Home >

Thursday, May 02 2019

by Jack Morgan

British Rail Class 47 Guide

47521 hauls a passenger service at Leamington Spa in May 1987. Photo by Steve Jones.

The Class 47s were the largest class of mainline diesel in the UK, with only the Class 08 having more numbers within diesel traction. 512 locomotives were built, although the class never consisted of 512 existent at the same time as some were written off before construction was complete. The order was split between Brush Traction at Loughborough and BR Workshops at Crewe. Most were delivered in BR two tone green livery but D1953 - D1961 were delivered in BR Blue and D1733 was delivered in an experimental ‘XP64’ blue livery. The locomotives were spread across most regions hauling everything from Express Passenger to freight trains.

The design proved to be a great success and the locomotives became a familiar sight across the country. Into the 1970s the locos gained full yellow ends on the green livery to aid visibility for trackside workers. Blue livery then followed for all locomotives that did not have it and the early 1980s saw all of the class unified in Blue with TOPS numbers. This was the only time the class has all carried the same livery at the same time.

Into the mid 1980s and the BR blue had been changed to include large logos and numbers with more yellow around the cabs. Stratford painted some of the class with grey roofs and this then opened the floodgates for more customisation.

As the 1980s closed, British Rail introduced ‘Sectors’ to help control certain traffic more effectively. This meant a lot of new liveries for the class, including the ‘Triple Grey’ colours with different logos representing the freight sectors. Parcels and engineers also got their own identities and Intercity got a radical overhaul to improve its image to the public.

The 1990s were a time of constant change. With BR entering shadow, then full privatisation, the locos had new colours emerging constantly with some interesting ‘celebrities’ also being repainted by new owners. The BR identity was not eliminated overnight though and many engines, mainly with freight operators, retained their colours though to withdrawal.

Privatisation brought new liveries but also saw a large scale cull of the engines as operators looked to cut costs by introducing new, more efficient rolling stock. Many have survived though and some have even seen modifications to see them operating for many years to come.

Information on this page has been sourced from, and with thanks to, the following: www.class47.co.uk, Simon Bendall and Russell Saxton.

Sub-Classes

	47/0 Locomotives built with steam heating. Some had this equipment isolated or removed in service for use on freight services. Some converted to Electric Train Heating and moved to 47/4 Sub-Class. 47001 - 47299 (not inclusive, see livery table)
	47/3 Locomotives built with no heating equipment (or had it isolated or removed). Some 47/0 re-numbered for use on freight services. 47300 - 47399 (not inclusive, see livery table)
	47/4 The first batch of locomotives (D1500 - D1520) and a lot of the later builds were built with Electric Train Heating only. TOPS Numbers 47401 - 47976 (not inclusive, see livery table)
	47/6 47601 - Fitted with the prototype Class 56 engine for testing before the rest of the Class 56s were built. 47671 - 47677 - A short lived class in the 1990s with 47/4 given a higher rated ETH supply and better brake blocks for use on the Sleeper services to Scotland. Once this was disbanded, some were converted to 47/7 and others reverted to 47/4.
	47/7 47701 - 47717 - Converted from 47/4 with the fitting of communication equipment to work with DBSO coaches on Scottish services. 47721 - 47793 - Converted to work with PCV vehicles to propel into Royal Mail terminals (mainly Willesden PRDC). Some had modifications but never carried the new number. 47798 & 47799 - Dedicated Royal Train locomotives with extra communications equipment, higher maintenance standards and long range fuel tanks.
	47/8 Locomotives refurbished and fitted with long range fuel tanks. 47801 - 47854.
	47/9 When development of the Class 56 engine was complete, 47601 was converted again as a testbed for the Class 58 power unit and renumbered 47901.

Emblems Carried

The Class 47 wore a number of different British Rail and depot emblems throughout its lifespan. To learn more about locomotive and rolling stock emblems from the Big Four period, right up to the end of British Rail, click HERE.

Liveries

The guide below showcases every single livery and variation that the class carried across their lifespan - split by era. You can find links to products in OO, N & O gauge (if they have been produced) on the right hand side - click/ tap the icon to be taken to the product page where you may purchase a model in that livery or add it to your wishlist if it's currently unavailable.

