2015 News

FIREWORKS NIGHT 7th NOVEMBER 2015

47401 is rostered to operate this year's Fireworks Night shuttle on Saturday. We are off shed at 12:55 and after some stock positioning moves we will be working the 15:00 from Hammersmith to Riddings and return to Butterley with the usual Mk1 stock then operate shuttles between Butterley and Swanwick as required from 17:30 onwards top and tail with 5MT No. 73129 using the DMU stock (lots of doors so quick to get folks on and off!) After the display we operate shuttles back to Butterley. So if you are in the area and were thinking of going to a Fireworks display with an added 47 theme we'll look forward to seeing you there!

Full info for the event is here:-

http://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/events/fireworksnight.html

Since our last update, 401 got in one more operating day to close out the summer season, this was a mixed diesel and steam day on 19th September, and apart from some ECS work, all quiet on the North Eastern front until this weekend's event.

Over the winter it is planned to take 401 into the diesel shed for some roof repairs (the perennial radiator shutters tinkering plus some corrosion repairs). Work planned on 417 includes cab re-wiring, removal of headcode panels and refitting of headcode blinds, plus continuation of external repaint... watch this space!

RUNNING DAY 22nd AUGUST 2015

401 should be out again this coming Saturday, top and tail with Class 5 No. 73129 all day. Will update if situation changes before weekend!

RAILEX 2015

This weekend 15th/16th August is the Railex Model railway show at MRB. See here for details. A selection of locos will be running on the full size railway, including 47401 on both days.

401 also got in an extra turn on 1st August (top and tail with Class 5 73129), apologies for lack on info but even the webmaster didn't know it was running until after he arrived at MRB.

RUNNING DAY 11th JULY 2015

Just this minute advised, 401 will be running tomorrow. Five trips in top and tail mode with 46233 "Duchess of Sutherland", departures from Butterley 10:30, 11:50, 13:30, 14:50, 16:10 with 401 leading "topping" towards Riddings and "tailing" back.

NOT RUNNING DAY 4th JULY 2015!

401 will be taking a break from running this weekend, still no serviceable steam loco but services will be provided by the Class 141 unit due to the run round loop at Hammersmith being out of action. 401 derailed on one wheel last week while running round here (track spread) and if any visitor was told the story that it had "blown a fuse" this is incorrect, the loco is fine and not in any way responsible for the cancellation of services. Fortunately the incident happened early in the day after completing the first trip. It was safely back on shed, no damage sustained, by late afternoon.

RUNNING DAY 27th JUNE 2015

According to the MRB Facebook page 47401 will be running all services on Saturday (still no available steam), departures from Butterley at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:05 and 16:15.

RUNNING DAY 20th JUNE 2015

Apparently 47401 will be running all services on Saturday (still no available steam), departures from Butterley at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 & 15:15. It's also a 1940s weekend with a fly past by a Hurricane at 13:40 plus various displays of military and civilian vehicles based around the West Shed.

RUNNING DAY 13th/14th JUNE 2015

47401 will be out again this coming weekend, but we will be sharing the limelight this time as it's a diesel gala, also features Class 31, 45 and hopefully a visiting main line Class 37. See MRB website for timetable.

RUNNING DAY 6th JUNE 2015

47401 will be running all services (no steam), departures from Butterley at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 & 15:15.

RUNNING DAY 30th MAY 2015

47401 is running all services today (no steam), departures from Butterley at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 & 15:15.

RUNNING DAY 23rd MAY 2015

47401 will be working all services at MRB this coming Saturday (no steam), departures from Butterley at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:05 and 16:15. Purists, especially the photographers amongst you, please note this is "Friendly Engines" weekend so 401 will be wearing a silly face all day. We hope this does not put too many people off!

ETA (Sunday 24th): Five round trips all completed successfully.

TONY CHALLANDS MEMORIAL TRAIN 21st MAY 2015

Today was a sad day, but also a proud moment for the Project, as we were honoured for the loco to be requested to haul a funeral train for one of our shareholders, Tony Challands, who passed away suddenly earlier this month.

A lifelong railway enthusiast, Tony was appropriately taken to his final resting place at the MRB's woodland burial ground by train, with many friends and family on board, and 401 performing the honours with plenty of extra horn and thrash.

After returning the ECS to Butterley the specially made memorial headboard was replaced with a completely contrasting one ready for this coming Saturday (see above). A few photos of the day have been added to our 2015 Gallery page.

SATURDAY 16th MAY 2015

An extra running day slotted in at short notice today, no steam available, 47401 covered all services.

UPDATE 2nd MAY 2015

The delayed start to the 2015 running season kicked off on 5th April, a short notice request to work three round trips on a diesel and steam running day which 401 completed with no problems. As mentioned below, the Mixed Traffic Gala in March which should have been our first running weekend of the year was cancelled. This was due to 401 being derailed on two axles during a shunting operation (not involving 47401 Project volunteers!) the week before the event causing damage to pointwork in the shed yard and also trapping on shed other locos that were due to run. Fortunately no damage was caused to 401 which was re-railed on 14th March.

We hope to be running again during May, and will update as soon as we know anything!

Meanwhile work has progressed on bodywork repairs to 47417, especially around the badly corroded cab door areas. Some recent pictures can be found on the 47417 Gallery Page.

RUNNING DAY CANCELLED

Please note the event mentioned below is now CANCELLED.

47401 NEXT RUNNING DAY 14th MARCH 2015

Fresh from its winter hibernation 47401 should this coming Saturday at the MRB "Mixed Traffic" event. We have been asked to substitute for the unavailable Class 25 and will spend most of the day in top and tail mode with Standard Class 5 No. 73129. First passenger departure from Butterley is at 11:10. Also in operation should be 08590, 31108 and Peckett 1163.

47417 UPDATE MARCH 2015

Although we haven't updated this site for a little while, we hope that nobody has been under the impression that nothing is happening! Work on a D1516 has been concentrated on bodywork repairs, chiefly cutting out and replacing corroded metal on the cab floors (below what was left of the woodwork), the cab door frame areas and the usual Class 47 style bodyside corrosion near the solebar level in the former boiler room.