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Gloucester
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:40 am
by 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
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:35 am
by 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.
CLASS 47 DIESELS
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:31 pm
by 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
Re: CLASS 47 DIESELS
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:53 pm
by dragonryder
DAVE wrote: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?
Re: CLASS 47 DIESELS
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:58 am
by simon
DAVE wrote: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
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:20 am
by madhattie
The best (IMO) online Falcon resource is this one:
http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_feature_424.php
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:34 am
by 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!
CLASS 47 DIESELS
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:02 pm
by 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
47,S ETC
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:03 pm
by DAVE
Loads of good info on Falcon, Kestrel etc on the following site.
glostransporthistory.softdata.co.uk/railway raptors.
Dave Nailsea