British Rail Green (Eras 5 - 7)

Livery	Era(s)
BR green with small yellow ends Locos: D1100 - D1111 D1500 - D1732 D1734 - D1952 D1962 - D1999	5 & 6
BR green with full yellow ends Locos: D1100 - D1110, D1500, D1503, D1506, D1512, D1515 - D1521, D1524, D1525, D1527, D1528, D1533, D1535, D1538, D1541 - D1546, D1551, D1553 - D1556, D1562, D1564 - D1567, D1570, D1572, D1573, D1576, D1578, D1579, D1582 - D1584, D1586, D1589, D1590, D1592 - D1594, D1596, D1601 - D1603, D1605, D1608, D1610, D1612, D1613, D1619, D1621, D1622, D1624, D1625, D1628 - D1630, D1634, D1635, D1643, D1644, D1646, D1647, D1650, D1655, D1659 - D1661, D1663 - D1668, D1670, D1672, D1675 - D1678, D1680, D1686, D1687, D1691, D1697 - D1705, D1613 - D1715, D1717, D1722, D1729, D1730, D1732, D1735, D1741, D1745 - D1748, D1754, D1755, D1758, D1759, D1761 - D1765, D1768, D1771, D1773, D1774 - D1781, D1785 - D1789, D1791, D1795, D1796, D1798 - D1800, D1803, D1804, D1806, D1807, D1809, D1812, D1813, D1816, D1818, D1819, D1823, D1824, D1826, D1828 - D1830, D1832, D1835 - D1837, D1839 - D1841, D1845 - D1847, D1852, D1853, D1855 - D1858, D1860, D1862, D1864 - D1868, D1870, D1871, D1873 - D1878, D1880 - D1886, D1888, D1891, D1893 - D1895, D1898, D1899, D1901, D1907 - D1909, D1911 - D1913, D1915, D1917 - D1920, D1924 - D1926, D1928, D1929, D1933, D1934, D1936, D1938, D1943, D1944, D1946 - D1948, D1950, D1962, D1965 - D1969, D1972, D1977, D1979, D1980, D1983 - D1986, D1988, D1989, D1991, D1992, D1994 - D1996, D1998, D1999	6
BR green with full yellow ends & TOPS numbers Locos: 47033, 47041, 47050, 47052, 47060, 47061, 47091, 47094, 47099, 47109, 47121, 47126, 47129, 47131, 47137, 47138, 47146, 47148, 47152, 47170, 47171, 47173, 47175, 47178, 47182, 47183, 47187 - 47191, 47195, 47201, 47203, 47204, 47206 - 47208, 47210, 47213 - 47224, 47227, 47232, 47237, 47256, 47262, 47264, 47267, 47268, 47271, 47283, 47297, 47311, 47313, 47318, 47320, 47322, 47324, 47333, 47335, 47340, 47347, 47353, 47354, 47356 - 47360, 47362 - 47367, 47369, 47370, 47374, 47376, 47379, 47380, 47494, 47520, 47522 - 47527, 47851	7

British Rail Blue (Eras 6 - 9)

