Product Preview | N Scale Class 47s
The Class 47 is a staple of the Graham Farish N Scale range, and with the next releases due to arrive within a few months, it’s the perfect time to have a look at these upcoming locomotives in more detail.
The latest Class 47 models all contain the high levels of detail that you would expect from Graham Farish’s masterpieces in miniature, with several separately fitted parts such as lamp irons, cab handrails and roof aerials* fitted along the precision moulded bodyshell, and high intensity headlights* (*where appropriate) on the cab. The interior of the cab also features detailing, which is enhanced by the cab lighting when used on DCC.
Under the solebar, these models feature a diecast metal chassis block, which is carried by bogies that depict their multiple components in full relief. Between the bogies, there are separately fitted details such as battery boxes, water tanks and fuel tanks, and there are round buffers fitted to the buffer beams. The models also all share the following features:
- Coreless, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies
- All axle drive with electrical pickup from eight wheels
- Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
- Speaker installed in all models for optimum sound reproduction
- Each model supplied with a full set of model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts
There are also SOUND FITTED versions of each model, these are fitted with an ESU Loksound V5 DCC Sound Decoder that has been pre-programmed with an exclusive sound project containing over 20 functions. The SOUND FITTED locomotives may also be used on most Analogue (DC) layouts, where they will play normal load running sounds as well as other automatic or randomised sounds when power is applied.
The Class 47s were designed by British Railways (BR) during the early 1960s for use on both passenger and freight services. The initial batch consisted of 20 locomotives, the success of which led to a further 492 being constructed between 1962 and 1968, giving a total fleet of 512 and making the Class 47 the most numerous mainline diesel locomotive in the UK.
Whilst originally built with boilers to provide steam heating, many of the Class 47s were also constructed with electric train heating (ETH) equipment, with others having it fitted later on. When TOPS was introduced in the 1970s, locomotives with that were only fitted with steam heating were classified as 47/0, whilst those with steam and ETH were classified as 47/4. Some locomotives were also fitted with push-pull equipment and were categorised as Class 47/7. The original 20 locomotives had all been withdrawn by 1992, with many more being withdrawn in the years afterwards. However, some are still in use and over 30 have been preserved.
Class 47/0 – BR Green (Small Yellow Panels)
Our first pair of new Class 47s are 47/0s in BR Green with small yellow panels. These two locomotives feature glazed headcode panels, twin arm windscreen wipers, open bogie-mounted cab steps and bodyside steps below their cab doors. Full vents are present along their cab roofs, along with Spanner Mk3 roof boiler ports, original three-piece radiator grilles and ribbed exhaust panels. Under the solebar, they are equipped with 1,250 gallon water tanks with water chutes.
| Era | Class | Running No. | Headcode | Standard | SOUND FITTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 47/0 | D1565 | 1E11 and 4N09 | 371-825D | 371-825DSF |
| 5 | 47/0 | D1601 | 1V54 and 1A92 | 371-825E | 371-825ESF |
Class 47/4 – BR Blue
Our next pair of 47s are Class 47/4s decorated in BR’s Blue livery. These locomotives both have plated headcode panels with sealed beam marker lights at the No. 2 end, cab-front mounted Electric Train Heating (ETH) equipment, single arm windscreen wipers and plated bogie-mounted cab steps. Along their roofs, they have full vents over the cab, National Radio Network (NRN) aerials, plated spanner Mk3 boiler ports, Serck radiator grilles and smooth exhaust panels, whilst below the solebar there are 1,250 gallon water tanks with water filler valves.
| Era | Class | Running No. | Name | Standard | SOUND FITTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 47/4 | 47425 | ‘Holbeck’ | 371-829A | 371-829ASF |
| 8 | 47/4 | 47556 | – | 371-829B | 371-829BSF |
Class 47/7 – BR ScotRail
Our next Class 47 is 47/7 No. 47712 in BR’s ScotRail livery, which has been named ‘Lady Diana Spencer’. This locomotive also has plated headcode panels with sealed beam marker lights at the No. 2 end, along with single arm windscreen wipers, cab-front-mounted ETH equipment and Scottish jumper cables. The roof features a plated Clayton boiler port, NRN aerials and full vents over the cabs along with smooth exhaust panels and Serck radiator grilles. Below the solebar there are plated cab steps on the bogies and whilst there is no water tank, the locomotive is equipped with the later style of extended range fuel tanks.
| Era | Class | Running No. | Name | Standard | SOUND FITTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 47/7 | 47712 | ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ | 372-245A | 372-245ASF |
Class 47/4 – BR RF Distribution European
Our penultimate new Class 47 locomotive is 47/4 No. 47555 in BR’s Railfreight Distribution European livery. This locomotive has been named ‘The Commonwealth Spirit’ and has plated headcode panels with sealed beam marker Lights at the No. 2 end, single arm windscreen wipers, and cab-front-mounted ETH equipment. There are full cab roof vents, along with NRN aerials, Serck radiator grilles, smooth exhaust panels and a plated Clayton boiler port. Under the solebar, the bogies are mounted with plated cab steps and there are later extended range fuel tanks instead of a water tank.
Class 47/4 – BR InterCity (Swallow)
Our final new Class 47 locomotive is 47/4 No. 47849, which is decorated in BR’s InterCity Swallow livery. This locomotive has a cut cab with single arm windscreen wipers and front-mounted ETH Equipment. There is a kickplate below the car door, whilst the roof features partially plated vents over the cab and a plated Clayton boiler port. Below the solebar, there are extended range fuel tanks and the bogies are mounted with plated cab steps.
Previous Class 47s
As well as these new models, some of our previous Class 47 locomotives are still available to purchase from Bachmann retailers. These all feature the same high specifications as our new models, but feature a variety of classes 47/4 and 47/7 in a range of other liveries.
| Era | Class | Running No. | Name | Livery | Standard | SOUND FITTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 47/4 | 47805 | ‘John Scott’ | DRS Compass (Original) | 372-252 | 372-252SF |
| 9 | 47/7 | 47814 | ‘Totnes Castle’ | Virgin Trains (Original) | 372-260SF | |
| 9 | 47/7 | 47727 | ‘Rebecca’ | Colas Rail | 372-261 | 372-261SF |
| 9 | 47/7 | 47745 | ‘Royal London Society For The Blind’ | RES | 372-262 | 372-262SF |
These new Class 47s are due to arrive over the next few months, whilst the previous models are already available from Bachmann retailers, so head to the Bachmann Europe website where you can find more information. Once you’ve selected your models, get in touch with your nearest retailer to order yours!
Your nearest retailer can be found by using the Retailers page on our website, which can be accessed either from the menu at the top of the page or by clicking on the button below.
