Gloucester

[dragonryder]

was working in lovely Gloucester today and saw this beauty.
There was about 3 parked up, not knowing much about modern diesels i was curious to find out what class it is.

Jim

[simon]

Its a class 47 belonging to Cotswold rail.

Built in the early 60's for British Rail.

Glos is being turned (back) into a depot for Cotswold rail.

[DAVE]

The prototype Type 4 was introduced in 1961 and was numbered D0280 Falcon.
It was built by Brush and had 2 Maybach 1440bhp engines supplying power for 6 electric traction motors.
The class was introduced in 1962 numbered D1500-D1549 and were powerd by 2 Sulzer engines supplying power for the 6 axle hung motors.
Hope that gives you a little more information.

Dave Nailsea

[dragonryder]

The prototype Type 4 was introduced in 1961 and was numbered D0280 Falcon.
It was built by Brush and had 2 Maybach 1440bhp engines supplying power for 6 electric traction motors.
The class was introduced in 1962 numbered D1500-D1549 and were powerd by 2 Sulzer engines supplying power for the 6 axle hung motors.
Hope that gives you a little more information.

Dave Nailsea

im impressed... does it make the tea also?

[simon]

The prototype Type 4 was introduced in 1961 and was numbered D0280 Falcon.
Dave Nailsea

I don't think it is quite correct to say the class 47 was a desendant of Falcon.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_53

[madhattie]

The best (IMO) online Falcon resource is this one:

http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_feature_424.php

[simon]

An interesting site.

I remember seeing it at BTM but unfortunately have no photos of it.

Also remember seeing "Kestrel" at BTM but again no photos!

[DAVE]

In the late 50,s early 60,s British Rail invited private companies to produceType 4 diesels as they were then known, the class 47 terminology is a more recent "term" when the renumbering took place i.e the class 37 were introduced as type 3,s and numbered D6700 ETC.
3 Companies built type 4 diesels.
The BirminghamR.C AND W [D0260 LION] a regular performer in this area, Brush with D0280 Falcon and English Electric with DP2.
Brush was the company chosen to produce the first batch and I think it would be fair to say was the winning bidder.
The choice of power plant was Sulzer, a variation of the Peak class engines in use from 1959, I would presume BR might have had some say in this.
Apart from air intakes etc the bodywork on D0280 is virtually identical to that on the type introduced.

Dave Nailsea

[DAVE]

Loads of good info on Falcon, Kestrel etc on the following site.

glostransporthistory.softdata.co.uk/railway raptors.

Dave Nailsea