With a type as long-lived and as adaptable as the Class 47 the complete and definitive history is long and very detailed so it is not possible to cover the 47s in more than a brief overview here. Since 47s have never been used on the Southern as much as on other regions this will also concentrate our coverage.

The Brush type 4/class 47 is, put simply, THE definitive post modernisation plan/second generation mixed traffic diesel electric locomotive and the certainly the only type produced in a large quantity. Despite problems that have dogged the class throughout its service life the fact that they are still in service in quantity (still greater than newer classes including - just, but not for much longer - the class 66) almost 40 years after their first introduction has to be a measure of their success.

photograph by Colin Duff

Withdrawn from service at Bescot on 9 December 1998 47004, the 24th Brush type 4 to be built, was selected to be restored to operation and repainted to its original condition as D1524 as part of EWS' celebrity heritage collection. It was unveiled at Old Oak Common on 5 August 2000 and it is pictured here on the following day. This particular loco had previously been repainted into green livery and named Old Oak Common Traction and Rolling Stock Depot (formerly carried by 47701 - see the next page) in 1994 - hence its selection. It is in this two tone green livery that members of the class were first seen on the Southern Region hauling the Bournemouth Belle.

Still in green livery but by now carrying pre-TOPs numbering without the D prefix, 1925 was photographed in June 1973 well off the Southern Region in Swansea. However for our Southern connection this engine was among a small number of type 4s allocated to Eastleigh between December 1966 and December 1968. This loco is still in service, its current identity being 47789.

photograph by Michael Taylor.

photograph by Keith Harwood

photograph by Dave Harris