Description from Lineside Video Productions
Run-time 80 mins approx.
The Class 47s have been in front-line service since the early-1960s; today just a handful remain in traffic. This programme looks back to the heyday of the class in the mid-1980s as we see many locomotives that today are consigned to the history books. Both passenger and freight services are seen across the country from Cornwall to Scotland and from the North-West to Anglia, as we keep those modern traction memories alive!
Contents:
WESTBURY - close to the busy Mendip quarries a host of blue-liveried locos are seen such as 47061, 063, 150, 305 and 47524 on freight traffic, including vacuum-braked formations, all featured on some of the very earliest video material from 1984. A rare shot of a class 47 banking a class 56 to Upton Scudamore as well as 47901; & 47342 departing Westbury on a freight for Severn Tunnel Junction.
SCOTLAND - Inverness on 26th June 1986 & a range of locos are seen including blue 47017 and 206, large-logo 47460, intercity ?Scotrail? 47430 & 642 and even a rake of blue-grey MKIII sleepers. We move to Stirling, Larbert and Inverkeithing & witness 47/7s on push-pull workings & 47s on freight before moving to Edinburgh & see 47004, 415, 430, 431, 701 & 705.
CORNWALL - starting on the mainline near Probus, we travel to Par covering the Fowey and Newquay branches as a variety of locomotives are seen on passenger and the famous china-clay freight workings, including the popular ?china?clay hoods?.
ANGLIA - March was one of the hotpsots for the class when Whitemoor Yard was an important part of the freight network; we see 47152, 284, 287 & 291. Cambridge and Ipswich are covered before we move to Manningtree and see large-logo 47635 and blue 47278 & 47566: filmed between 1986 and 1990.
NORTH-WEST - from Stafford to Crewe and onwards to Norton Bridge and Warrington, including Winwick Jn and Chinley. Railfreight grey and red-stripe, BR-blue & intercity liveries are featured on engines working freight and passenger.
DEVON - our final feature covers freight & passenger workings to the southwest. Summer Saturday trains include 47/0s and 47/3s as well as ETH examples all filmed between 1984 to 1990. Highlights are 47291 paired with 37356 at Exeter & 47145 leaving Dawlish.