First ever Class 47 trip to Looe

West Coast Railways 47772 Carnforth TMD stands at Looe on February 3. This was the first time a Class 47 had ever visited the Cornish station, despite their introduction 57 years ago. The ‘Looe Brush’ charter was organised by the Branch Line Society, raising £10,000 for St John’s Hospice, Lancaster, and the Railway Benefit Fund. The tour started at Bristol Temple Meads, and visited Liskeard, Moorswater Tarmac terminal and Buckfastleigh (on the South Devon Railway), using some sidings and crossovers rarely used by passenger trains. On the rear was WCR 47826.