BR 47/9 47 973Chester Chester

The class 47/9's were locomotives operated by the British Rail Research department based at Derby but did see use on ordinary services as well. My photograph here shows 47 973 which started life as D1614 before being renumbered 47 034 under the TOPS numbering scheme. After being modernised and rebuilt in 1980 with electric train heat ability it was renumbered again to 47 561 in the class 47/4 sub class. In 1988 it was re-allocated to the BR Research department and initially carried a departmental class 97/4 number (97 561) This was changed to 47 973 in 07/1989 to reflect the fact it worked normal revenue earning services as well as reasearch department trains. The livery seen here was a one off to mark the 150th anniversary of the Midland Counties Railway in 1989 and carried a nameplate "Midland Counties Railway 1839-1989".
This locomotive was withdrawn on 21.08.1996 and was cut up at Crewe Works by M.R.J. Phillips Ltd of Llanelli on site in 02/1997.