It's a Namer! - 2!
Neil Phillips
I seem to have started something with my article on D1660 (etc) 'City of Truro' ! Guy Vincent's title 'It's a Namer!' heading his piece on the fate, good or bad, of the 17 (or 18 if including 'Thor' twice) is very apt because that was the cry often heard on platform ends in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, until new namings towards the end of that decade meant they were no longer special. However the lower position of the nameplates would still instantly identify the original 'namers' as they approached, and they always remained special to some of us - they may not have been 'cops' but we were always pleased to see them, and mightily disappointed if the plates disappeared - which sadly they often did in the 1970s, although they usually made a comeback at some point. Well, except for 'Python'!
I hope Guy doesn't mind me borrowing his title although perhaps I should have suffixed it with '0' rather than '2', as this is a quick run-down of when and where (if known) they were named during 1965/6, in date order, together with a few more of my photos taken within the CRS 'patch'.
The very first Brush Type 4 I saw, at Truro in late September or early October 1967, was a 'namer', but only because something terrible had happened to D1671 a few months after construction, the nameplates being transferred to the next in line. D1677 would be the only one of the batch to carry its two-tone green livery past TOPS renumbering in March 1974 as 47091, and in fact survived like this for well over a year becoming increasingly decrepit, as the two photos taken at Swindon on 7th May 1975 below illustrate (I was very pleased to be able to take these photos of my first '47' still in two-tone green livery nearly 8 years later - and by a strange coincidence later that day I passed my driving test.......not in Swindon but in the Camberley area, which is why I was at the station - perhaps seeing 'Thor' again was a good omen!)
Dates of naming:
I think the strangest thing here is the naming of D1666 when it was just a week old and in advance of the high-profile namings at Paddington and Bristol just eight days later - I can't help thinking there was a communication failure and somebody at Cardiff 'jumped the gun!' As far as I know there were no naming ceremonies for this one or any of the other 'small names', even 'Python' despite a known location and day. Either by accident or design, D1666 'Odin' became the very first of all of the hundreds of namings and re-namings (and re-re-namings!) which followed.
I hope Guy doesn't mind me borrowing his title although perhaps I should have suffixed it with '0' rather than '2', as this is a quick run-down of when and where (if known) they were named during 1965/6, in date order, together with a few more of my photos taken within the CRS 'patch'.
The very first Brush Type 4 I saw, at Truro in late September or early October 1967, was a 'namer', but only because something terrible had happened to D1671 a few months after construction, the nameplates being transferred to the next in line. D1677 would be the only one of the batch to carry its two-tone green livery past TOPS renumbering in March 1974 as 47091, and in fact survived like this for well over a year becoming increasingly decrepit, as the two photos taken at Swindon on 7th May 1975 below illustrate (I was very pleased to be able to take these photos of my first '47' still in two-tone green livery nearly 8 years later - and by a strange coincidence later that day I passed my driving test.......not in Swindon but in the Camberley area, which is why I was at the station - perhaps seeing 'Thor' again was a good omen!)
Dates of naming:
- D1666 'Odin' - Cardiff - 12th March 1965
- D1661 'North Star' - Paddington - 20th March 1965
- D1662 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' - Bristol - 20th March 1965
- D1663 'Sir Daniel Gooch' - Paddington - 8th May 1965
- D1664 'George Jackson Churchward' - Swindon Works - 8th May 1965
- D1660 'City of Truro' - Truro - 8th June 1965
- D1670 'Mammoth' - ??? - August 1965
- D1672 ' Colossus' - ??? - August 1965
- D1671 'Thor' - ??? - September 1965
- D1674 'Samson' - ??? - September 1965
- D1668 'Orion' - ??? - October 1965
- D1676 'Vulcan' - ??? - October 1965
- D1675 'Amazon' - ??? - November 1965
- D1669 'Python' - Old Oak Common - 31st March 1966
- D1665 'Titan ' - ??? - March 1966
- D1667 'Atlas' - ??? - June 1966
- D1673 'Cyclops' - ??? - June 1966
- D1677 'Thor' - Bristol Bath Road - 29th August 1966
I think the strangest thing here is the naming of D1666 when it was just a week old and in advance of the high-profile namings at Paddington and Bristol just eight days later - I can't help thinking there was a communication failure and somebody at Cardiff 'jumped the gun!' As far as I know there were no naming ceremonies for this one or any of the other 'small names', even 'Python' despite a known location and day. Either by accident or design, D1666 'Odin' became the very first of all of the hundreds of namings and re-namings (and re-re-namings!) which followed.
47077 'North Star' storms up the 1-in-60 out of Truro - note that it was devoid of BR double-arrow logos at that time, Old Oak Common omitted them during a repaint there in 1973 (as 1661). 4th September 1974. Copyright Neil Phillips.
47079 'George Jackson Churchward' taking a rest under Truro's Black Bridge. 3rd January 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.
47091 formerly 'Thor' (it had still been carrying red-backed nameplates during 1974) at Swindon in dire need of an overhaul and repaint, which thankfully was getting close by then. It was still unnamed in 1981 but had regained its 'Thor' plates by mid-1985. 7th May 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Another shot of 47091 at Swindon. 07.05.1975, copyright Neil Phillips.
