Diesel Locomotive Class 47 'Prince William'
Diesel Locomotive Class 47/4 No 47798 'Prince William'. Co-Co 4 foot 8 1/2 inch gauge, built at Crewe by British Rail Crewe and Brush Ltd in 1965. Named 'Firefly' from August 1985 to March 1995; renamed 'Prince Willliam' in May 1995.
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The Brush Sulzer Class 47 diesel-electric locomotives were first introduced in 1962. A total of 512 were built and employed on a wide variety of duties, including heavy freight traffic and express passenger services.
The class underwent a variety of modifications to meet the changing needs of the modern railway. This particular locomotive was built at Crewe Work in 1965 and numbered D1656. Subsequently the locomotive was re-numbered 47072 in 1974, and again to 47609 in 1984. It was at this time that the locomotive also received an electric train heat supply and an alternator, in place of the main generator.
The engine was named “Fire-fly” in August 1985, and finally renumbered to its present 47798 in May 1995, at which time it was given its current name, “Prince William”.