Livery	Era(s)
BR plain green TOPS style Loco: 47256	7
XP64 blue Locos: D1733, 47853	6 & 9
BR blue with cabside logos (The only locos not to carry BR green at the time) Locos: D1953 - D1961	6
BR blue with cab numbers and logos behind cab doors (The first version of BR blue, usually applied by Crewe) Locos: D1528, D1531, D1532, D1536, D1547, D1550, D1558, D1569, D1575, D1589, D1595, D1662, D1684, D1692, D1712, D1718, D1723, D1725, D1932, 47478, 47493	6 & 7
Standard BR blue livery, pre-TOPS Locos: D1100, D1107, D1111, D1500, D1501, D1504, D1508 - D1519, D1522, D1524 - D1526, D1528, D1532 - D1537, D1544, D1548 - D1550, D1552, D1557, D1558, D1561, D1563, D1575, D1577, D1580, D1583, D1585, D1586, D1588, D1590, D1593, D1597, D1604, D1609, D1611, D1613, D1614, D1615, D1623, D1624, D1629, D1633, D1636, D1637, D1642, D1647 - D1649, D1653, D1654 - D1656, D1659 - D1663, D1667, D1669, D1670, D1672 - D1675, D1678, D1679, D1681, D1690, D1693, D1694, D1696, D1702 - D1707, D1713, D1718, D1719, D1721, D1723, D1725, D1727, D1728, D1733, D1736, D1737, D1738, D1740, D1746, D1748, D1752, D1756, D1757, D1764, D1772, D1787, D1802, D1810, D1813, D1822, D1842, D1844, D1848, D1849, D1880, D1894, D1897, D1933, D1937, D1942, D1946, D1948, D1961, D1980, D1981, D1998	6
Standard BR blue livery, TOPS numbering Locos: 47412, 47001 - 47020, 47024, 47026 - 47056, 47059 - 47061, 47063, 47064, 47066, 47068 - 47070, 47072, 47074 - 47083, 47085 - 47091, 47093 - 47125, 47128 - 47131, 47134 - 47138, 47140 - 47153, 47155 - 47252, 47254 - 47258, 47260, 47262 - 47299, 47301 - 47381, 47401 - 47547, 47549 - 47616, 47618 - 47627, 47701, 47702, 47703, 47704, 47705, 47706, 47707, 47840, 47853, 47901, 97472	7 & 8
BR blue with grey roof Locos: 47003, 47004 - 47011, 47013, 47014, 47016 - 47019, 47026, 47052 - 47055, 47085, 47093, 47097, 47099 - 47105, 47112, 47114 - 47118, 47121, 47122, 47124, 47130, 47135, 47150, 47155, 47156, 47158, 47160, 47162, - 47164, 47165, 47167, 47169, 47170, 47172, 47179, 47180, 47183, 47184, 47212, 47255, 47263, 47269, 47276 - 47278, 47279, 47288, 47289, 47291, 47295, 47296, 47298, 47310, 47311, 47328 47331, 47357, 47359, 47362, 47363, 47412, 47421, 47425, 47426, 47431, 47435, 47438 - 47440, 47450, 47457, 47458, 47460, 47462, 47476 - 47478, 47482, 47486, 47487, 47518, 47519, 47521, 47522, 47523, 47542 - 47544, 47549, 47551, 47553, 47557, 47564 - 47574, 47576, 47577, 47579 - 47585, 47587, 47591, 47596, 47599, 47605, 47627, 47701 - 47712	7, 8 & 9
BR blue with grey roof and Union flag Locos: 47163, 47164	7
BR blue with yellow cab roof Loco: 47407	7
BR blue with yellow cabsides Locos: 47567, 47575, 47586, 47604	7
'Hybrid' blue with yellow stripe Locos: 47305, 47361	7
BR blue, Eastfield logo instead of BR logo Loco: 47847	8
BR large logo blue Locos: 47118, 47120, 47150, 47170, 47291, 47341, 47401, 47407, 47411, 47413, 47419, 47422, 47424, 47426 - 47428, 47431 - 47434, 47436, 47438 - 47461, 47464 - 47468, 47473, 47479 - 47482, 47485, 47488 - 47490, 47501, 47503, 47512, 47515, 47517 - 47519, 47526, 47531 - 47541, 47545 - 47547, 47548 - 47552, 47563, 47564, 47569, 47571, 47572, 47574, 47578, 47580 - 47583, 47585, 47587, 47591 - 47593, 47595, 47597, 47603, 47604, 47614, 47616, 47617, 47629, 47630 - 47636, 47638 - 47641, 47644 - 47665, 47671, 47674, 47711, 47712, 47801, 47802, 47804 -47813, 47815 - 47817, 47819, 47820, 47847, 47971, 47972, 97480, 97545, ADB968035	7 & 8
BR large logo blue with blue roof Locos: 47118, 47401, 47431, 47460, 47461, 47464, 47467, 47470, 47517, 47541, 47546, 47550, 47604, 47635, 47636	8 & 9
BR large logo blue with blue cabs Locos: 47170, 47291, 47577, 47579	7 & 8
BR large logo blue with logo removed and small number in cab Locos: 47845, 47846, 47848, 47850 - 47852	8
BR large logo blue with smaller black cab surrounds (outlined white) and grey roof Loco: 47170	7
BR large logo blue with extended logo Loco: 47583	7
BR large logo blue with extended logo and Union flag stripes Loco: 47583	7
BR large logo blue with small numbers Locos: 47513, 47551, 47814	8
BR large logo blue with black cabside numbers Locos: 47616, 47822, 47828, 47830	8
BR large logo blue (NSE dark blue) Locos: 47674	9