47079 'George Jackson Churchward' again, this time on Swindon Stabling Point. 4th December 1976. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Newly-overhauled 47088 'Samson' waiting time with an eastbound freight alongside Swindon Works. The vehicle behind it is an ex-LMS sleeping vehicle and buffered up to this to the right out of sight is Gresley Buffet Car E9129E. 8th June 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks indeed, Neil - a great article and some super photos too. Much appreciated.
More on named '47's'
Paul Barlow
Hello Jon
Ref named class 47's.
A few pictures of 47 nameplates taken in 1978 with an Instamatic camera, so not the best quality!
Includes the very long 47078 plate. The pictures show the filthy/dirty
condition most BR locos were in back then.
Ref named class 47's.
A few pictures of 47 nameplates taken in 1978 with an Instamatic camera, so not the best quality!
Includes the very long 47078 plate. The pictures show the filthy/dirty
condition most BR locos were in back then.
The nameplate of 47484. 03.01.1978, copyright Paul Barlow.
The damaged nameplate of 47088. 10.06.1978, copyright Paul Barlow.
The very long nameplate of 47079 which was later shortened to G J Churchward seesn at Teignmouth. 10.06.1978, copyright Paul Barlow.
The nameplate of 47090. 08.07.1978, copyright Paul Barlow.
The nameplate of 47077. 30.08.1978, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks, Paul - your email arrived at exactly the right time to compliment Neils article above. Great stuff.
First Class 175 West Of England Working
Clive Smith
Here is 175002 with the historic first 'hippo' working in the west of England . GWR please keep this livery and their very comfortable seats. The nickname 'hippo' was started by the Welsh enthusiasts when the class worked in Wales for twenty years. Hopefully it will continue.
At an increasingly overgrown Dayeys Bridge in Ivybridge, 175002 passes with the 5D01 09.00 Laira - Newton Abbot. 23.06.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
175002 passes through Ivybridge station with the 5D02 09.44 Newton Abbot - Plymouth. 23.06.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks, Clive - as you say - hopefully they can dodge the dreaded GWR green livery.
More 175 testing
Roger Winnen
175002 Arriving at No 2 Dock Plymouth Station. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
175002 Arriving at No 2 Dock Plymouth Station. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Viewed from the link platform to the station exit. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Departing at 13.07 to Newton Abbot. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Departing at 13.07 to Newton Abbot. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Returning to Plymouth with the 13.47 from Newton Abbot. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Making its last run of the day the 14.36 to Newton Abbot then returning to Laira Shed. 23.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen
Plym Valley - One more
Peter Murnaghan
Nice selection of pictures from Saturday's visit (click here). Here's just one more.
During the afternoon, the destination display on the Skipper unit was changed to Looe.
This reminds us of their brief stay from 1985, before they were banished to the North West three years later.
I think that their use on the Looe branch was even shorter than the other Cornish branch lines, as their four wheeled rigid long wheelbase proved unsatisfactory around the curves of the incline up from Coombe Junction to Liskeard.
The noise that they made screeching and squealing on the branch is still remembered by older residents of Liskeard to this day !
During the afternoon, the destination display on the Skipper unit was changed to Looe.
This reminds us of their brief stay from 1985, before they were banished to the North West three years later.
I think that their use on the Looe branch was even shorter than the other Cornish branch lines, as their four wheeled rigid long wheelbase proved unsatisfactory around the curves of the incline up from Coombe Junction to Liskeard.
The noise that they made screeching and squealing on the branch is still remembered by older residents of Liskeard to this day !
142023 at Marsh Mills with 'Looe' showing in the destination blinds. 21.06.2025, copyright Peter Murnaghan.
Thanks very much, Peter. I'm sure the noise of them on the branch is still ringing in the ears of the locals!
Fresh Loco on the Clay
Tony Shore & Mark Lynam
EWS liveried class 66 66127 has finally been replaced on the local clay traffic by DB Cargo red liveried 66112. The loco worked the empty JIA wagons to St. Blazey on Saturday (21.06) morning.
66112 passes Totnes with 6V75 - the 0731 Westbury - St. Blazey empty JIA's on 21.06.2025. Copyright Tony Shore.
DB Red 66112 at Golant working 6G09 1302 Goonbarrow Junction Dbc to Fowey Dock Carne Point. 23.06.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Tony and Mark - a much more photogenic livery.
Westbury Variety
Alan Peters
GBRf 69001 'Mayflower' stands in Westbury Down yard awaiting to work the Eastleigh tripper on 17/06/2025, the class 69 was converted from 56031. Copyright Alan Peters.
GBRf 66792 'Collaboration' at Westbury Down yard on 17/06/25, this Beacon Rail loco is currently on hire to Colas and is seen stabled with four JIA NACCO China Clay wagons giving the impression of a GBRf class 66 on the clay! Copyright Alan Peters.
Many thanks as always for sharing your behind-the-scenes shots, Alan.
Cotswold Rail
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
47813 'John Peel' wearing the livery of the short-lived Cotswold Rail. Phil is unsure of the year this photograph was taken, does anyone have any suggestions? Copyright Phil Smith.
Tranquility at Calstock
Jon Hird
A perfect peaceful summers evening by the river at Calstock as 150266 clicks past overhead with the 1933 Gunnislake - Plymouth. 20.06.2025, copyright Jon Hird.