2016 News

DAY 23 - SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER - FIREWORKS NIGHT ARRANGEMENTS

Some limited operation this weekend as follows.
47401 to work 14:50 departure from Swanwick-Hammersmith-Riddings-Butterley, one full round trip finishing at Butterley at 16:04. Then to work Fireworks shuttles top and tail with steam from 17:30.

29th/30th OCTOBER 2016 - STILL MORE RUNNING DAYS (DAY 21/22 FOR THE YEAR)

The 2016 running season looks like being extended a bit longer, with another two days pencilled in for this coming weekend, four round trips per day, departures from Butterley at 11:00, 12:20, 14:00 and 15:20.
Check back here, or at MRB's facebook page closer to the weekend for any late changes or alterations.

LATE NEWS - CHANGE OF DIAGRAM SUNDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2016 - EXTRA TRIP ADDED!

47401 is now doing an extra trip, and it's one train running only instead of two (steam loco 5619 returned to shed tonight leaking like a sieve). We are now doing all four trains starting with 11:00 from Butterley.

RUNNING DAYS 22nd/23rd OCTOBER 2016

47401 should be running both days this weekend, but just three trains per day starting with 11:40 ex-Butterley. This is because it's two train running as the steam loco 5619 is expected to be back in action following repairs. Apologies for last minute advice, but we have only just had it confirmed to ourselves today (Friday 21st).

RUNNING DAYS 15th/16th OCTOBER 2016

47401 will be running both days this coming weekend, on all services. No steam, no top and tail, just solid Brush Type 4 action! Departures from Butterey are at 11:00, 12:20, 14:00 and 15:20 on both days. These could potentially be the last running days this year, and subject to the usual availability of course, should see out the year in style!

Check MRB Facebook page for any last minute alterations.

Since the last report we saw action on just one occasion, running a truncated shuttle service between Hammersmith and Swanwick top and tail with D182 on 1st October.

RUNNING DAYS 17th/18th SEPTEMBER 2016

47401 will be running this coming weekend, all day on both days albeit in top and tail formation with the Duchess steam loco. The latter has yet to return from its main line travels and depending on which way round it returns we could be leading either uphill or downhill!

You can check MRB Facebook page for train times or alternatively contact them by phone.

47401 has had a relatively quiet summer compared to 2014/2015 (this is because the MRB have hired in two steam locos this year). Apart from helping out with some top and tail activity on the Railex shuttles on 13th/14th August we have had no running days since the previous update. This has allowed some progress on 47417 once allowed back into the diesel shed after the annual disruption caused by the Indietracks and Railex events, and work has included completion of the headcode blinds and preparation for repairing or replacing the engine room roof section.

DIESEL GALA 23rd/24th JULY 2016
Although 47401 should be running both days this weekend, please note that for most of the time it will be acting as "translator" between the visiting air brake only locomotives and the MRB's vacuum brake stock. Looks to be a good event if you like 31s, 37s and 56s, but watch this space for the next "proper" 47 running day!

NEXT RUNNING DAYS - 9th/10th JULY 2016
47401 will be running on both days of this 1960s weekend, five round trips each day!

17/6/16 UPDATE - RUNNING DAY CANCELLED
Last minute alteration, tomorrow's running day is OFF! Only one train running (no guard) on Saturday (still two trains on Sunday with steam and Class 46).

NEXT RUNNING DAY - 18th JUNE 2016
ALTERATION TO PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED INFO.
Two train running at MRB this coming Saturday... 47401 now has three round trips on the diesel turn starting at 11:40 from Butterley.

NEXT RUNNING DAYS - 11th/12th JUNE 2016
This weekend 11th/12th June will be a Home Fleet diesel weekend featuring a selection of engines based at Butterley. Subject to availability 47401, D182 and 5580. See MRB's Facebook page for any late info nearer the weekend.

Looking a bit further ahead, July 23rd/24th is our Summer Diesel Gala - home fleet and visiting engines to be confirmed!

UPDATE - MAY 2016
401 kicked off 2016's operating season on 1st/2nd May hauling the Mk1 rake during the MRB Vintage Train weekend. The next running days are this coming weekend 29th/30th May when it should be working three trips per day - but check the MRB Facebook page for confirmation and timings before travelling! The loco has also had some attention to some radiator elements.

On the 47417 front, the fan motors have been returned from overhaul, having hoped to make two good ones from three it ended up being a case of making two good ones from four! It's a bit of a milestone because it means all of the on board machines (generator set, fans, compressors, blower motors and exhausters) have now been overhauled which has taken a number of years as funds have permitted. The fans can now at last be reunited with the radiator section which was extensively overhauled a few years ago.

CLASS 47 DATA FILE PART 9A
We are happy to announce that we are now taking orders for our new Class 47 Data File, featuring the first 47/3s that we have so far covered in this series, namely D1782 to D1806 (or 47301 to 47325 if preferred) including many of the popular former Thornaby and Knottingley fleets. Priced at £9.99 plus £2 P&P, the book can be purchased through our eBid or eBay stores or can be bought direct from the Project by contacting us on the enquiries47401project@gmail.com email address. See the Sales page for more info.

D1516 UPDATE
In other news, a few photos of recent work on D1516 have been added to our gallery pages. Internal corrosion of the bodywork is being tackled and in connection with this a vast tangle of wiring from No. 2 end cab back through to the engine room is being stripped out and replaced. Elsewhere, fettling, filling and painting continues on the cabs, engine room and battery box/water tanks. It's also hoped that the long delayed return of 417's fan motors from overhaul off-site will take place before too long.