British Rail Sectors (Eras 8 - 9)

Livery	Era(s)
Railfreight grey Locos: 47007, 47010, 47014, 47016, 47018, 47019, 47050, 47095, 47099, 47107, 47112, 47119, 47125, 47186, 47190, 47202, 47211, 47213, 47215, 47220, 47235 - 47237, 47280, 47285, 47290, 47297, 47318, 47320, 47325, 47327, 47331, 47337, 47346, 47348, 47350, 47356, 47358, 47362, 47363, 47365, 47366, 47368, 47370, 47371, 47374, 47378, 47379	8
Railfreight red stripe (Some had small black numbers on the cabsides while some had larger white numbers) Locos: 47142, 47157, 47196, 47214, 47227, 47249, 47301, 47302, 47321, 47322, 47339, 47340, 47345, 47363, 47367, 47373, 47380	8
Railfreight triple grey with Distribution branding Locos: 47033, 47049 - 47053, 47060, 47079, 47095, 47114, 47125, 47144, 47147, 47150, 47152, 47156, 47186 - 47188, 47194, 47196, 47200, 47201, 47204 - 47207, 47209 - 47214, 47217 - 47219, 47222, 47223, 47225, 47226, 47228, 47229, 47231, 47234, 47236 - 47238, 47241, 47245, 47256, 47258, 47276, 47277, 47279 - 47281, 47283 - 47294, 47296 - 47299, 47304 - 47307, 47309 - 47314, 47316, 47317, 47319, 47323, 47326, 47328, 47330, 47335, 47338, 47339, 47347, 47349, 47351, 47354, 47355, 47357, 47359, 47360 - 47362, 47365, 47375, 47377, 47378, 47384, 47386 - 47396, 47398, 47399, 47445, 47588, 47600, 47605	8 & 9
Railfreight triple grey with Petroleum branding Locos: 47010, 47054, 47085, 47094, 47119, 47125, 47150, 47190, 47193 - 47197, 47212, 47221, 47223, 47224, 47233, 47276 - 47278, 47294, 47295, 47305, 47319, 47324, 47336, 47368, 47369, 47373, 47379 - 47381	8
Railfreight triple grey with Construction branding Locos: 47004, 47006, 47007, 47063, 47079, 47114, 47210, 47328, 47430, 47901	8
Railfreight triple grey with Metals branding Locos: 47079, 47347, 47359, 47594, 47599	8
Railfreight triple grey with no branding Locos: 47060, 47085, 47095, 47114, 47147, 47150, 47156, 47157, 47187, 47193, 47197, 47201, 47205, 47206, 47211 - 47213, 47223 - 47225, 47234, 47236, 47270, 47276, 47279, 47285, 47287, 47289, 47290, 47292, 47295, 47297, 47303, 47306, 47308, 47313, 47317, 47321, 47330, 47339, 47344, 47347, 47349, 47363, 47367, 47368, 47378, 47379, 47385, 47397, 47594, 47605, 47615, 47702	8
Railfreight Distribution Locos: 47033, 47049, 47051, 47053, 47079, 47085, 47095, 47125, 47146, 47186, 47188, 47200, 47201, 47217 - 47219, 47228, 47234, 47236, 47237, 47241, 47245, 47258, 47285 - 47287, 47290, 47293, 47297, 47299, 47303, 47306, 47307, 47310, 47312, 47316, 47323, 47326, 47338, 47344, 47348, 47351, 47360, 47365, 47370, 47375, 47525, 47555	7
Railfreight Distribution unbranded Locos: 47079, 47150, 47287, 47370	9
Railfreight Distribution/ Intercity Executive hybrid Loco: 47525	9
Tinsley special blue (original style) Loco: 47145	8
Railfreight General special Tinsley blue (early style) Loco: 47145	8
Railfreight Distribution special Tinsley blue (later style) Loco: 47145	8 & 9
GWR green with cast name and number - GWR 150 Locos: 47079, 47484, 47500, 47628	8
