47484 IKB

[Jack2015]

Can anyone confirm when 47484 was repainted in green livery from BR blue? A friend suggested it may have been in 1984. Did Crewe Works do any open visits to private parties or to the public between Aug 12th to August 16th that year (not an open day)

I remember going to Crewe Open day that year (June) and didn't remember seeing 47484 there.

Thanks

 

[Ash Bridge]

Could it possibly have actually been during 1985 as this was the year of the GW 150 Celebrations?

 

[Cowley]

Could it possibly have actually been during 1985 as this was the year of the GW 150 Celebrations?

It was definitely repainted for the GWR 150 celebrations (along with 47079, 47500, 47628 and 50007), but I've got a feeling they were all repainted by the beginning of 1985.
47628 was initially painted in the wrong (a slightly gaudy) shade of green and had to be hastily repainted into the correct shade.

 

[leezer3]

The Class 47 Database has a picture of it in full green on March 10th 1985:
http://class47.co.uk/c47_numbers.php?index=2&jndex=0&kndex=83&s_loco=47484

No actual date given here.

Post on RMWeb (from Google cache as the site is bust) suggests that they were all done between January and March:
https://webcache.googleusercontent....&cd=14&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-b-d

 

[Jack2015]

Here is a picture I took which I think was 1984. Not sure how I got in there or if it was a unofficial works visit works tour.

 

[leezer3]

That's interesting

It's still missing the GWR style cast plates (which says this *must* be before March 85 as the photo I linked above has them as opposed to painted numbers) & the nameplates, and looks to me as if the livery change is in progress.

The definitive answer is likely to be in Part 5B of the Class 47 Data file, which I unfortunately don't have, and appears to be out of print.
Mailing them via their site may give some results:
http://www.47401project.co.uk/index.html

 

[Jack2015]

That's interesting

It's still missing the GWR style cast plates (which says this *must* be before March 85 as the photo I linked above has them as opposed to painted numbers) & the nameplates, and looks to me as if the livery change is in progress.

The definitive answer is likely to be in Part 5B of the Class 47 Data file, which I unfortunately don't have, and appears to be out of print.
Mailing them via their site may give some results:
http://www.47401project.co.uk/index.html

I think it was Oct-Dec 1984. Be good if anyone went there is this window?

 

[exbrel]

hi jack2015,
yes that's definitely Crewe works 10shop middle bay, worked in the shown area for 22yrs... works holidays were 1st 2 weeks in July, as its deserted, a thought. They had visitor days on Sunday afternoons which were very carefully managed ie a guide frount and rear to prevent any strays, if we were working we had some banter with the spotters...
regards,
dave...

 

[sprinterguy]

My copy of "The Allocation History of BR Diesel & Electrics Part Three" lists 47484 as receiving new nameplates at Old Oak Common on 23rd February 1985. While this isn't helpful as to when exactly it was repainted, a quick but not exhaustive Google image search failed to turn up any images of 47484 operating in the condition depicted in the image shared above, with small white numbers and no nameplates, unlike 47628, the first of the quartet repainted, so it seems unlikely to me that 47484 operated for long after repainting but before it received its' nameplates. Forum user slilley on the RMweb page linked to above describes that 47628 as being released from works in January 1985, the pertinent section of the post being thus:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134379-gwr-class-47-in-1985/
At first, problems were experienced with getting the livery correct. No 47628 Sir Daniel Gooch was released from Crewe Works in January carrying the first attempt at the livery but without number plates or lining. The shade of green used was too light, and normal number transfers were placed beneath the driver’s windows...At the third time of asking, Crewe Works were able to complete the painting satisfactorily. Similar problems occurred with No 47484 Isambard Kingdom Brunel, which also had to be repainted more than once in order to achieve the correct finish.

It seems plausible that one or more of the GWR green locos could have been in Crewe works for repainting during the period October - December 1984 as Jack2015 surmises above. I'm more than happy to defer to those with greater knowledge and longer memories than I, but I just thought I'd share what little additional information I could scrape up.

 

[CarltonA]

I recall those green locos on Slough - Paddington Network Express duties in 88/89. About ten years later, I think, one hauled a rail tour to Gloucester after Clan Line had failed, though it was by then in RES livery. A class 60 was later given the GWR treatment for an open day at OOC.

 

[Harbornite]

I recall those green locos on Slough - Paddington Network Express duties in 88/89. About ten years later, I think, one hauled a rail tour to Gloucester after Clan Line had failed, though it was by then in RES livery. A class 60 was later given the GWR treatment for an open day at OOC.

Aye, 60081

 

[Cowley]

Aye, 60081

Was that the one with the exploding engine?
I seem to remember that it had visible damage to the bodywork where parts of the power unit had slammed into it.
Must have been pretty terrifying for the crew.

 

[Harbornite]

Was that the one with the exploding engine?
I seem to remember that it had visible damage to the bodywork where parts of the power unit had slammed into it.
Must have been pretty terrifying for the crew.

Something like that, 'put a leg out of bed' I think.