Fund Loco Restrospective - 47746
The fourth loco to join the Fund stable was 47746 which was purchased in February 2007. The former Res loco was stopped as a runner in December 2003 and stored at Crewe Diesel Depot.
The loco was to be transported to Long Marston for storage and to allow the Fund to reactivate it. Transport from Crewe Diesel was not possible so the loco was tripped to Crewe Electric Depot for easier loading.
47746 waits to be transported to Long Marston from Crewe Electric Depot 25/10/07 (C Wall)
Transport was delayed and eventually happened a full 8 months after purchase, touchdown on Long Marston metals was on 3rd November and '746 was officially preserved. Maintenance on the loco commenced in the Spring of 2008 and a return to working order achieved in July of that year.
Although a working loco it wasn't possible to place the loco on a preserved railway so in 2011 the loco was sold to West Coast Railway Company for it to start the next chapter in its mainline career. The sale would help secure the long term future of other Fund locos including building the diesel shed in conjunction with other loco owners at Toddington.
47746 was returned to service with West Coast who kindly agreed to name the loco after Chris Fudge, a good friend who lost sadly lost his life. On 2nd March 2015 47746 worked the 0758 Carnforth to Stratford Upon Avon charter which stopped at Tamworth Low Level (Tamworth being Chris's home town) where his dad Ian named the loco in his honour.
At the time of writing 47746 continues to give sterling service with West Coast and the Fund continue to have a good relationship with West Coast and the Branch Line Society, running several Class 47 hauled railtours.
The loco was to be transported to Long Marston for storage and to allow the Fund to reactivate it. Transport from Crewe Diesel was not possible so the loco was tripped to Crewe Electric Depot for easier loading.
47746 waits to be transported to Long Marston from Crewe Electric Depot 25/10/07 (C Wall)
Transport was delayed and eventually happened a full 8 months after purchase, touchdown on Long Marston metals was on 3rd November and '746 was officially preserved. Maintenance on the loco commenced in the Spring of 2008 and a return to working order achieved in July of that year.
Although a working loco it wasn't possible to place the loco on a preserved railway so in 2011 the loco was sold to West Coast Railway Company for it to start the next chapter in its mainline career. The sale would help secure the long term future of other Fund locos including building the diesel shed in conjunction with other loco owners at Toddington.
47746 was returned to service with West Coast who kindly agreed to name the loco after Chris Fudge, a good friend who lost sadly lost his life. On 2nd March 2015 47746 worked the 0758 Carnforth to Stratford Upon Avon charter which stopped at Tamworth Low Level (Tamworth being Chris's home town) where his dad Ian named the loco in his honour.
At the time of writing 47746 continues to give sterling service with West Coast and the Fund continue to have a good relationship with West Coast and the Branch Line Society, running several Class 47 hauled railtours.