InterCity (Original) Locos: 47406, 47461, 47471, 47487, 47490, 47501, 47509, 47515, 47525, 47549, 47553, 47555, 47560, 47593, 47606, 47609, 47611 - 47613, 47618, 47620 - 47622, 47673, 47803, 47826, 47835	8
InterCity (Original - unbranded) Locos: 47711, 47487, 47525, 47549, 47555, 47490	8
InterCity (Original) with black cab roof Loco: 47673	8
Intercity Mainline with full yellow ends and white numbers Locos: 47821, 47823, 47825, 47849	8
Intercity Mainline with full yellow ends and small black numbers Locos: 47470, 47483, 47508, 47520, 47527, 47557, 47570, 47590, 47595, 47607, 47610, 47675, 47831-47833	8
Intercity Mainline with small yellow panels and white cabside numbers Locos: 47515, 47523, 47524, 47528, 47550, 47558, 47562, 47565-47568, 47584, 47614, 47624-47628, 47672, 47818, 47829, 47853, 47973	8
Intercity Mainline with small yellow panels and small black numbers Locos: 47619	8
ScotRail (Standard) Locos: 47461, 47701 - 47717	8
ScotRail (Standard) with no branding Locos: 47701, 47702, 47706, 47708, 47711	8
ScotRail (Red Stripe) Locos: 47430, 47469, 47492, 47541, 47637, 47642, 47643, 47826	8
ScotRail (Red Stripe) with no branding Loco: 47430, 47826	8
Intercity Swallow Locos: 47509, 47520, 47586, 47617, 47676, 47677, 47783, 47802, 47804 - 47823, 47825 - 47851, 47853, 47854	8 & 9
Intercity Swallow (small logo) with small black numbers Locos: 47589, 47602	8
Intercity Swallow (small logo) with white cabside numbers Locos: 47824, 47827	8
Network SouthEast (original) Locos: 47573, 47576, 47581 - 47583	8 & 9
Network SouthEast (revised) Locos: 47521, 47530, 47547, 47576, 47579, 47581, 47583, 47587, 47596, 47598, 47701, 47702, 47705, 47707 - 47711, 47714 - 47716	8 & 9
Provincial Trans-Pennine Loco: 47475	8 & 9
BR Green (47833) (Retro repaint using slightly incorrect shades of paint and incorrect positioning of livery elements) Loco: 47833	8
Rail Express Systems/ RES Locos: 47475, 47490 - 47492, 47500, 47503, 47517, 47521, 47524, 47530 - 47532, 47535 - 47537, 47539, 47541, 47551, 47557 - 47559, 47562, 47564 - 47568, 47573, 47576, 47578, 47580, 47581, 47583, 47584, 47587, 47588, 47594, 47596 - 47600, 47603, 47605, 47606, 47612, 47615, 47618, 47624 - 47628, 47630, 47631, 47636, 47642, 47653, 47701, 47704, 47705, 47707, 47709, 47714, 47716, 47721, 47722, 47725 - 47727, 47732 - 47734, 47736 - 47739, 47741 - 47747, 47749, 47750, 47756 - 47793	8 & 9
Royal Train (RES) Locos: 47798, 47799	8 & 9
Parcels Locos: 47458, 47462, 47474, 47476, 47479, 47489, 47501, 47522, 47533, 47535, 47543, 47559, 47569, 47572, 47574, 47575, 47582, 47634, 47635, 47640, 47703, 47704, 47712, 47717	8 & 9
Parcels (NSE branding) Locos: 47703, 47712, 47717	8
Parcels (LNER green) Loco: 47522	8
Civil Engineers 'Dutch' Locos: 47300, 47308, 47315, 47329, 47331 - 47334, 47339 - 47341, 47343, 47346, 47352, 47353, 47357, 47364, 47366, 47372, 47540, 47974 - 47976, 47981	8 & 9
Engineers grey Locos: 47315, 47329, 47332 - 47334, 47343, 47352, 47353, 47364, 47974, 47976	8
Infrastructure (Carried 'INFRASTRUCTURE' lettering in red for a short time) Loco: 47803	8
Departmental maroon Loco: 97561/ 47973	8
Technical Services Loco: 47972	8 & 9

