47810 hauls 1D87 to Holyhead at Llanfairfechan on Wednesday 8th September 2004. Photo Copyright: Andy Williams. The summer timetable of 2004 saw the return of the Virgin West Coast HSTs to the leasing company, resulting in all of the Virgin services to and from north Wales being hauled by 47s.
The log sections below will cover those in full, this page in itself covers the period after these workings changed to Voyager/57+Pendolino turns, to the end when Virgin returned their 47s to Porterbrook.
- The class 47 fleet for Virgin West Coast in the ATLO loco pool comprised 47750 / 47787 / 47810 / 47816 / 47826 / 47828 / 47830 / 47840 / 47841 / 47851 as at May 2004, 750 + 787 on hire from EWS and Porterbrook owned 816 + 830 having been added to the Virgin fleet after finishing use with First Great Western (FGW still retained 811 + 815 at this time for emergency use). 810, 826, 828, 840, 841 and 851 were Virgins final remaining 47s previously in the ILRA Virgin Cross Country pool.
Other ex Virgin 47/8s had been distributed at this time as follows;
805, 812, 829, 843, 847, 848 on hire to Freightliner from Porterbrook,
818 sold to Cotswold Rail,
839 and 853 sold to Riviera Trains,
854 sold to West Coast Railways
806, 807, 814, 817, 822, 831, 845 converted to class 57s and returned to use with Virgin
844 and 849 had been scrapped.
Of the ATLO locos from May 2004, 750 and then 787 were the first to fall and didn't work long in to the summer 2004 timetable.
Log of summer 2004 workings, from 23/05/04 to 24/09/04 (816 to 851 uncompleted)
47750 /
47787 /
47810 /
47816 /
47826 /
47828 /
47830 /
47840 /
47841 /
47851
By the period we are studying here below from 25/09/04, 47828 had worked its final train for Virgin, moving to Cotswold Rail in November 2004, joining 714, 813 and 818.
Last day of Summer 2004 timetable...
25/09/04
47830 = the last 1A13 0520 Holyhead-Crewe/ the last 1D87 1045 Crewe-Holyhead/ the last 1A62 1323 Holyhead-Crewe.
47851 = the last 1A39 0920 Holyhead-Crewe.
Autumn timetable 2004 through to the end, in full...
26/09/04
47816 = 1S57 1216 Crewe-Preston (851 dead in tow)/ 1M64 1503 Preston-Crewe (95m late).
47830 = 1M31 1739 Preston-Crewe/ 1S94 1954 Crewe-Preston.
47841 = 1M22 1304 Preston-Crewe (210m late at Crewe, due to OHLE problems)/ 1S86 1758 Crewe-Preston (75m late).
47851 = 1A42 0935 Preston-Crewe/ dead in tow 1S57 1216 Crewe-Preston (see 816)/ 1A56 1402 Preston-Crewe/ 1C17 1559 Crewe-Preston/ 1A82 1826 Preston-Crewe/ 1C25 2224 Crewe-Preston.
Friday 1st October 2004
47830 = 1D24 1548 Euston-Holyhead from Crewe (vice Voyager, 30 mins late)/ ECS back.
Sunday 3rd October 2004
47830 = 1A35/ 1P16/ 1A64/ 1P20/ 1A77.
47841 = 1A44/ 1P18/ 1A73/ 1P24.
Sunday 10th October 2004
47826 = 1A44/ 1P18/ 1A73/ 1P24.
47830 = 1P22 1945 Crewe-Preston (vice a 57).
Monday 11th October 2004
47810 = 1R08 0510 Lancaster-Euston from Rugby-Euston (87030 failed with wheelflats, 0747 from Rugby, returned to Rugby for standby duty as 0Z40 1000 Euston-Rugby).
Wednesday 13th October 2004
47810 = 1G02 Euston-Wolves from Kilsby area to Wolves (87008? failed, 810 then light back to Rugby).
Friday 15th October 2004
47816 = 1B14 2006 Wolves-Euston from BNS.
Sunday 17th October 2004
47826 = 1A35 1011 Preston-Crewe/ 1P14 1218 Crewe-Preston/ 1A54 1412 Preston-Crewe/ 1P20 1755 Crewe-Preston/ 1A77 2010 Preston-Crewe.
