First Class 47 reaches Oban on passenger train

No. 47712 Lady Diana Spencer became the first Class 47 to haul a passenger train to Oban on March 30, when it arrived with the 1Z62 08.23 from Edinburgh Waverley.

Operating with the Locomotive Services Group push-pull set, debut of the ‘47’ at the West Highland station was part of a three-day ‘West of Scotland Push-Pull’ tour promoted by InterCity, which began with LSG No. D1935 (47805) Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013 hauling the tour from Crewe to Carlisle, with the ‘47/7’ part of the formation. The green ‘47/8’ then ran light to Dumbarton while Lady Diana Spencer continued to Edinburgh Waverley.

The following day, the ‘47/7’ powered the charter to Oban and back, while the green ‘47’ ran light back to the Scottish capital.

On the third day, No. 47712 powered the charter to Wemyss Bay Junction, where after a reversal, the ‘47/8’ hauled the train to Arkleston Junction before the ‘47/7’ took charge for the charter’s trip to Ardrossan Harbour, where it was believed to be the first visit of a Class 47 since

No. 47570 on November 1, 1980. They visited Ardrossan South Beach before No. 47712 became the first ‘47’ to work to Largs since No. 1736 (47143) in 1972, although there are suggestions others have been there since. The plan for No. D1935 to haul the train back to Crewe was scuppered after the ‘47’ developed a fault, and so the ‘47/7’ hauled the train instead.

No. 47712 Lady Diana Spencer stands at Oban on March 30, having made history by becoming the first

‘47’ to haul a passenger train to the Scottish town since the locomotives were first introduced in 1962. The

‘47/7’ had arrived with the InterCity

‘West of Scotland Push-Pull’ 1Z62 08.23 Edinburgh Waverley-Oban charter. This was part of a three-day tour which visited other branches rarely used by ‘47s’ in the past. Tim Moran