Class 47s : The Jack of All Trades

Class 47s have now been part of the UK railway system for over 60 years.

They have been used on every type of train over the years, including front line passenger, freight and charter trains.

During the late 1980s and through the following 20 years, however, many locos were steadily withdrawn from service with their former duties being taken over by newer fixed formation electric and diesel units.

However, due to their versatility and almost a go anywhere' capability, many of the newer operating companies that appeared during this period saw the potential in further use for them.

Although the vast majority have long since been scrapped, there is still a good amount of examples that can been seen at work throughout the UK.

This book shows the duties the class has worked from around the mid-1980s through to the present time.