A preservation milestone has been reached for one of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s resident Brush Type 4 / British Rail Class 47 diesel-electric locomotives.
The locomotive (47105) has actually worked longer in preservation than it did during its career with British Rail (BR).
The Type 4 (Class 47) reached its anniversary in May 2024, just two months before the start of the railway’s annual Summer Heritage Diesel Gala in mid-July.
The ‘Brush Type 4 Fund’ saved it for preservation in January 1994 and in the last 30 years, the tireless efforts and dedication by The Brush Type 4 Fund and the volunteers in the railway’s diesel locomotive department have certainly paid off!
With the decline of steam, and with diesel-hydraulics falling out of favour, the new diesel-electric era opened with the construction of 512 class 47 locomotives between 1962 and 1968 at Brush Traction’s Falcon Works in Loughborough and British Railways’ Crewe Works.
Fitted with powerful 2,750 bhp Sulzer 12LDA28-C engines, the class 47s became at home on freight services across the railway network, but many of them replaced prestigious steam locomotives on express passenger workings.
Many examples led colourful and interesting lives wearing a myriad of liveries. Over 70 examples of the Brush developed Class 47 still exist today, either in active mainline service, long-term storage, or in preservation.
47105 (D1693) is owned by ‘The Brush Type 4 Fund’. Brush Electrical Machines Ltd built it at its Falcon Works in Loughborough in 1963. It began life with British Rail on the 6th December 1963 as D1693, painted in BR two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels (GSYP).
On that first day, it operated light from Brush, Loughborough, to Old Oak Common via the Midland mainline, Welsh Hap Junction, Dudding Hill and Acton Wells Junction.
47105 will be in service during the 2024 summer diesel gala from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th July, alongside its sister Class 47, No. 47376.
Tickets for the summer diesel gala are available online at https://www.gwsr.com.
With up to eight diesel locomotives and a diesel multiple unit (DMU) running, it will offer an action-packed timetable of trains. (All locomotives are subject to availability.)
Both resident ‘47s’ will take part in another of the railway’s popular ‘Double Up Sunday’ events on Sunday 4th August. Tickets for this ‘Brush Experience‘ are also available on the GWR website, https://www.gwsr.com.
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