Stratford TRSMD Diary 
 
 1986 
 
This year was to see a proliferation of new liveries and adornments, but overlain on a fleet rapidly contracting due to the continuation of electrification. One era to finally close during the year was the provision of steam heating, with the final operational boilers being isolated in April. A recent tradition saw depots adopting a locally-appropriate emblem and applying it to their locomotives. Stratford answer was "Sid " a really well-drawn, in full colour, and our cheeky chappie boasted a BR driver's cap, waistcoat and fob watch. His pose definitely suggested an attitude, with his puffed-out chest and wings, and foot stepping forward. Stratford made its mark again and the sparrow emblem was bone.
 
 January 
 
19 th
Series parallel 47096, xb B4, was transferred from Tinsley.

Also during the month:
Released from Crewe Works following overhaul was 47457 (8I), boiler removed, large logo livery.
Silver roofs painted: 47568 / 47569, both having been blue for nearly two years.
 
 February 
 
13 th Ex works 47457 was named "Ben Line" at Southampton Central station by Hamish Muirhead, and given black marker light panels.

Also during the month:
47581 painted in large logo livery with stratfords yellow surrounds and black edges to windows and black headcode panels.
 
 March 
 
47542 / 47544, both xei B4sr were transferred to Gateshead

Also during the month:
Boilers isolated: 47096 / 47124.
Silver roof painted: 47310.
47146 had its buffer beam skirts partially removed at both ends.
47288 gained a Powerbase logo, rather like a shed sticker, and later incurred collision damage on the Felixstowe branch.
 
 April 
 
The end of an era saw the boilers isolated on 47116 / 47121/ 47123 / 47130 / 47146, leaving Stratford with no steam heat Class 47s.
47487 was temporarily named 'V B Menon' on sone side, V B Menon chairman of EMI Music, charter train Kings Cross - Gleneagles
 
 May 
 
11 th
The new timetable saw electric traction extended to Harwich, reducing further the requirement for ETH-fitted locomotives.
Two new arrivals were 47101 xi B4 from Crewe and 47289 xos B4 from Thornaby.
Departing were 47085 xo B4 to Bristol, 47146 xi B4 to Cardiff, and then on to Bristol.
ETH losses were 47457 xe LL, 47458 xei B4sr, 47566 / 47568 / 47569 / 47587 xe B4sr all of which went to Gateshead.

Also during the month:
Released from Crewe Works following overhaul was 47649 (7I), ETH fitted, large logo livery, converted from 47061.
47487 gained black marker light panels and had the arrow and Inter City wording restored.
47572 gained logo livery with yellow windscreen surrounds with black edges and black headcode panels and was named "Ely Cathedral".
47576 gained black marker light panels.
47585 gained large logo livery with stratfords yellow surrounds and black edges to windows and black headcode panels.
 
 June 
 
6 th
47130 was transferred to Bristol
9 th
The NSE launch saw 47573 receive NSE1 livery and be named 'The London STANDARD' at Liverpool Street station by Lou Kirby, then Editor.
20 th 47374 xos Rf1 was transferred in. This gave Stratford its first Railfreight liveried class 47.
47573 had yellow marker light panels when painted in NSE.
Silver roof painted: 47584, also black marker light panels.
47605 received unusual black headlight boxes.
 
 July 
 
14 th
Two new arrivals in the form of now preserved 47105 xi B4 from Crewe and 47292 xos B4 from Immingham.

Also during the month:
47275 incurred serious fire damage from which it was never to recover.
47577 became the first in the fleet to receive an orange cantrail line for safety purposes
47583 was the second recipient of NSE1 livery, this time with black marker light panels.
 
 August 
 
18 th
47276 was proposed for transfer to Kingmoor, but move was then cancelled.

Also during the month:
47275 was stored following its fire, 47311 gained Sparrow emblems
47582 was the third to get NSE1 livery, again with black marker light panels.
 
 September 
 
28 th
The autumn changes saw the welcome return of 47005 / 47007/ 47009 transferred from Gateshead, plus new arrival 47108 transferred from Haymarket.
47007 still retained its silver roof, while 47005 / 47009 sported both Eastfield dog emblems and Gateshead crests.
Leaving at the same time were 47295 / 47310 / 47311 all xos B4sr transferred to Immingham.

Also during the month:
Silver roof and black marker light panels: 47054.
Sparrow emblems: 47572 / 47576 / 47585.
In the final stage of its demise 47275 was withdrawn.
 
 October 
 
Sparrow emblems: 47577 / 47579 / 47582 / 47584.
 
 November 
 
Released from Stratford Works following its prototype CEM repair was 47007 (8L, boiler and water tanks removed, Rf1 livery).
47007 was then named "Stratford" in recognition.
Boiler removed: 47005.
NSE1 livery: 47581.
47591 Sparrow emblems and black marker light panel at No.1 end only.
47288 reappeared in traffic with red painted surrounds to its buffer beams.
This month also saw the Eastern Region regard all of their 47/0s as no longer having slow speed control.
The equipment was therefore technically regarded as isolated on Stratford's 47276 / 47277 / 47278 / 47287 / 47288 / 47289 / 47291 / 47292.
 
 December 
 
To round off the year 47579 gained logo livery with stratfords yellow surrounds and black edges to windows and black headcode panels.
 
 End of Year summary 

47005 xo B4 with Blue roof
47007 xo Rf1 named "Stratford"
47008 xi B4 with Silver roof
47009 xi B4 with Blue roof
47052 xo B4 with Silver Roof
47054 xi B4 with Silver Roof
47096 xi B4 with Blue roof
47101 xi B4 with Blue roof
47105 xi B4 with Blue roof
47108 xi B4 with Blue roof
47114 xi B4 with Silver Roof
47116 xi B4 with Blue Roof
47121 xi B4 with Blue Roof
47123 xi B4 with blue Roof
47124 xi B4 with Blue Roof
47276 x B4 with Blue Roof
47277 x B4 with Blue Roof
47278 x B4 with Blue Roof
47287 x B4 with Blue Roof
47288 x B4 with Blue Roof
47289 x B4 with Blue Roof
47291 x B4 with Blue Roof
47292 x B4 with Blue Roof
47374 xos Rf1 Named "Petrolea"
47487 xe IC1
47570 xe B4 with Silver Roof
47572 xe LLsf with yellow windscreen surrounds with black edges, named "Ely Catherdral"
47573 xe NSE1 named 'The London STANDARD'
47574 xe B4 with Silver Roof, named "LLOYD'S LIST 250th ANNIVERSARY"
47576 xe B4 with Silver Roof,
47577 xe B4 with Silver Roof, namde "Benjamin Gimbert GC"
47579 xe LLsf with yellow windscreen surrounds with black edges, named "James Nightall GC"
47580 xe B4 with Silver Roof, named "County of Essex"
47581 xe NSE1, named "Great Eastern"
47582 xe NSE1, named "County of Norfolk"
47583 xe NSE1, named "County of Hertfordshire"
47584 xe B4 with Silver Roof, namde "County of Suffolk"
47585 xe LLsf with yellow windscreen surrounds with black edges, named "County of Cambridgeshire"
47591 xe B4 with Silver Roof
47596 xe B4 with Silver Roof, named "Aldeburgh Festival"
47605 xe B4 with Silver Roof
47634 xe LL, named "Henry Ford"
47649 xe LL
 
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Page last updated 20/04/19