Era 9

Livery	Era(s)
Waterman Railways Locos: 47488, 47703, 47705, 47710, 47712	9
Great Western (Merlin) Locos: 47811, 47813, 47815, 47830, 47846	9
Great Western white Loco: 47846	9
First Great Western Locos: 47811, 47813, 47815, 47816, 47830, 47832, 47846	9 & 10
First Great Western plain green Locos: 47816, 47830	9
First Great Western plain green with Freightliner logos Loco: 47816	10
First Great Western gold stripe with Fragonset lettering Loco: 47832	10
First Great Western gold stripe with Freightliner logos Loco: 47811	10
Porterbrook Locos: 47807, 47817	9
Virgin Trains Locos: 47702, 47711, 47722, 47741, 47747, 47750, 47769, 47805 - 47807, 47810, 47812, 47814, 47817, 47818, 47822, 47827 - 47829, 47831, 47839 - 47841, 47843 - 47845, 47847 - 47849, 47851, 47853, 47854	9
Virgin Trains unbranded Locos: 47741, 47750, 47769, 47810, 47818, 47841, 47854	10
Virgin Trains with EWS lettering Locos: 47750	10
Virgin Trains with Freightliner branding Locos: 47805, 47812, 47843, 47848	10
Police Loco: 47829	9 & 10
EWS (47758 has 'EWS' positioned closer to its cab due to large nameplates) Locos: 47727, 47744, 47747, 47757, 47758, 47760, 47767, 47773, 47778, 47785 - 47787, 47790, 47792, 47793	9 & 10
Royal Train (EWS) Locos: 47798, 47799	9 & 10
EWS (Celebrations Advertising) Loco: 47627	9
BR blue with cast logo and pre-TOPS number Loco: 47121	9
Railfreight triple grey with Freightliner branding Locos: 47052, 47060, 47079, 47152, 47157, 47197, 47204, 47205 - 47207, 47209, 47212, 47225, 47234, 47270, 47279, 47283, 47289, 47290, 47296, 47301 - 47303, 47305, 47308, 47309, 47323, 47330, 47334, 47337, 47339, 47345, 47349, 47353, 47354, 47358, 47361, 47367, 47370 - 47372, 47376, 47377	9
BR green with Freightliner branding Loco: 47114	9
Freightliner green Locos: 47150, 47193, 47258, 47270, 47279, 47292	9
WCRC (with stripe) Loco: 47854	9
Fragonset Railways Locos: 47701, 47703, 47709, 47710, 47712, 47715	9 & 10
Fragonset (large lettering) Loco: 47355	9 & 10
Fragonset plain black Loco: 47375	9 & 10
Direct Rail Services (original) Locos: 47237, 47298, 47501, 47802	9 & 10
Direct Rail Services (original) unbranded Loco: 47237	10
Anglia Loco: 47714	9 & 10
Cotswold Rail Locos: 47033, 47200, 47316, 47810, 47813, 47828	9 & 10

Era 10

Livery	Era(s)
Direct Rail Services (Compass) Locos: 47501, 47593 (790), 47709, 47712, 47790, 47802, 47805, 47810, 47813, 47818, 47828, 47832, 47841, 47853	10
Direct Rail Services (Compass) unbranded Locos: 47791, 47805, 47810, 47813, 47818, 47828, 47853	10
Direct Rail Services (Revised Compass) Loco: 47810	10
Stobart Rail Loco: 47832	10
Northern Belle Locos: 47790, 47832	10 & 11
Riviera Trains Locos: 47805, 47812, 47815, 47839, 47843, 47848	10 & 11
ONE Loco: 47818	10
ONE unbranded Loco: 47818	10
Advenza Freight blue Locos: 47237, 47375	10
Victa Westlink Rail Loco: 47832	10
FM Rail Loco: 47832	10
Blue Pullman Locos: 47709, 47712	10
Colas Rail Locos: 47727, 47739, 47749	10 & 11
WCRC Locos: 47237, 47245, 47500, 47746, 47760, 47772, 47786, 47787, 47790, 47802, 47804, 47826, 47832, 47851, 47854	10 & 11

Era 11

Livery	Era(s)
Rail Operations Group Locos: 47812, 47813, 47815	11
Caledonian Sleeper Loco: 47727	11
GBRf Loco: 47739	11
GBRf (BR blue) Locos: 47749	11

Back

Like this article? Make sure to share it with your friends!