1977
A notable year, some for the wrong reasons and some for the right. In June
Stratford got brave and started painting loco roofs with silver paint
on the home fleet, setting up a difference of opinion with Crewe Works that would
last for nearly ten years.
By autumn the knock-on effect of the HST introduction was starting to bite with the
result that the Great Northern felt were able to release a small number of ETH locomotives to
Stratford. All of which were however dual heat, and prodomly used their boilers when working
on the Great Eastern.
January
47130 was fitted with D.ML, having the dots close together at one end.
March
47115 was released following its 4G overhaul at Crewe Works.
47014 was fitted with a modified type of marker light panel at one end. This
comprised a riveted-in metal plate incorporating two opaque lenses. Termed
P.ML(N) (Permanent marker lights – new) the panel was normally painted yellow (as
on the GN examples appearing about this time), but the Stratford version was
painted black – a portent of things to come – and so not immediately obvious.
April
47114 and 47160 were fitted with D.ML.
May
47298 was released following its 4G overhaul at Crewe Works.
47172 was fitted with P.ML(N) at one end only, this time with a yellow plate.
June
This month marked the start of Stratford individuality and in a big way. 47163 47164
were painted with silver roofs and large full height Union Jack flags on the sides. With 47163 also
receiving silver battery boxes. The two were launched on the 08:30 Liverpool Street to Norwich
and 08:42 Norwich to Liverpool Street services, plus their subsequent diagrammed turns.
Both trains were named “The Silver Jubilee”. The two locomotives worked these trains throughout the summer,
being substituted in the main by 47156 and 47165 when on exam.
47003 was released from Crewe Works after its 6I overhaul, the first SF47 to have six overhauls.
At the end of the month non marker light-fitted 47164 had its headcode panels
made operable and was repainted with silver battery boxes to match 47163. The
headcode panels were then used to display the correct codes.
July
The operable headcode panels on 47164 must have upset someone as within days it
had gained D.ML, albeit somewhat bodged. 47156 was also so-fitted during the month.
47117 was released from Crewe Works after its 4G overhaul.
While the authorities were no doubt somewhat miffed at Stratford’s “Silver Jubilee”
efforts the paint jobs survived, and with increasing confidence the silver paint pot
came out again with silver roofs being applied to 47009, 47115, 47118 and 47255.
These originals (and 47163/4) were literally silver as distinct from the silver-grey
shade used later.
August
D.ML was fitted to 47093 and 47102.
Silver roofs applied to 47017, 47102, 47130, 47135 and 47298.
47164 was repainted for a record Norwich to London speed attempt for diesel loco
traction on 28th, a record it still holds.
September
47297 was released from Crewe Works after its 4G overhaul.
Silver roofs applied to 47006, 47010, 47011 and 47085.
October
After more than a year with no reallocations taking place a very significant change
took place for the winter timetable. The appearance of unwanted HSTs on the GN
main line allowed for the transfer of some ETH-fitted locomotives to Stratford. The
change was however less than successful with the boilers often still being used, and
all of the transfers in being due for major overhaul.
47116 was released from Crewe Works after its 4G overhaul.
Silver roofs painted: 47016, 47118 (now silver-grey ex-silver), and 47150
D.ML fitted: 47150
2nd
47425/6/31/57/8/60/1 all xd abd blue arrive from Holbeck apart from 47431
which was from York.
Departing were 47064 to Bescot, 47158/62/5/72 to Immingham and 47298 to Bescot.
November
20th More ETH-fitted locos arrive with 47541/2/3 coming from York, in exchange for
47160 going to Immingham, and 47164 and 47297 to York. It isn’t clear why 47164 was released,
though its slow speed control would be useful in the North East.
The locomotive was repainted into standard blue livery, although it is not known whether this
was done by Stratford before departure or York on arrival.
47457 was released from Crewe Works following its 6I overhaul.
Silver roofs painted: 47019, 47093, 47100, 47114, 47155 and 47431.
December
47007 and 47017 were released from Crewe Works following their 6I overhauls.
The former had not yet received a silver roof, but 47017 had, and this was painted
back to blue by Crewe, setting a pattern that would follow for about the next ten
years.
Silver roofs painted: 47005 and 47117.
24th Whilst working a freightliner in the Willesden area 47163 collided head on with a
similar train being hauled by 83004 (with 82001 dead in tow). The 47 was very severely damaged,
and both electric locomotives were written off.
End of Year summary
xb, blue, blue roof: 47003/4/7/17-9, 115/6/56 (9)
xb, blue, silver roof: 47005/6/9-11/4/6/85/93, 100/2/14/7/8/30/5/50/5, 255 (19)
xb, blue, silver jubilee: 47163 (1) out of use
xd, blue, blue roof: 47425/6/57/8/60/1, 541-3 (9)
xd, blue, silver roof: 47431 (1)
Total: 39
Note that at this time Stratford no longer has any slow speed control-fitted locos, all
having been given up for the ETH fleet.