With 508 locos built from 1962, the Class 47 or Brush Type 4 was Britain's most numerous class of main line diesel loco and could be found on passenger and freight services almost anywhere on the system. Around 30 were rebuilt as Class 57s and a similar number of un-rebuilt locos remain in service.
The Class 47 can be seen as a development of the Class 46 1-Co-Co-1, with a more powerful 2750hp version of the Sulzer 12-cylinder double bank engine, Co-Co running gear and a redesigned body. Construction started in 1962 and was split between Brush at Loughborough and BR's own works at Crewe. The last Class 47 emerged in 1967.
They They rapidly became the default main line loco and seemed equally at home working express passengers or coal trains. As time went on
They They rapidly became the default main line loco and seemed equally at home working express passengers or coal trains. As time went on