Rail UK - Class 47 and 57

The first Class 57 to venture south of Sellafield. 57007 top n tailed with 37607 passes Saltcoats with 6C51 Sellafield - Heysham Power Station. Thu30Jul09

West Coast Railways 47786 'Roy Castle OBE' heading 1Z58 charter from Carlisle to Birmingham International past Saltcoats. Sat13Jun09

DRS 47501 'Craftsman' at Maryport, with a 'Floodex' shuttle to Workington. Thu15Apr10 For an explanation of 'Floodex', read on :- In mid November 2009 a storm of uprecedented ferocity hit the UK, with Cumbria being particularly badly affected. The amount of water coming down the River Derwent, which runs through Workington, was such that all road/pedestrian bridges were either washed away or badly damaged, resulting in a 30 or 40 mile detour. A police constable died when the bridge on which he was warning traffic away from collapsed under him. The only bridge left standing was the railway bridge which carries the Cumbrian Coast Line. With all road transport links severed between the two halves of the town, Network Rail, in conjunction with the local council, soon put together a plan to construct a temporary two platform station on the north side of the River, on council owned land, to be called Workington North, which was completed in the record time of just over a week. To augment the regular train service, Northern Rail worked in partnership with Direct Rail Services to provide a free shuttle service between the main station at Workington, and Maryport, about 6 miles and calling at Workington North and Flimby. These began in late November 2009 and lasted until May the following year, by which time a temporary road bridge over the River had been constructed The train was formed of a set of 3 Mk3 Open Firsts plus a Mk2D BSO, and top and tailed by DRS locos of Classes 37 47 and 57, and known amongst the rail fraternity and rail staff as 'Floodex'. Quite popular, especially when Class 37s produced!

57012 at Workington, with a 'Floodex' shuttle to Maryport. 47501 was at the other end of the train. For an explanation of 'Floodex', read on :- In mid November 2009 a storm of uprecedented ferocity hit the UK, with Cumbria being particularly badly affected. The amount of water coming down the River Derwent, which runs through Workington, was such that all road/pedestrian bridges were either washed away or badly damaged, resulting in a 30 or 40 mile detour. A police constable died when the bridge on which he was warning traffic away from collapsed under him. The only bridge left standing was the railway bridge which carries the Cumbrian Coast Line. With all road transport links severed between the two halves of the town, Network Rail, in conjunction with the local council, soon put together a plan to construct a temporary two platform station on the north side of the River, on council owned land, to be called Workington North, which was completed in the record time of just over a week. To augment the regular train service, Northern Rail worked in partnership with Direct Rail Services to provide a free shuttle service between the main station at Workington, and Maryport, about 6 miles and calling at Workington North and Flimby. These began in late November 2009 and lasted until May the following year, by which time a temporary road bridge over the River had been constructed The train was formed of a set of 3 Mk3 Open Firsts plus a Mk2D BSO, and top and tailed by DRS locos of Classes 37 47 and 57, and known amongst the rail fraternity and rail staff as 'Floodex'. Quite popular, especially when Class 37s produced! Thu15Apr10

Large logo 47580 'County of Essex' rushes past Saltcoats en route to Sellafield, after being hastily scrambled from Carnforth to rescue the stock of a charter from Leicester to Ravenglass, following the failure of steam loco 44932. Sat17Jul10

47851 'Traction Magazine' at Ravenglass with 1Z18 charter from Linlithgow to Grange-over-Sands, alongside smaller Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway brethren 'Shelagh of Eskdale'. Sat9Oct10

47851 'Traction Magazine' rasps away from Ravenglass with 1Z18 charter from Linlithgow to Grange-over-Sands. Sat9Oct10

West Coast Railways 57601 at the rear end of 1Z18 charter from Linlithgow to Grange-over-Sands. Ravenglass. Sat9Oct10

Just another nondescript Western Region Brush Type 4 at the time, is now in its 4th reincarnation, via 47035 47594 and finally 47739 'Robin of Templecombe'. Seen here at Hellifield. Wed10Nov10

For now at least. 57305 'John Tracy' and 57302 'Virgil Tracy' awaiting orders at Carlisle. 57302 later moved off and returned with 6J37 logs from Carlisle Yard to Chirk. Tue24Jun08

Despite what it says on the side of the loco, 47826 is on the opposite side of the country as it hangs off the rear end of 1Z58 Carlisle - Rugby, approaching Ravenglass. Wed23Mar11

Carnforth based West Coast Railways 47804 passes Ravenglass with 1Z18 Carlisle - Hereford charter. Fri25Mar11

47851/D1648 'Traction Magazine' stands at Ravenglass with 1Z36 charter from Skipton to Whitehaven. Thu17Sep09

In the days when engines were in their rightful place at the front of the train, instead of underneath. Large logo 47422 ambles through a foggy Guide Bridge and is just about to turn left onto the Stalybridge line, with a Liverpool Lime St to Newcastle service. Tue4Dec90. Scanned

47823, in full Inter City colours, with a Down train at Stockport. Mon11May92. Scanned

In Inter City colours but with no branding, 47849 at the through platform 13 at Manchester Piccadilly. Thu30May91. Scanned

Porterbrook liveried 47807 arrives at Manchester Piccadilly. Tue18Jun97. Scanned

Railfreight Distribution liveried 47378 at Doncaster. Wed8May91. Scanned