47830 = 1P16 1355 Crewe-Preston (arrived with smoke coming from below solebar due to a shifted tyre).
47851 = 1A44 1219 Preston-Crewe/ 1P18 1555 Crewe-Preston/ 1A73 1811 Preston-Crewe/ 1P24 2155 Crewe-Preston.
Tuesday 19th October 2004
47810 = 1Gxx 0706 Euston-BNS from Rugby, via Nuneaton.
Saturday 23rd October 2004
47810 = 1Gxx 2230 Euston-Wolves throughout?
47816 = 1B33 1106 Wolves-Euston from Bletchley.
47841 = 1G02 0706 Euston-Wolves throughout/ 1B27 1006 Wolves-Euston throughout.
Sunday 24th October 2004
All unconfirmed, list from allocations only.
47826 = 1A44 1219 Preston-Crewe/ 1P18 1555 Crewe-Preston/ 1A73 1811 Preston-Crewe/ 1P24 2155 Crewe-Preston (delayed due to a 175 on fire on a Blackpool service).
47851 = 1A35 1011 Preston-Crewe/ 1P14 1218 Crewe-Preston/ 1A54 1412 Preston-Crewe/ 1P20 1755 Crewe-Preston/ 1A77 2010 Preston-Crewe.
Other bits from this day relevant to the above;
47826 = 1Z99 1000 Preston-Bolton (light engine)/ 5A44 1022 Longsight-Preston from Agecroft North Jct (47830 dead in tow)/ 5H24 2345 Preston-Longsight.
47830 = 5A55 1022 Longsight-Preston to Agecroft North Jct (failed, traction motor, see 826).
Monday 25th October 2004
47826 = 1Z08 0100 Preston-Glasgow Central (Virgin West Coast additional service, arr 0425 following 175008 fire).
Wednesday 27th October 2004
47851 = 1D25 1923 Crewe-Holyhead (vice Pendolino drag).
Thursday 28th October 2004
47851 = 1R19 0538 Holyhead-Crewe/ 1D25 1923 Crewe-Holyhead CONF (vice Pendolino drag, 70m late at Rhyl due to the loco being at Oxley!).
Friday 29th October 2004
47851 = 1R19 0538 Holyhead-Crewe.
Sunday 31st October 2004
47840 = 1P16 13xx Crewe-Preston/ 1A64 1618 Preston-Crewe.
47851 = 1A35 1011 Preston-Crewe/ 1Fxx xxxx Crewe-Liverpool!
By the start of November 2004, 47810, 47826, 47840 and 47841 had been fitted with longer ETS cables to enable them to connect to a class 390 to test the train supply. These 47s can power a 390 when standing still, but cannot when under power. 47816 (with a minor electrical fire) and 47828 (with very poor tyres) are now not to be used, although have not been officially stored – still being in the ATSP pool. 47830 and 47851 were expected at this time to be the last two 47s to be removed from service after 57315 and 57316 are released from Loughborough.
Sunday 07/11/04
47810 = 1P22 2010 Crewe-Preston.
47851 = 1A44 1219 Preston-Crewe/ 1P18 1612 Crewe-Preston/ 1A73 1811 Preston-Crewe/ 1P24 2210 Crewe-Preston.
Sunday 14/11/04
47810 = 1A35 1011 Preston-Crewe/ 1P14 1228 Crewe-Preston/ 1A54 1415 Preston-Crewe/ 1P22 2012 Crewe-Preston.
47841 = 1P16 1412 Crewe-Preston/ 1A64 1615 Preston-Crewe/ 1F26 2339 Crewe-Liverpool.
Thursday 18/11/04
47816 = 1B76 1606 Wolves-Euston from Bletchley (87025 failed).
Wednesday 24/11/04
47851 = 1G02 0736 Euston-Wolves from Rugby (NRN radio fault on 87019).
Thursday 25/11/04
47851 = 1G04 0836 Euston-Wolves from Milton Keynes-Birmingham International (TPWS fault on 87021).
Sunday 28/11/04
47816 = 1P18 1555 Crewe-Preston/ 1A73 1811 Preston-Crewe/ 1P22 1955 Crewe-Preston.
