Grand Central Class 47 Haulage, 2008

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The Class 47 List 2000-2009, edited by Shaun C and Crumb. Full copyright details available on the index page.

Following problems with their own traction, Grand Central were able to use Riviera Trains class 47s and stock for a period of 28 days from 21st May 2008 until 17th June 2008.
This page documents the time when class 47s returned to *daily* mainline passenger trains. 47s took over after class 67s had been used, a brief trial with 37s before 47 use proved unsuccesful


Not the first time for Grand Central

Back in 2007, Grand Central used a set of DRS stock with 47237 with 47802 for route learning purposes as they had no other stock available to themselves at the time.
47501 was also used but didn't last very long before needing to be replaced by 237.


16/08/07 - Hawthorn Bank near Seaham, 47802 on 1Z44. Copyright: Brian Sherrington
Below is how The Class 47 List reported the trains at the time:

5Z43 0800 Heaton CS-Sunderland/ 1Z43 xxxx Sunderland-Kings Cross/ 1Z44 1401 Kings Cross-Sunderland/ 5Z44 xxxx Sunderland-Heaton CS

Monday 13/08/07: 47501 and 47802 - a rather a disastrous start as the 'up' train (1Z43) was delayed in the Hartlepool area due to signal cable thefts, then was wrongly routed by the signalman at Doncaster (although only lost two minutes here...) and just for good measure, 47501 suffered a minor bogie fire near Tallington (believed to be debris caught in it and no serious damage) - the trip never made it to London and terminated at Connington Loop.
Tuesday 14/08/07: Cancelled throughout?
Wednesday 15/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43, returning with 47802 - 1Z44
Thursday 16/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43, returning with 47802 - 1Z44
Friday 17/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43, returning with 47802 - 1Z44
Saturday 18/08/07: 47237 + 47802=5Z43 (0800) Heaton-Heaton via Sunderland, Eaglescliffe, Darlington reverse, York reverse, Darlington, Durham, Sunderland, Rhyhope Grange reverse, Sunderland, Heaton.
Monday 20/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43, returning with 47802 - 1Z44
Tuesday 21/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43 to Peterborough (cable theft at Hartlepool), returning with 47802 - 1Z44 from Peterborough
Wednesday 22/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43, returning with 47802 - 1Z44
Thursday 23/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43 to York (237 low on water), returning ECS to Heaton with 47802
Friday 24/08/07: Ran with 47237 - 1Z43, returning with 47802 - 1Z44
Tuesday 28/08/07: 47237 + 47802 (802 only working) - 5Z47 0759 Heaton-Oxley/ 0Z47 1512 Oxley-Crewe.

In October 2007, 47804 from WCRC was also used on a different training turn, details added below;
Monday 01/10/07: 47804 = 0C19 1040 Carnforth-Kingmoor/ 5Z47 1335 Kingmoor-Heaton with DRS stock for Grand Central route learner.
Wednesday 03/10/07: 47804 = 1Z47 0629 Heaton-York/ 1Z48 1302 York-Heaton (both via Sunderland).
Friday 05/10/07: 47804 = 1Z47 0629 Heaton-York Holgate/ 1Z48 1000 York-Heaton/ 1Z47 1658 Heaton CS-York via the Durham Coast (Grand Central learner).
Monday 08/10/07: 47804 = 1Z47 0554 Heaton-York/ 1Z48 1014 York-Heaton.
Tuesday 09/10/07: 47804 = 1Z47 0554 Heaton-York/ 1Z48 1014 York-Heaton.
Wednesday 10/10/07: 47804 = unknown training run in the evening.
Friday 12/10/07: 47804 = 1Z47 0554 Heaton-York/ 1Z48 1014 York-Heaton (both via Sunderland - training for Grand Central)/ 1Z49 1649 Heaton CS-York/ 1Z50 2008 York-Heaton CS.
Saturday 13/10/07: 47804 = 5Zxx 0936 Heaton-Oxley.

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