet of Wick on the Somerset levels, running as 1Z69 06:07 Dorridge to Penzance. (Photo: S A Ginn)

Previous Page   ::   Next Page
You are currently on Page 3 of 41 pages.

Back to Gallery Home