816's last known passenger workings for Virgin until hired in again from Freightliner in July 2005.
Monday 29/11/04
47810 = 1G09 1106 Euston-BNS (from Bletchley, 87001 failed).
Saturday 04/12/04
47826 = 1K18 0538 Holyhead-Crewe (vice 57+Pendolino).
Sunday 05/12/04
47810 = 1P16 1355 Crewe-Preston.
47826 = 1A35 1011 Preston-Crewe/ 1P14 1218 Crewe-Preston/ 1A54 1412 Preston-Crewe/ 1P20 1755 Crewe-Preston/ 1A77 2010 Preston-Crewe.
47830 = 1A44 1219 Preston-Crewe/ 1P18 1555 Crewe-Preston/ 1A73 1811 Preston-Crewe/ 1P24 2155 Crewe-Preston.
The above was the last time 830 worked a passenger train.
Monday 06/12/04
47810 = 1xxx 1600 Birmingham-Euston from Rugby-Euston via Northampton (speedo fault on DVT, 87026 dead on rear).
Sunday 12/12/04
47826 = 1xxx 1210 Preston-Crewe via Manchester/ 1xxx 1759 Crewe-Preston via Manchester.
23/12/04 - 47851 was the Stafford standby on this day, this Virgin West Coast standby turn came light from Longsight in the morning and returned in the evening. Photo Copyright: Bushcutter
Friday 24/12/04
47851 = 1A28 0745 Liverpool-Euston to Crewe (presumably a planned diversion with a hauled set as 851 was at Longsight last night).
28/12/04 - 47841 and 47810 stabled at Rugby. Photo Copyright: John Edwards
Friday 31/12/04
47841 = 1G01 0709 Euston-Birmingham International from Weedon (DVT fault, wrong way around set).
Sun 02/01/05
47810=1F16 1356 Stockport-Liverpool/ 1A75 1914 Liverpool-Stockport/ 1F24 2154 Stockport-Liverpool.
47851=1B74 2030 Crewe-Euston from Dudley Port via Soho (87033 failed).
Fri 07/01/05
47851???=1Wxx 1822 Euston-Northampton.
Sun 09/01/05
47851=1F22 2004 Crewe-Liverpool via Manchester.
Tue 11/01/05
47810=1W96 0730 Northampton-Euston.
47840=1W94 0719 Northampton-Euston.
47841=1G35 0130 Rugby-Wolverhampton last night/ 1G35 0130 Rugby-Wolverhampton tonight.
Wed 12/01/05
47841=1G35 01xx Nuneaton-Wolverhampton last night (not from Rugby)/ alloc 1G35 0140(retimed) Rugby-Wolverhampton again tonight.
Sun 16/01/05
47851??????=1A58 1514 Liverpool-Crewe.
Mon 17/01/05
47851=1T07 0150 Holyhead-Euston to Crewe (hauled set).
Wed 26/01/05
47851=see below/ 1D24 1548 Euston-Holyhead at 1736 from Crewe-Holyhead (vice Voyager).
Sun 30/01/05
47826=1F22 2004 Crewe-Liverpool (mk3 set).
Sun 06/02/05
47826=1F22 2000 Crewe-Liverpool via Manchester.
47851=1P92 2100 Crewe-Preston via Manchester.
Sun 20/02/05
47851=1F24 2159 Crewe-Liverpool.
27/02/05 - 47810 after arrival at Preston. Photo Copyright: Darryl
Sun 27/02/05
47810 = 1Pxx Crewe-Preston via Manchester (evening)/ 1Axx Preston-Crewe via Manchester (evening).
These were 810's last passenger workings with Virgin whilst under Porterbrook ownership, moving on to Cotswold Rail. It worked again for Virgin on hire from Cotswold later in 2005.
06/03/05 - Stoke on Trent. Photo Copyright: Martin Fuller
Birmingham International. Photo Copyright: David Johnson
Sun 06/03/05
47826=0xxx Rugby-Coventry/ 1K13 Euston-Macclesfield from Coventry-Stoke (87012 failed)/ 1B57 1648 Macclesfield-Euston from Stoke.
Sat 12/03/05
47826=light LO-STA with 810/ light to Crewe/ 1F20 1800 Crewe-Liverpool via Manchester (1F18? via Warrington Central).
13/03/05 - the one time a 47 hauled a Pendolino on a service train, seen after arrival at Liverpool Lime Street. Photo Copyright: Darryl
Sun 13/03/05
47826 = 1A29 0906 Liverpool-Crewe via Chat Moss and Manchester.
47840 = 0Z70 0847 Longsight-Stafford/ 0Z20 1700 Stafford-Crewe/ 1F22 2006 Crewe-Liverpool (dragging Pendolino 390021).
This was the penultimate date that Virgin used two class 47s on passenger trains.
This day provided the last of 826's passenger workings with Virgin, moving on to West Coast Railways at Carnforth.
Sun 20/03/05
47851 = 1F24 2204 Crewe-Liverpool via Manchester.
Albeit an unconfirmed working, this is the last known Virgin passenger train working for 851, it moved on to West Coast Railways.
22/03/05 - Although it was a Freightliner loco at this time, this day provided a lengthy run down the WCML for 47816 on spot hire to Virgin, it hauled 5Z25 0720 Polmadie–Wembley after spending a few days at Mossend, photographed at Harrow & Wealdstone. 816 carried a shed plate on its headcode box cover at this end, although it was removed before long. Photo Copyright: Matt Dodd
Sat 09/04/05
47840 = light Stafford-Nuneaton/ 1G16 1601 Nuneaton-Wolverhampton/ 1B70 1818 Wolves-Nuneaton(unconf)/ 1G34 2354 Rugby-BNS.
This was the last day that 47840 was used on passenger trains by Virgin, it returned to Porterbrook and was hired to First Great Western for ECS moves at Old Oak Common.
Sat 02/07/05
47841 FL = 1D22 1xxx Crewe-Holyhead/ 1A41 1414 Holyhead-Crewe.
Sat 09/07/05
47811 = 1D22 1105 Crewe-Holyhead to Chester/ 1A24 from Shotton-Chester (see 841)/ 1D22 again from Chester-Llandudno Junction/ 1Axx 1415 Holyhead-Crewe from Llandudno Junction.
47841 = 1D00 0521 Birmingham-Holyhead from Crewe/ 1A24 0915 Holyhead-Crewe, failed at Shotton, 811 hauled to Chester, 57312 hauled to Crewe/ 1D25 1946 Crewe-Holyhead???.
Sun 10/07/05
47802 DRS = 1A53 1613 Holyhead-Crewe.
Sat 16/07/05
47816 FL = 1D00 0623 Crewe-Holyhead/ 1A24 0914 Holyhead-Crewe.
Sun 17/07/05
47501 DRS = 1A53 1607 Holyhead-Crewe.
31/07/05 - Although it had been a long time since a 47 had worked a Virgin Cross Country passenger train, Virgin used 47197 to haul failed 220011 as 5Z11 1300 Bristol-Central Rivers depot. Photo Copyright: Steve Kibble
Sat 06/08/05
47828 COTSWOLD = 1D25 xxxx Crewe-Holyhead this evening.
07/08/05 - 47828 at Holyhead waiting to work 1A53 to Crewe. Photo Copyright: Eifion Hughes
Sun 07/08/05
47828 COTSWOLD = 1A53 1607 Holyhead-Crewe.
20/08/05 - 841 at Holyhead awaiting, 1A41 1415 Holyhead-Euston which it worked back to Crewe. Photo Copyright: Rowan Crawshaw
Sat 20/08/05
47841 FL = 0Z00 0900 Basford Hall-Crewe/ 1D22 1102 Crewe-Holyhead/ 1A41 1415 Holyhead-Crewe/ 1D25 1946 Crewe-Holyhead.
Sun 21/08/05
47841 FL = 1Axx 1xxx Holyhead-Crewe.
03/09/05 - 47810 at Chester on Saturday night with 1D26, the retimed 2151 Crewe-Holyhead. Photo Copyright: Martin Taylor
Sat 03/09/05
47810 = 1D26 2151 Crewe-Holyhead (1913 ex Euston).
Sun 04/09/05
47810 = 1A53 1607 Holyhead-Crewe (had been allocated for 1A41 1309 HHD-CRE)/ 0Zxx Crewe-Oxley.